Not demolish, but disassemble and reuse

Circular renovation

Circularly renovating an existing building into a comfortable and future-proof educational building. And that at a high level. The University of Amsterdam determined that of all the demolition materials from the old REC P building, only 2% could be disposed of as waste. 60% had to be reused in and around the renovated building, and 38% could also be reused in another building. Project manager Raymond Kok of Dura Vermeer believes it was a matter of "Thinking Around.

In early 2021, the University of Amsterdam decided to house part of the Executive Programs and the Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics programs in the old REC P. To this end, the REC P building was stripped down to the shell and rebuilt within a year, now with teaching halls, study/workstations, lecture hall and bicycle storage. To ensure a high degree of circularity, the UvA mapped the materials it wanted to see reflected in the renovated building in advance. The UvA also had definite wishes in terms of appearance. The appearance of the 1960s had to be restored to its former glory, albeit with today's facilities. 

Circular demolition

One year to demolish and renovate some 4,000 m2 was short. On top of that, there was hardly any demolition. To make reuse possible, everything had to be carefully dismantled. Combined with the short time margin, this caused an exciting playing field. "Still, we quickly became comfortable with thinking around it," says Kok. "System walls, drywall and rock wool insulation were recycled, and the aluminum window frames were reused as frames for the acoustic ceilings." To compensate for the time required to do this, Dura Vermeer entered into discussions with the client. "This resulted in eighteen extra weeks, which put feasibility within reach."

Transportation by water and road

The challenges associated with the location - the heart of Amsterdam - are obvious. The construction site is as large as eight parking spaces, and special rules regarding accessibility apply everywhere. The canals require special cranes, and most of the transportation takes place by ship. "Materials that are water-resistant, we transport by water. Electrical components, cement and plasterboard we transport just-in-time through picturesque Amsterdam with small trolleys."

To restore the original 1960s style to its former glory, Dura Vermeer brought back the open structure. Large windows - which had been replaced in the 1980s - recreate a pleasant working atmosphere characterized by transparency and plenty of light.