ACA flats | Utrecht

Housing corporation Mitros is carrying out major maintenance on as many as 1,800 homes in the so-called ACA flats in Utrecht Overvecht. The first phase, three flats with a total of 362 dwellings, is now in full swing. After completion the residents will have beautiful, sustainable and above all comfortable homes.

The execution of the major maintenance is in the hands of Hemubo. The construction company was awarded the contract after a tendering procedure with three selection rounds. "Mitros has a number of clear wishes," says Hemubo director Davy Wagenmakers. "For example, the homes must improve significantly in terms of energy, to label A+. This will make the homes much more energy efficient and comfortable. Furthermore, we have to build efficiently, both in terms of time and costs. The appearance is also important. The major maintenance must give the neighborhood a positive boost on all fronts."

Resident Support
In cooperation with Mitros, Hemubo worked out the maintenance plans. Subsequently, support had to be obtained from the residents. Wagenmakers: "Such major maintenance is a major event for the residents. We deployed resident supervisors who involved the residents in the process from the beginning. The resident supervisors are therefore an important link in obtaining 70% agreement, but also in keeping the work progressing. In terms of resident supervision, we also take on the warm intake. And we assist residents in moving to a lodging house." Residents who have not yet taken their turn and want to get away from the work for a while can visit the so-called Garden Room. 

Body and chassis
The ACA flats are so-called Intervam flats. These were built after the war using a fast and affordable construction system. The apartments are therefore in need of renovation. On the outside, the existing facade will be demolished. In its place will be ready-made, highly insulated facade elements with plastic frames and eternite sheeting. They make the facade wind and watertight in one go. "Because we leave the wooden frames of the facade intact, we limit the demolition work," says Wagenmakers. "The facade elements are constructed from a so-called chassis and body. Here, the chassis acts as the base. The bodywork is the appearance, which we can adjust for each apartment." Hemubo is also creating a new entrance at the rear of the facade. New elevators will be installed in this part of the building.

Courtyard.

39 homes at a time
In the homes, Hemubo is replacing the bathrooms, kitchens and toilets, among other things. The down pipes will also be replaced and new radiators installed. The gas connection will be replaced by a connection to district heating. All elevators will also be replaced and brought to ground floor level. Wagenmakers: "We are always working on 39 homes at the same time. Every week we start up ten homes. With this we are following the Lean planning, which we made together with our suppliers and subcontractors in the preparation process. Now we still hold a daily standup every day, in which we discuss progress and any optimizations."

More and more happy residents
Managing residents' perceptions. That, according to Wagenmakers, is the main focus on this project. "People find it exciting," he says, "and when they return to their renovated homes, they have to get used to electric cooking, among other things. Also, all sorts of work is still taking place around them. That's not pleasant. At the same time, we do see more and more happy residents. The people who have already moved into their renovated homes are happy with the increased comfort. The people whose turn is yet to come are happy with what they see - and will soon get themselves."