New University Library gets complex steel staircase

That UVA's new University Library will be impressive is certain. One of the many parties working on this new downtown gem is Wolter Tijdink. The company from the Achterhoek is making the impressive staircases in the atrium of the new library. Director Bastiaan te Poele talks about the challenges Wolter Tijdink faced in the process. 

Wolter Tijdink has specialized in steel stairs for 40 years. "From engineering to assembly and aftercare," Te Poele explains. "We work mainly in steel, but also apply wood, glass and natural stone. And above all, we always make sure the quality is right. No-nonsense and down-to-earth: that's how our customers know us." 

The Achterhoek-based company works mainly in the Randstad area and was involved in this large project by steel builder Buiting. "Because the staircase has to be integrated into the 'tree' in the middle of the atrium, that was too specialized for her to do by herself. We often work with Buiting, so it was logical that she came to us." Wolter Tijdink was asked to think along. Te Poele: "'Can you make that?" she asked. 'And then where are the bottlenecks and challenges?'"

Tricky, but makeable

This complex project is exactly what Wolter Tijdink is good at. "There are not many parties in the Netherlands that can do that. The farmer's blacksmith around the corner doesn't do something like that. But fortunately we like a challenge. And in this project that was mainly in the elliptical shape of the 'tree'. The stairs have to follow that shape, so you have a lot of radii. That's tricky, but definitely doable by us."

The stairs will be made of steel, with a glass balustrade. "Again, that glass is curved, always tricky. Faint bends are still doable. But the shorter the bend, the more difficult. Fortunately, we found a good party for that." Added to that is the fact that the entire staircase has to be installed from above. "All through the narrowest part in the roof. We sometimes had to tilt the entire staircase for that, otherwise it wouldn't fit. You have to think about that well in advance," Te Poele says. 

Beautiful end result

The stairs have now been installed. "I assume a very nice end result. Once all the glass is in, it will look really beautiful. You could call this an expert project, for all parties. A completely new building like this among all those old buildings: it looks fantastic."