'A completely renovated home in just 12 days'

The 'Champions League' of renovation in occupied condition. This is how Coen Hagedoorn Bouw describes the renovation of the L-flat in Zeist, which with 728 dwellings, 13 floors and over 2,000 residents is known as one of the largest gallery flats in Western Europe. Besides real estate improvement, the renovation aims to improve the quality of life in both the flat and the neighborhood. Attention for residents is therefore essential, say project leader Jeffrey de Vries and contractor Patrick van 't Klaphek. 

"In outline, the renovation includes replacing the bathrooms, kitchens, toilets, down pipes and mechanical ventilation. We are also removing gas connections in the homes and residents will have the opportunity to change the floor plan of their homes. From planned maintenance, painting work, an extensive roof renovation and work in the common areas will be carried out. Our client is Woongoed Zeist."

Plan of Action

During the construction team phase, various studies were conducted to arrive at a final Plan of Action. As examples, De Vries and Van 't Klaphek mention a 3D scan of the complex, several test houses and a final model house. "In this it was decided, among other things, to carry out the replacement of the down pipes in a separate workflow. This way we prevent residents from being without toilet, bathroom and kitchen drains for several hours every day. An additional advantage is that we can get to know the residents in advance. During the renovation, emergency toilets, emergency kitchens, rest rooms and shower rooms will be available to residents, among other things."

Prefabricated elements

Each home renovation takes only 12 working days. "Each day we start 2 new homes and 2 homes are delivered. This involves successively taping off the home, asbestos removal and demolition, and installing new installations, walls and ceilings. Then the plasterer, tiler and painter finish the whole thing off neatly." The short 12-day lead time is made possible in part by working with prefabricated elements. "Thanks to these elements, dust and noise pollution for residents is also kept to a minimum."

Resident Support

In the L-flat, two resident consultants from Coen Hagedoorn Bouw will supervise the residents during the work. They are the first point of contact. In addition, residents can follow the planning on a daily calendar. "There is also an app, which contains important information and newsletters. In addition, the app allows direct chat with the resident consultants." In December 2022, Coen Hagedoorn Bouw will deliver the final homes.   

Efficient transportation of materials and employees

Where there is construction, heights often need to be bridged. For example, to transport residents, construction workers and/or materials. Velza BV gladly offers a solution for this. For example, on behalf of Coen Hagedoorn Bouw, the Gelderland elevator specialist delivered two passenger-goods elevators for the renovation of the L-flat, which will move up one building block after the completion of each construction phase.

Velza BV specializes in vertical transport. "With over two hundred temporary construction elevators, we are able to provide customized solutions for every situation," says co-owner Richard van Esveld. "From small pan elevators to large passenger elevators." Based on successful past collaborations, Velza BV was awarded the delivery for the L-flat. "For this project we delivered two elevators with a cabin size of 3.20 x 1.50 x 2.30 meters (lxwxh), which take care of the complete construction transport. The elevators transport both construction workers and materials so that residents are not inconvenienced. The closed and low-noise elevators have a lifting capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms. A clear touch screen with floor numbers guarantees efficient transport. The elevators are also remotely monitored by us, so that we can provide immediate service in the event of unexpected breakdowns and stagnation of construction is prevented."

The elevators will remain in place until the end of the project, Van Esveld says. After disassembly, the elevator cabin, ground cage and mast sections will be carefully checked in the Velza BV workshop in Nijkerk. Maintenance work is carried out where necessary, after which the elevators are put back into service on the next project.

'More than a piece of water mains and sewerage'

As a chain partner of Coen Hagedoorn Bouw, Van der Sluis Renovatie, part of Van der Sluis Technische Bedrijven, is renovating all installations of the L-flat in Zeist. 

"Within the construction team, we have been thinking about the approach to this large-scale renovation project from the beginning," says Bert van der Horst, business manager at Van der Sluis Renovation. "Together with the other parties, we drew up a lean schedule in which we efficiently scheduled all the work in succession. This resulted in a work flow of twelve working days per house."

According to plan

"Our part in the project includes more than a piece of water mains and sewerage," Van der Horst continues. "In all 728 homes, we are replacing the E and W installations of the kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, including the down pipes. We are also installing new mechanical ventilation, a videophone system and new light fixtures at the front door everywhere. In the stairwell there will also be new fixtures and the exterior facade will get, from top to bottom, an LED light line. Furthermore, all homes will go off gas." Installation work in the L-flat began in January 2021. The work will take a total of about two years and is going according to plan for now. Van der Horst: "Everything is going exactly as we had jointly planned it beforehand. That gives a lot of satisfaction and confidence for the further course of the project."