Efficiency. Quality. Job satisfaction. Everything goes up

Working across projects

On Columbuslaan in Utrecht, major maintenance is being carried out on two porch flats with a total of 96 homes. Housing corporation Bo-Ex is taking no half measures in this regard. The homes are being upgraded from an average energy label G to an average label A, given a new, contemporary look and equipped with all kinds of conveniences. Hemubo is taking on several project phases, which offers advantages. 

The major maintenance of Columbuslaan II and III is part of a major maintenance plan in Utrecht's Kanaleneiland-Zuid district. Together with Hemubo, housing corporation Bo-Ex is tackling ten porch flats here, including better insulation, a hybrid heat pump with heat recovery, solar panels, new window frames and a modern entrance. Hemubo Bouw recently completed Columbuslaan II; Columbus III is under construction. During the construction work, residents are staying in a guest house.

Resident Involvement

Residents also have a say in the maintenance work on their homes. Even extending the kitchen and bathroom is among the possibilities by including the adjacent balcony at the rear of the apartment building. "In this case, however, the entire strang must choose this option," notes Rutger van Helbergen, commercial director of Hemubo Bouw. "Otherwise we run into problems with stormwater drainage, fire safety and thermal envelope. For us, this does make the implementation a little more exciting. In the homes with kitchen expansion, we are working longer and have to shift gears in our planning."

Logistical challenges

Preparing the projects requires a well thought-out logistics plan. Van Helbergen explains. "Columbus II and III are on a busy road in a lively neighborhood. The two complexes are between two schools, across from a shopping center and on a road with heavy bus traffic and multiple bus stations. If we also place containers here, they would obstruct visibility when crossing safely. We have taken care of this with temporary pedestrian crossings. Two resident coordinators, one from Bo-Ex and one from Hemubo, communicate such matters to the residents."

Working across projects

And about the overall approach: "We realize apartment building after apartment building. This allows us to keep gaining knowledge that we can immediately apply to the next apartment building. You notice this in everything. Tasks and activities run more and more smoothly. Communication is improving in all areas and orders are being placed early. We are also reaping the benefits in the relational field. Our professionals go the extra mile for each other, because they know they will meet again on the next project. Perhaps I should summarize it as 'working across projects'. This brings so many benefits. The number of completion points can be counted on one hand, efficiency and quality continue to rise, and job satisfaction is unprecedentedly high. We are quite proud of that."

"Other parties involved - client, structural engineer, architect and Municipality of Utrecht - are also affected. Everyone knows their task. If not, another partner can pick it up. Meetings still take a third of the time and lengthy permit procedures feel like 'just getting a signature'. We just have to stick to the legally required public participation deadlines."