Transformation former GGD office into 109 social rental apartments

High-quality, social apartments in downtown Bossche

The former GGD office building on Orthenseweg in 's-Hertogenbosch has been transformed and redeveloped into 109 social rental apartments averaging 40 square meters. Contractor company M.P. Drijvers B.V. carried out this large-scale conversion on behalf of housing corporation Zayaz. The first apartments were completed in March. "No apartment is the same."

The new housing is aimed at smaller households, such as young people and first-time buyers. The transformation involves 41 studios and 68 two-room apartments. Housing corporation Zayaz took over the development and associated parking facilities from a real estate developer in Bossche. The plan development and supervision of the implementation process were provided by FiMek estate bv. Through a tendering procedure, the contractor company M.P. Drijvers B.V. was selected to carry out the project. Marc Verhoeven and Martin Drijvers were responsible for the execution on behalf of the contractor. 

"The building was largely gutted when we started our work," Verhoeven says. "Demolition company Arno van den Dungen had already carried out much of the demolition work by then. Following that, we demolished the partial elevation and dismantled facade frames and an escape staircase. We then made various structural openings and repaired various parts of the concrete shell. In the process, several extensions were constructed so that each apartment has a private outdoor space."

New floor

The existing structure of the building was largely retained. However, the upper, set-back building layer was replaced by a new floor, executed in wood frame construction. The lightweight elements for this were prefabricated and assembled on site. Drijvers: "The existing storey was narrower than the other floors. Therefore, a new storey was added with equal width. The building is now five stories high over its entire area."

Being an existing building, the available space had to be used creatively. This puzzle was solved in the development of the plan with the project team. Verhoeven: "No apartment is the same, because there are several sloping walls in the building. The apartments on the first floor have a completely different layout than those on the first through third floors. The top floor is furnished differently again. There are studios and two-room apartments. In some apartments the toilet is located in the bathroom, in others there is an independent toilet. These varying layouts brought challenges in connecting the piping and fireproofing the various partitions."

Sustainable

The transformation of an existing office building into housing is consistent with the sustainable development of the city. Says Drijvers, "The building is natural gas-free and equipped with air-source heat pumps, and the entire roof will be fitted with solar panels." 

Challenges

"The corona pandemic definitely affected our construction process. All the materials you order are delivered with a delay," Verhoeven says. "For example, we had to wait a long time for the metering of electricity, water and heat recovery units. You are then still dependent on when materials are available. We all have to deal with that." 

Beautiful living

Drijvers is proud to have completed this project. "This is a wonderful development, with which we have added high-quality, social apartments to the Bossche housing market. It is unique living with views over the city center and the Tramkade. This transformation was an extensive project for us and we are proud to have been able to make it. We had a very pleasant experience with different parties, which will no doubt lead to more new collaborations."