From buildings to head office: Liander head office

Developed from December 2011 to August 2015. Redeveloping an existing cluster of buildings into a 24,000 m2 head office for energy grid company Liander, housing more than 1500 workers.

WHAT WORKED WELL

• Upgrade scrapwood, which was otherwise destined to be burned, to be used for interior façade elements (which constituted 50% of the total façade).
• Re-utilising more than 80% of the raw materials from the original structures and designing the newly added structures in a way that they are fully reconstructible in the future.
• Fitted with solar panels and underground water for thermal storage, the structure is energy positive and actively redistributes excess power to the local grid.
• Created a safe, transportable, lightweight and fully reconstructible, steel-roof construction to cover the existing buildings. By asking a roller-coaster company we were able to create a fully circular steel roof and save 30% steel in comparison to a traditional construction.
• Materials passport allowed for knowledge about used materials (quantity and quality) and the possibilities for maintenance, repair, refurbishment, re-use, remanufacturing, recycling.

LESSONS LEARNED

• Fire regulation was a challenge, as well as organising the upgrade process from waste to product.
• Circular design needs companies able to think in different ways, companies able to provide novel solutions might not always be found in amongst traditional suppliers.
• Regarding the materials transport, the delivery of the required information should be incorporated into the building contract with the general contractor.
• The building produces all the energy needed to operate the building and enable all user processes. In addition start proucing energy early enough to enable an energy positive construction process.
• Regarding the energy production. It is beneficial to install as many panels as soon as possible so that the energy produced can contribute to the process of constructing the building itself

WORKING GROUP

• Client: Alliander
• Architect: RAU
• Developer and general contractor: VolkerWesselsVastgoed (30 years energy & maintenance contract)
• Circular economy expert: Turntoo
• Interior design: Fokkema & Partners
• Technical installations advisor: Innax
• Landscape design: Kuiper Compagnons
• Structural engineer: Van Rossum R.I.
• Main building contractor: Boele&vanEesteren
• Main technical installations contractor: Homij