The Central Government Real Estate Agency has awarded the contract to build new premises for two knowledge institutes - RIVM and the MEB - to StruktonHurks. Both these institutes are part of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. This is the first Public-Private Partnership project in the Netherlands for a government building with laboratories. The building will be constructed between 2015 and the end of 2018, at the Wentgebouw location in Utrecht Science Park in Utrecht. The parties will sign the contract on 17 July 2014.
In conformity with European tendering rules, StruktonHurks submitted a tender that was selected as being the most profitable in an economic sense. Construction of the new premises will be carried out in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with a DBFMO contract. This means that StruktonHurks will be responsible for designing, building, financing, maintaining and operating the new building and the facilities management. The contract will run for 25 years once the building is occupied, and its net present value is almost 267 million euros.
Openness fosters knowledge sharing
Seeing and being seen
The design of the new building reflects the work carried out by RIVM and MEB. Developing and sharing knowledge are key factors. StruktonHurks’s proposal comprises a clear and open structure that encourages people to work together, pool their knowledge and encounter one another by chance or by design. All the functions can easily be found at the most logical place as soon as you enter the building. Laboratories will occupy about one-third of the new premises. These include support facilities such as weighing chambers, rinsing areas, storage space, plant rooms, and so on. All office and laboratory space is situated directly at the front of the building. The total floor area will be about 70,000 m2.
Sustainable
The building will stand the test of time thanks to its sturdy structural design, column-free working areas, spacious storey height, flexible options and capacity in vertical transport facilities. And it’s energy-efficient too, as it encourages people to use the stairs, and the type of electrical and mechanical systems and equipment selected are energy-saving as well. Climate control in the building is energy-neutral, and the energy needed will be locally and sustainably generated, for example, by using green energy from a wind turbine in the neighbourhood. The green roofs and walls will help to insulate the building all year round by retaining warmth in winter and keeping it cool in summer. RIVM, MEB and StruktonHurks would like this building to fulfil an exemplary role with respect to sustainable construction and sustainable operation.
About StruktonHurks
The StruktonHurks group is a joint venture between Strukton, Hurks and Heijmans. The comprehensive design for the building plus 25 years of operating was drawn up by the group in collaboration with Felix Claus Dick of Wageningen Architecten, H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten, oth_architecten, Deerns, PEUTZ, Van Rossum Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Vermaat Groep, YASK and Yxion, Mazars and Rebel.
RIVM and MEB to share the same building
RIVM and MEB both work towards improving human and animal health and ensuring a healthy living environment. Sharing knowledge with national and international knowledge partners and propagating this knowledge among members of the public is important in this respect. The new building’s location and design will help to foster this knowledge sharing. The location, which is centrally situated in the Netherlands just outside Utrecht Science Park, to the east of Utrecht, will make the public more aware of both organisations.
For more information, please go http://www.wegtotdewetenschap.nl/ (in Dutch)