Eindhoven, demolition project High Tech Campus
SGS Search has compiled many asbestos inventories for Philips of buildings marked for renovation. During a meeting with the Head of Purchasing, Harrie Geven, it became obvious that SGS Search would also be able to draw up the plans for estimates and for the demolition itself. Thus, the next logical step was to combine the removal of the asbestos with the demolition work. Their quotation looked good, so we assigned the project to SGS Search.’
When demolition work will be finished at the end of the year there will be an enormous empty hole on the campus where the unused WAH building is currently located (Professor Holstlaan 6 in Eindhoven). It will be filled using earth that has been dug up from a large pond on the site.
EIn the late 90s, Philips drew up a plan to concentrate many of its facilities at one location in Eindhoven. They chose a 1km2 site where many of their labs and research centres had been located and where a connecting road to the A2 had been built in April 2007. They decided to ‘upgrade’ this complex to create an attractive urban area. Leo Kokken is the project manager and chairman of the plant team that has been created on behalf of the Exploitatiemaatschappij Philips High Tech Campus (EPHTC) to carry out the required work on the site and underground infrastructure.
Landscapes
Juurlink and Geluk, an urban landscape design agency, was commissioned by Philips to divide the site into a number of different types of landscape. The Dommel runs along the north of the site and this was where the landscape architect decided to restore the typical Brabant meadow landscape. The pond in the middle of the site was enlarged into a lake complete with sedge grass. A birch wood was planted between the buildings and the lake. The area to the south of the lake was thinned out so as to allow for the growth of heather. A recreational area was created on the west side, including sports fields, trails and training circuits.
Clean-up
Over the past few years, a number of buildings have been renovated and new ones have been built, including The Strip, a long, centrally located building that houses several restaurants and shops, conference rooms and an auditorium, a fitness centre and a grand café. Two villas have been built alongside the lake where a number of small businesses are currently housed. The whole area is being made as car-free as possible. Kokken: ‘The renovated buildings have turned out beautifully and blend in perfectly with the new ones. All that remains now is to demolish the WAH building, as it no longer fits in on the campus. The plan is to build high buildings on that site, which will provide fantastic views given its location alongside the lake with its natural vegetation and wooden walkways.’
Next logical step
SGS Search became an obvious candidate for this project when Kokken began to have doubts about the completeness of the asbestos report. He decided to ask SGS Search for an update. ‘SGS Search has compiled many asbestos inventories for Philips of buildings marked for renovation. During a meeting with the Head of Purchasing, Harrie Geven, it became obvious that SGS Search would also be able to draw up the plans for estimates and for the demolition itself. Thus, the next logical step was to combine the removal of the asbestos with the demolition work. Their quotation looked good, so we assigned the project to SGS Search.’
Shortlist
Together with Kokken and Geven, SGS Search compiled a shortlist of demolition companies and these were then asked to submit a tender for the demolition and decontamination projects based on the SGS Search estimates. The Heezen company from Eindhoven was granted the tender and has already started work. The plan is to have the job finished by the end of the year so further landscape work can then be carried out.