-
Architects: ConverseArchitects
- Area: 33000 m²
- Year: 2013
-
Photographs:Samual Ashfield, Sebastiaan Knot, Michael van Oosten
-
Manufacturers: AGC, Armstrong Ceilings, De Groot en Visser, Modular Lighting Instruments, Tata Steel, thyssenkrupp
Text description provided by the architects. The Ultra sustainable utility complexLely Campus is one of the most sustainable utility complexes in Europe. The campus comprises the new corporate premises of the Lely Group, an international producer for the agricultural business. The project was awarded with the highest BREEAM Outstanding certificate.
Chief architect Machiel Hopman from the Rotterdam based architectural firm ConsortArchitects combined the functional demands of principal Lely with the ‘corporate values’ of the company. Together with an integral team of professional designers and advisors in this project he demonstrates that a supreme level of sustainability, functionality and architecture can easily be synchronized within one structure.
Hopman chose to use long lengths, referring to the original structure of the surrounding polder landscape. The main structure was centrally positioned on the plot and on either side completed with elongated office wings that were elevated in order facilitate logistics on the ground floor.
The innovative and high-tech character of the principal reflects in the elevations of the office building. The façade is transparent and completely executed in glass, placed within a white sturdy framing. Behind the glass an expressive steel framework construction, two floors high, emphasizes the industrial and modern appearance of the building. Repetitive use of innovative steel frameworks and the abundant use of glass, both in exterior and interior, accentuates the industrial look of the building and links to innovation and technique.
Steering factor behind the lay-out and design of the complex is facilitating an inspiring and dynamic work environment. In the elongated office wings light spaces predominate and openness and privacy alternate. A clear link was created between the office-area and the activities that take place in the assembly hall. The two structures are seamlessly combined with each other and working processes are mutually visible. This alone stimulates the work involvement internally and companywide.
The architect has chosen to deploy multiple use of space, and designed a car park on the rooftop of the assembly-hall instead of using additional undeveloped land. This sustainable solution saves at least 20.000 sqm of ground. More elements of smart design can be found in the set-up of the production hall.
The floor plan is very flexible and open. Due to clever engineering the use of pillars could be effectively limited. Besides, the base-floor of the hall was completely pre-fabricated and constructed on a higher lever in order to create a crawl space underneath. Both interventions result in an enormous flexibility within the production hall, which serves the LEAN-processes of the principal Lely. On top of that, the assembly-hall is highly energy efficient and has an outstanding working climate thanks to the creation of a ‘green long’, a 100 sqm large indoor forest.
The charisma of the Lely Campus is amplified by the high level of sustainability of the project. In detail a sequence of sustainable and energy saving arrangements have been worked out in the architectural design. As a result the Dutch Green Building Council awarded the campus with a BREEAM NL Outstanding certificate, the highest attainable sustainability level within the BREEAM assessment method.
The key to this achievement lies in the integral working method that was used from the start of the design phase. Architectonic design, landscape design, technical installations, construction, interior design and a lighting plan were, under supervision of the architect, perfectly tuned and consolidated in an integral design. An integral symbiosis that resulted in a sustainable utility complex which breathes out forward thinking and stimulates innovation and creation.
