On 29 November the Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, Hugo de Jonge, gave the green light for the construction of the new accommodation for the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG). Together with André van der Zande (RIVM), Ton de Boer (CBG), Roger Mol (Central Government Real Estate Agency) and Gerard Sanderink (Strukton), he helped drive one of the first piles for the tower block. The 73 piles under the tower block have a diameter of 1.85 metres and are around 58 metres long. The size of these piles is one of the technological solutions that ensure that the building complies with the vibration requirement for the laboratories. The new building will be on Helsinkilaan in Utrecht Science Park (USP) and is expected to open in autumn 2021.

The aim is to provide flexible, sustainable and energy-efficient accommodation for both knowledge institutes. The gross floor area is around 80,000 m2, excluding parking and bike sheds. Unique to the building is that this is the first Public Private Partnership Project for a government building in the Netherlands that accommodates laboratories.

Laboratories
RIVM uses high-quality laboratory equipment. These are very sensitive to vibrations, so it is important that the new building is constructed in such a way that vibrations do not disrupt the operation of laboratory equipment.

The design was adapted to satisfy the vibration requirement. Bigger and longer piles are being used and air cavities will be created in the ground around the building. The 18-storey glass tower block and the wing with specific laboratories will also be moved 20 metres to the south.

RIVM and CBG together in one building
Both institutes belong to the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). RIVM and CBG both work for the health of people and animals and a healthy living environment. Sharing knowledge with national and international knowledge partners and communicating this knowledge to society is an important aspect of their work. The design of the new building will stimulate this knowledge sharing. Their central location in the country, on the outskirts of Utrecht Science Park, to the east of Utrecht, makes both organisations more visible to society.