From a barracks into the sustainable De Knoop

Client Rijksvastgoedbedrijf
Country The Netherlands
Location Utrecht
Status In Progress

Working in a pleasant and healthy way due to data-driven building management It is not only comfortable and energy-efficient, but also efficient and user-oriented. Redeveloped into Rijkskantoor de Knoop (a government office building), the former Knoopkazerne barracks in Utrecht is now a prime example of data-driven building management. With our own integral monitoring system Strukton PULSE, we control and monitor maintenance and operations.
Demolition, renovation and redevelopment took place from 2015 to early 2018, after which the 20-year maintenance and operation phase started. The building boasts workspaces, guest workspaces and a meeting centre.

Integrated approach of design, revitalisation, demolition, new construction, financing, management, maintenance, and facility services

Sustainable partnership and hospitality were major award criteria. The contract form opted for fits in well with these ambitions. R Creators signed for the design, renovation and redevelopment as well as for financing, maintenance, management, and facility services (DBFMO).

Sustainable collaboration and sustainable partnership

R Creators (a partnership between Strukton, Facilicom and Ballast Nedam) converted the former Knoopkazerne in Utrecht into a modern government office building. This project involves a combination of partial demolition, renovation and redevelopment at the premises of the former Knoopkazerne barracks in Utrecht in order to realise a combined office and meeting centre of approximately 30,000m² gross surface area.

Of course there were the usual award criteria for a building. Sustainable partnership and hospitality, however, were specifically added as award criteria in this project. Furthermore, the focus for Rijkskantoor De Knoop with respect to sustainability was not just on reducing energy consumption and material use, but also on maximum flexibility to ensure that the building and the services are future-proof.

Sustainability was a requirement when this project was tendered. This is reflected in the result in many ways. The premises has the energy label A+++. The energy performance is more than 40% under the maximum permitted for new construction. The building gets its heat from the municipal heat network. Solar panels covering a total of 1,660 square metres provide a lot of clean energy every day. The building is also equipped with natural ventilation, triple glass, and a partially green roof.

Rijkskantoor De Knoop, however, is much more than a sustainable building. It is a pleasant and healthy working and living environment for all users and visitors, and it has high-quality accommodation and services. Our integral monitoring system is the secret behind this.

Show understanding for each other and avoid wasting time and money. It is the best way.

Debbie van Noort

Read Debbie's blog

Data-driven building management With our own building management system Strukton PULSE, we collect data about people, technology and surroundings and process it into useful information for maintenance and improvement. We use many sensors to measure a host of values in all sorts of fields, ranging from the performance of installations to temperature and air quality. In Rijkskantoor de Knoop, we installed some 20,000 sensors, collecting data 24/7.

A leading, hospitable and sustainable building in the heart of Utrecht

The integrated monitoring system consists of a smart interface between the facility management monitoring system and the BIM model with Strukton PULSE and sensor technology. Read the case (only in Dutch)!

Read the case

From a barracks into the sustainable De Knoop

Show understanding for each other and avoid wasting time and money. It is the best way.

A leading, hospitable and sustainable building in the heart of Utrecht

A leading, hospitable and sustainable building in the heart of Utrecht

Thousands of sensors, tens of thousands of measured values

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