As project developer, the Londerzeel-based company EXPO Holding invests in upgrading and leasing industrial buildings. To give the right example, they entrusted us with the construction of their new offices. A relatively small surface area for edibo standards but a project with an extremely challenging level of detailing. Project manager Frederick Meynen and calculator-salesman Marc Pellens look back on a short but potent case.
The project
Within this project, we were in charge of the wind and watertight basic construction works. With a little over 300 m² of new construction offices spread over two floors, this isn’t what we typically call an industrial edibo realisation.
And still we had to dig into our plus 40 years’ experience and expertise to meet the specified expectations of the building consultant; specifically, to realise the visual aspects of this project.
From a distance it’s mainly the glass façades, white concrete panelling and black aluminium joinery that stand out, but from up close, the meticulous lining patterns bring out the aesthetical marvel.
For the building consultant – who, as architect, was responsible herself for the building design – the power of beauty was clearly in the details. Something we at edibo can only endorse.
The challenges
The more eye for detail, the larger the demand for perfection. In order to come to the desired end result we needed to tackle a couple of additional challenges along the way to that perfection.
1. Limited site size
Due to the small site we needed to ensure that all deliveries and executions were perfectly aligned, in order not to fall without work or materials. A detailed preparation was therefore an absolute necessity.
2. Industrial materials driven to their extremes
The building consultant designed an aesthetically eminent building with loads of transitions between the different materials that also needed to be aligned perfectly. The defined budget, however, did not allow working with materials that offered additional flexibility during execution.
The biggest challenge lay more specifically in fitting the concrete façade panels. Where we would have been able to produce these panels completely to size and with very little technical limitations with architectonic concrete, the industrially manufactured panels were quite a lot more challenging.
These industrial concrete panels are very decent and budget-friendly but less flexible in use with regard to the available sizes and potential detailing, seen as they are only produced in standard widths.
To make this visual puzzle fit seamlessly, we relied on an internal team that understood the assignment perfectly. From the sales people to the work planners, up to the assembly teams on site: everyone realised that this required only the utmost focus and cooperation in order to succeed.
3. Continuously looking for compromises
Additional advantage within this project was the constructive communication between building consultant/architect and team edibo. Both parties possess the needed experience and material knowledge so to make quick and efficient decisions.
In a project where the visuals are of that great importance, this constructive dialogue is even more imperative. Because when aesthetics is prioritised, another principal element is often pushed back. But thanks to this open cooperation, we were able to find the most optimal compromises in the field of aesthetics, budget-wise as well as energetically.
Typical edibo?
Despite working with materials and methods that have been ingrained in our edibo DNA for decades, we still look back on a relatively unusual project for edibo. This is due to the aesthetically high demands of the building consultant linked with the very limited work area.
Thanks to the hyperdetailed preparation of our inhouse team and the close collaboration with the building consultant/architect – ever since the calculation phase – we were able to continue at full speed during the implementation phase. With an appreciated result.
Maybe a little extra?
This realisation shines – just like many other edibo projects from the past –organisationally, structurally and aesthetically. Would you like your future project to stand out? We at edibo(sud) realise as no other that an industrial construction project doesn’t have to be limited to pure functionality alone.
What do you have in mind? Enlighten us during a non-binding meeting.