A new Food Court was recently completed at a high-profile location along the A27 motorway in Nieuwegein. On business park Het Klooster, a gross floor area of 2,300 m2 with 221 parking spaces has been developed on a plot totalling 12,105 m2, at the co-initiative of McDonald’s. Pelecon has been involved in the development of this future-proof project destined for the chains McDonald’s, KFC, Happy Italy and De Beren since 2021 as main structural engineer.
The joint chains have fine sustainability ambitions covering health, food production, waste disposal and minimisation of logistical movements to and from the site. In the design, therefore, the architect has taken into account the use of circular materials, the most energy-efficient lighting and many green elements have been used on the site. There are solar panels on the roof and heat recovery from the kitchens to the lobbies. The building is also completely gas-free, meeting all the requirements a modern building must have in the future.
Our challenge as main structural engineer
The height accent at the front of the building and the 40-metre high tower on McDonald’s was a nice challenge for us as chief structural engineer. This tower has a wooden cladding combined with green planting. Of particular note is the wind load on this tower and its impact on the supporting structure of McDonald’s. The tower has a three-dimensional steel frame against which the wooden cladding is mounted. Our partner Hofman Staalbouw made a clear video about this.
Impression: Dunvast B.V.