Hilti BIM Experience Centre
Steel and concrete where necessary, interspersed with wood where possible

This month, Hilti’s new BIM Experience Centre will be completed in Berkel en Rodenrijs: an innovative 4,350 m² office building. The building will be the centre for knowledge sharing and innovation in digitisation in construction. Hilti’s wish was clear: a BIM Competence Centre that is Paris Proof and, where possible, built using bio-based materials. As a structural engineer, Pelecon played a key role in this.

Paris Proof construction means that a building already complies with the strict sustainability standards set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. In concrete terms, this involves a drastic reduction in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, so that the building is future-proof for 2050. Biobased construction revolves around the use of renewable materials from natural sources – such as wood – that are less harmful to the environment and often even store CO₂.

Naam: Henk van Vliet
Functie: Constructor and Partner

Construction challenge for Pelecon
Pelecon colleague Henk van Vliet explains that the challenge for Pelecon lay in realising a hybrid construction: steel and concrete where necessary, interspersed with wood where possible. For example, the façade is clad in wood and the entrance and pergola are made of laminated wood. This makes the design an important intermediate step towards fully biobased design and construction.

What makes the Hilti building special
What makes this project extra special is that Hilti has used the first versions of its new fasteners in the building. This means that innovation is not only presented, but also literally applied in the construction. In addition, the design is so flexible that the building can be divided into several office units in the future. This smart choice increases the utility value and sustainability of the building.

Henk van Vliet: ‘We too are still learning every day during our work. When incorporating a wooden structure as a floor slab, we had to get used to fitting smaller spans into the design. We also had to deal with a newly designed connection here. But with good play options and 100% detachable.’

The key to sustainable ambitions
With this project, Pelecon demonstrates that construction is the key to translating sustainable ambitions – such as Paris Proof and biobased building – into a practical, feasible and inspiring design. The result is a powerful and future-oriented office for the innovative supplier of fasteners Hilti.

Want to know more about how the new Hilti wood connection was applied in practice? Watch the video made by Hilti Netherlands about the development of their new office.