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On the outskirts of Barendrecht, the latest Boels branch is being built in earnest. This XL branch is being constructed with a view to a CO2-neutral future at Boels Rental. The driving force for sustainable growth in the Rotterdam region. Peek Bouw & Infra has been Boels’ partner in construction and refurbishing for 25 years. It’s now time to talk to the Project Manager of Peek, Mikeal Lommerse and Boels Rental Area Manager Danny van der Ent about this sustainable construction project.
It is bustling with activity on the 5,000 m2 site on Escudostraat in Barendrecht. In January of this year, Peek Bouw & Infra began construction at the request of Boels. The new property, consisting of an office, showroom and warehouse, should be wind and watertight before the summer holidays. Completion is planned for the end of October.
An orange boost for the region
Area Manager Danny van der Ent hopes the site will be operational soon afterwards. “Yes, I’d like to start generating sales here as soon as possible. This branch is going to provide a huge boost in an area where there is still a lot of potential for growth.” He has already hired the first new employees. Danny is aiming for a 50/50 split between men and women. “I think this is entirely in keeping with the times and I am taking responsibility for this.”
The new one-stop solution
Barendrecht was truly built for the future, Danny explains. “It is an XL branch. This means that the locations and the range of equipment will be larger and that we will be bundling more services. This has advantages for customers as well as for the environment.” Here, Danny is referring to fewer ‘polluting’ kilometres due to shorter distances and more efficient transport, which in turn will benefit the customer.
Sustainably built
CO2 neutral and sustainable construction were the starting points for Peek and Boels. Peek Project Manager Mikeal Lommerse explains. The building is brimming with sustainable innovations. The solar panels on the roof and their batteries are the centrepiece. This is also new for us. Apart from the positive effects on the environment, this will also save Boels when it comes to energy costs. It’s a win-win situation.
Mikeal is referring to storing the peak voltage in the morning. Having your own ‘mini power station’ allows you to collect this energy, which immediately generates a return. This means that the Barendrecht branch does not need a large-scale connection.
“This is the future for the construction world. It’s nice to see how we are taking responsibility for this together with Boels” – Mikeal Lommerse, projectleider
Zero emissions in and around the new facility
But for now, we’re still in our work boots in the clay and sustainability is still playing a major role in this project. A zero emission aerial work platform is being used to install the panels for the façade and an electric forklift truck is driving back and forth carrying insulation material. Driver John de Weerd certainly doesn’t miss the diesel vehicles. “No this drives great. It’s just a little more sensitive when accelerating and braking. I also really like the quiet, but the most important thing is that we are working in an environmentally friendly way.”
There is already good progress being made on the construction front and the branch will later be fitted with high-efficiency glass, which will provide thermal insulation. It is especially nice that we are also providing 10 charging points for electric cars. Not only are eco-friendly and sustainable materials being used, but we are also constantly looking for ways to keep advancing. Just a little while longer and then we can open the new branch and share all of this with our customers!
