Construction of the new RIVM building can start after change of the design
RIVM and the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) will move to Utrecht Science Park. In 2015, it became clear that the original design did not comply with the vibration user requirements for laboratory rooms. The consortium StruktonHurksHeijmans (SHH) made several changes to the design in 2016. Construction is expected to begin in 2017.
Vibrations
RIVM and the Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) will move to a soon-to-be-constructed 18-floor glass building that will house offices and laboratories. The advanced laboratory equipment is extremely sensitive to vibrations. It is therefore imperative that the new building is constructed in a way that vibrations will not affect the performance of the equipment. In 2015, it became clear that the original design did not comply with the vibration user requirements.
Due to the complexity of the issue, which required a calculation model to determine the impact of vibrations from vehicle motorized traffic in the immediate surroundings, finding a solution took a lot of time.
At the end of 2016, the consortium was able to incorporate various measures into the design, such as bigger and longer piles, to ensure that all requirements were met.
Ventilated cavities in the ground around the building will help to absorb the vibrations from surrounding traffic. Furthermore, the tower of the building and the laboratory wing will be moved 20 meters to the south, away from the tram rails.
Starting certificate
Once the design met the vibration user requirements, the Central Government Real Estate Agency, as the commissioning party, issued a starting certificate on 16 January 2017. This certificate confirms that SHH complies with the specified requirements and is allowed to start construction. According to SHH's plans, the new building will be delivered in autumn 2020. Director-General André van der Zande is pleased that construction can get started: “I am pleased that the technical problem has been resolved and I look forward to getting established in Utrecht Science Park, where we will become even more visible for the Netherlands.”