Library becomes Faculty of Law

A year ago, the time had come: the old library of Groningen was reoccupied, this time as the home of the Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen and under the name Rölinggebouw. An additional floor on top of the building, a new patio and a second entrance were added. Homij delivered the entire W- and E-installation.

First, the old library was completely gutted and then given a new layout. The building was originally designed by Italian architect Giorhio Grassi. He also played a role in the renovation, so that the existing style was preserved. Grassi designed the additional floor back then, and it now became a reality.

In addition to work, study and meeting areas, there is an exercise court in the basement. This area is connected to the central reception area by a podium staircase. Additional daylight was added to the building for a pleasant working and learning environment.

Stamp

Homij, in collaboration with contractor Visser & Smit Bouw, laid the entire W and E installation, starting from scratch. Based on the university's package of requirements, the installation was fully developed and implemented. A large part was worked out in advance in a 3D model, so that parts could be delivered prefabricated. Arend Riemersma, project manager at Homij: "We could deliver the installation ready-made and then assemble it. Then you need fewer operations on the job."

This was an inner-city project, so good planning and arrangements had to be made for the delivery of these goods, Riemersma continues. "The construction site itself was a postage stamp, namely a very small courtyard. In the building itself, we created empty spaces where employees could schaften."

Headaches

And that was not the only challenge Homij faced. Several surprises emerged during the renovation project, which then had to be solved. Especially the existing construction meant that not everything the installers had in mind was always possible. Riemersma: "In consultation with the structural engineer and the architect, we looked for new solutions. The project was mainly smart thinking: how can you install smartly, so that you can still incorporate everything in a short time? We contributed ideas on how to solve everything within the time pact."

Looking Back

Work started in April 2022 and Homij was ready in 2023. New main and subdistributors, sustainable LED lighting, a heat pump installation, solar panels on the entire roof, climate controls with presence detection: everything was installed according to Homij's own plug & play DLS concept. The advantage was that the building consists of a number of wings that are similar to each other, so the installers knew exactly what was expected of them. Now the company also takes care of the maintenance.

After completion it was already clear that it has become a beautiful building to look at, but of course the users must also be satisfied with the rooms and the indoor climate. In September they are in it for a year and the installation appears to be working completely to their satisfaction. "We got feedback that they are super happy with it. We worked hard to complete the project on schedule. We put a lot of energy into that and we are proud of what we made there," Riemersma said.