All installations in plain sight: structurally challenging

On Brederodelaan in Deventer, a building called "De Uiterwaarden" is rising. It is the new day care location for clients and also the Service Bureau of De Parabool. On June 8, it was accessible for a short time as part of Construction Day. Some four hundred enthusiastic visitors came to take a look.

For Nikkels, it had been several years since they participated in the Construction Day. 'You have to have a project that is interesting to the public, that is far enough along in terms of construction and that is easily accessible,' says Dagmar IJssel de Schepper, communications consultant at Nikkels. 'Furthermore, you need manpower to prepare for the event and on the day itself to show visitors around, give explanations and supervise the activities for the youth. And - also not unimportant - the client has to be behind it.'

This all came together on June 8 on Brederodelaan in Deventer, where Nikkels is building the 'De Uiterwaarden' building. The Construction Day, organized jointly with Bouwmensen and De Parabool, attracted over four hundred interested parties. 'They were clients of De Parabool with their parents/carers, employees who will soon be working here, local residents, schoolchildren, and family and friends of our own staff,' said IJssel de Schepper.

Careers in construction

But of course, Construction Day was once created to interest young people (and lateral entrants) in a career in construction. Superintendent Rutger Molenaar was one of those who showed visitors around on June 8. Whether that target group of potential workers was reached, he cannot say so specifically. 'I didn't see/recognize them, but a day like this also works indirectly,' he knows. 'It often goes via via. Maybe someone who was at the tour will tell their cousin or neighbor girl about it the next day. And who knows, maybe a registration with Bouwmensen will result from that; then our mission will also have succeeded. And who knows, maybe this article is just the push in the back for someone who is still a little unsure about his or her choice of profession. That too is possible. We have a number of vacancies open so any extra influx is very welcome.'

Specials

Miller himself started in construction at the age of 16. 'I loved working with my hands as a kid,' he says. 'I considered metal but that wasn't my thing, and you still don't have to ask me about electricity. I chose carpentry. I knew very quickly that I wanted to become a carpenter because I love organizing and arranging. But you don't become a superintendent overnight. I started as an apprentice and gradually learned the tricks of the trade. After a short stint as a self-employed worker - which also taught me a lot - I went back to a contractor, started training as an assistant superintendent, became an apprentice and finally got the chance to become a superintendent. I have been working in that position for ten years now, the last seven of which at Nikkels. The great thing about this construction company is that we

in addition to building regular housing, we also do quite a bit of utilities. De Uiterwaarden is a very good example of this. In terms of sustainability, the use of accoya wood on the façade immediately catches the eye. Untreated it remains beautiful outside for about fifty years. The building is equipped with two heat pumps and a four-pipe system for heating and cooling the building. There are 57 solar panels on the roof.'

In plain sight

Molenaar and his colleagues are in full swing in the completion phase of this project in Deventer. Another six months or so and then De Parabool employees and clients will be able to move into this beautiful building. 'This is a special building to work on,' he says, explaining: 'All the installations will be left in sight. Construction-wise, that's a challenge because it means quite a bit for the sequence of work. It also makes us have to work extra neatly. So it was extra nice that we were able to show this particular building on Construction Day. It is not a standard residential building. The design is already special and the architect has added a lot of details in the masonry and carpentry. It's also nice that everything is in the contract with us, the total construction and all the installations. In cooperation with subcontractors, we also take care of the construction of the garden, the wadis and the paving around the building. We will soon deliver the building turn-key, complete with flooring. The people of De Parabool can move in immediately.

Incredibly varied

'I have a wonderful job,' says Molenaar. 'I sit around the table with all kinds of people, have to know something about all parts of construction. The schedule from start of construction to completion is broadly fixed, but in the 6-week schedules that I make with KYP Project, I detail what needs to be done. I share that planning with subcontractors and they can check off what is done. Here at 'De Uiterwaarden' I also work closely with project leader Herman and work planner Eric, and it is nice that this is already the fifth project we are doing in this composition. I also can't do without my foreman Nick; he's my eyes and ears on the construction site.'

'The nice thing about working in construction is that it is so incredibly varied,' Molenaar concludes. 'We build homes, offices, schools, and you name it. You're always somewhere new, and something is created under your hands. Here at Nikkels, we work with and for a large number of regular clients including housing associations, project developers, companies, investors and healthcare organizations. We also realize projects we develop ourselves.

"Name a 'most fun' project? I can't, mind you. Every project has its charm. Okay, let me pick out one part: during the construction of a care complex in Harderwijk, we manually provided all the dormers and gutters with zinc. Quite a job, but so incredibly beautiful. I'll say it one more time: construction is great!