More than seven months on from when Mayor Wallage first kicked off construction, the highest point has now been reached in the construction of the new Information Management Group (Informatie Beheer Groep or IB-Groep) and the Tax Authorities office building at Kempkensberg in Groningen.
The new office building’s lift shafts are already clearly visible from various vantage points in the city and surrounding area. Reaching the building’s zenith was celebrated on Wednesday, 16 September at a special meeting organised for all the parties involved in the project. The flag was hoisted and drinks were served to the building workers on reaching this new milestone.
Construction of the upper floors has since commenced around the lift shafts. Expectations are that shell work will be completed on the lower tower by the end of the year, followed by the taller tower in May 2010, after which finishing off will begin. A start will also be made at the end of this year on fitting the horizontal ‘fins’ around the building. This will deflect as much sunlight as possible, reducing the need for air conditioning and therefore energy consumption. The fins will also supply the desired level of daylight, generating further savings on artificial lighting. Depending on the sun’s position, the design and tapering of the fins will vary in length and size. Expectations are that the building will be delivered in March 2011, when demolition of the existing office towers of the IB-Groep and Tax Authorities at Kempkensberg will commence, along with building a parking garage, public gardens and a pavilion.
About the project
The project includes the design, construction and financing of the new office building for the IB-Groep and Tax Authorities (47,000 m²), along with the management and maintenance of the building, and provision of facility services for a 20-year period. The building will accommodate around 2,500 workstations and feature parking facilities for some 1,500 bicycles and 675 cars, largely housed in an underground parking garage. A large public garden featuring fountains and a multifunctional pavilion offering commercial opportunities will be constructed above the parking garage.
Sustainability plays a key role and this aspect has therefore been integrated in the design. The building facade, choice of materials, finishing work and system integration are all geared to achieving the highest degree of sustainability while simultaneously minimising environmental impact. The building could even be converted into dwellings in time. Attention has been paid to this option in advance with respect to positioning the lifts, building systems and stairwells, and constructing the outer walls.
Another important part of the project is its ecological overlap with the nearby Sterrebos. The design and management of green resources have been organised so as to provide an attractive living environment for people as well as generating added ecological value for the surroundings, especially by creating extra space in the form of public gardens.