On Saturday 21 June, the construction sector will once again open its doors to the general public. During Construction Day, construction sites throughout the Netherlands that are normally closed can be visited. This year, the emphasis is on sustainability and innovation, with special attention to biobased projects in which wood and other renewable materials are central.
For the first time, Construction Day is combined with Timber Construction Day. This new initiative focuses on construction projects that are carried out with wood and other bio-based raw materials. Visitors will have the opportunity to see with their own eyes how building with natural materials works in practice.
One of the most striking projects that is open to the public is in Assen. There, work is being done on the renovation of the government office Mandemaat 3. The building will have a wooden structure and will be designed entirely circularly. Old materials, such as bricks and glass, will be reused. The construction work will be carried out as much as possible electrically and without nitrogen emissions. The project shows that sustainable ambitions are also feasible for large-scale government buildings.
Visitors can also take a look in Vlijmen, at the Pastoor Smoldersstraat. Here, 42 social housing units are being built with timber frame construction and floors of cross-laminated timber. The project is energy-efficient, circular and is being realised entirely electrically. This shows that affordable housing can also benefit from biobased techniques.
In Brabant, several housing corporations are opening their doors to the public. They are building with wood and combining this with an industrial, modular approach. The homes are largely delivered prefabricated and assembled on site. This makes construction faster and reduces nuisance for the environment. At the same time, it leads to significant savings on CO₂ emissions.
Biobased construction is on the rise. Not only because of the climate benefits, but also because construction can be faster and more flexible. During the Day of Construction, visitors will get a unique insight into this new way of building. The projects make tangible what sustainable choices mean in practice.
Anyone interested in the future of construction would do well to go out on Saturday 21 June. On the websites of Construction Day en Timber Construction Day is an overview of all participating projects. There is also information about opening hours, guided tours and extra activities. For professionals, families and curious passers-by there is something to discover at many locations.
Photos: Ferro Offices, Dura Vermeer Construction Heyma BV
