The ability of Harsco Infrastructure to provide a genuinely comprehensive combination of products and services for the construction industry has been highlighted by a recent project at Utrecht University’s new Faculty of Science building. In addition to a fully comprehensive formwork, shoring, encapsulation, mast-climbing, suspended and powered access, scaffolding, staircase & edge protection package, Harsco also provided the largest rolling roof of its type ever to be used in the Netherlands.
“Although the rolling roof played a central role in Harsco’s contribution, our ability to act as a single-source supplier brought significant benefits to this project,” comments Arie van Dijk, Sales Manager, Harsco Infrastructure Construction Services BV “By providing a fully integrated solution we were able to ensure that each aspect was managed as efficiently as possible and also help maintain the highest safety standards on site.”
Harsco worked closely with the main contractor, Hurks van der Linden, and with roofing system provider HAKI to create the HAKITEC 750 rolling roof which shielded the site from the weather so that construction work could remain on schedule. The roof was designed to be opened and closed by the on-site scaffolding team during the construction work so that materials could be craned into the building. Towards the end of the project, Harsco and HAKI also raised the 1,446 sq m roof by an extra storey to create sufficient space for the final construction stage to take place.
Harsco Infrastructure is an approved supplier of HAKI’s temporary roof systems and accompanying shelter product range. Martin Van Putten, Managing Director of Harsco Infrastructure Construction Services in Holland, commented, “The HAKITEC 750 temporary roofing system has an unrivalled reputation for safety, ease of erection and speed of installation and is the product of choice for Harsco Europe. Therefore it was the only system we would have considered for this project.
“Teamwork on such a challenging application is essential so the total support HAKI UK gave us, from design right through to installation of the system, was crucial to the success of the project.”
Designed by the Dutch Hertzberger architecture studio, the striking new Faculty of Science building will house various scientific disciplines together under a huge open atrium. The atrium will eventually be topped by a large glass structure to create a striking landmark.
