OUTSTANDING cold store

Potato processing company Aviko is realising an automated high-rise cold store next to the factory in Steenderen. They are aiming for BREEAM-NL ‘Outstanding’. During the preliminary phase, they have taken the time to ensure the best engineering and efficient work preparation.

Until now, frozen products produced at Aviko Steenderen were transported to - and stored in - different locations in the Netherlands. To limit the number of transport movements and improve efficiency, a different solution has been in the works for years. With Aviko’s new cold store, this will become a reality. The building will have eleven layers (without intermediate floors) of which 6,600 square metres will be frozen storage and 1,600 square metres will be cold storage. There will also be 320 square metres of technical area, 420 square metres of office space and 2,000 square metres of shipping area.

In harmony with the sky

Architectural firm Bessels faced the challenge of harmonising the massive building with its environment, according to project leaders Cordy Volkers and John Engelen. “Partly because of the height and the sightlines, we wanted to have the building be in harmony with the sky. In studies and with similar buildings, we discovered that the sky is often not clear blue. It generally has a light grey-white shade”, Cordy explains. “That is why we designed a green plinth with a grey-white topping. Practical and effective.” That did result in the next challenge. “White is the best solution for a cold store”, he continues. “Every colour creates tension in the sandwich panel that can cause cracks. Form retention is of great importance. Because we were able to resolve the span of the panels thanks to the rack-supported silo construction, we made this concession anyway.”

Air is money

The steel structure is closely connected to what the automation expert demands. “They want compact storage.” In this building, air is money. The less air, the better. By reducing the oxygen in the cold store, the building becomes more fire-safe. To get the most out of the steel structure, an unusual shape was chosen, with wide instead of narrow supports. “This creates a more stable surface. Another important point was the choice between cranes or shuttles. Aviko chose the latter, because a crane requires much more load.” 

Innovative

John indicates that the construction was carefully thought-out in advance by VDR Bouwgroep. “The extra time the construction team put into the engineering process results in an efficient and successful construction process. And various innovative choices were made for this project.” Aiming for the maximum BREEAM-NL score results in a building that is substantially more sustainable than a standard building. Think of a broad range of design measures and material choices. The cold store becomes energy-efficient due to its high-rise construction (35 m2), automation and efficient equipment. “The use of residual heat from the cold store cooling avoids the need for additional energy for heating the offices. The cold store is cooled by a few more degrees at night, meaning the system can be put out of operation during the day and the network is not affected by it. Solar panels generate energy and water-saving measures are implemented at all toilets, taps and showers. Both residual cold and heat are used for office climate control and there is LED lighting everywhere.” 

Construction will be finished at the end of this year, after which the systems will be set up. The cold store will go into operation in mid-2020.

www.bessels.com