Collections Centre Netherlands, Amsterdam
Approximately 31,5000 m² of floor space, of which 25,000 m² is storage space consisting of 350,000 objects in 39 depots: the law of large numbers dominates the Collection Center Netherlands. The CC NL has been set up in record time in less than two years. Construction started in May 2018 and the building was completed in the summer of 2020.
Centuries
The CC NL is accessible to researchers, students, museum colleagues and visitors with a specific question. “Unique in the world, in more ways than one, says Hoeben.” Nowhere else is such a large collection of museum objects from one owner, in this case the State, concentrated in one location. An acute lack of space at the participating institutions was the direct reason for the construction of the CC NL.
Hull
The depot is a heavy concrete bunker 24 meters high and consisting of four 5.5 meters high floors, supported by about a thousand piles of 24 meters long. The big advantage of this heavy construction is that weather and temperature have no influence on the indoor climate. Within the depots, covered with sand-lime brick – perfect insulation material –, there is a constant temperature of approximately 17 degrees and – more importantly – a stable air humidity.
They knew exactly what they were doing. They worked at a fast pace, but also very neatly and without leaving a mess. It all went without saying, we hardly had to worry about it.
Wim Hoeben, Location manager Collection Centre Netherlands
Customization
In close collaboration with Bruynzeel, a design plan was drawn up that offered safe storage to all objects. Hoeben: “We drew up a schedule of requirements and then entered into discussions about this with the project leaders and experts at Bruynzeel. The meetings were pleasant, with constructive conversations, the possibilities were critically examined from both sides. Details always played a major role in those discussions, because when it comes to optimal use of space, details count. The people at Bruynzeel were always very precise about this.”
Assembly teams
In barely ten months, the Bruynzeel assembly teams installed:
- 24,250 m² of mesh frame racking
- 8,650 m² of Longspan shelving
- 2,400 m² of cantilever racks
- 18,060 m² of Sysco® racks
- 960 m² of mobile bases
- 1,287 carpet racks
- 3,655 drawers
- 117 panel racks
- 191 wardrobes in cabinets
The numbers are cut out in a metal plate that Hoeben received from Bruynzeel after completion of the project. It’s now placed on his desk, like a trophy awarded after an impressive sports performance.
