Consultancy firm van de Laar has been a consultancy firm in the field of architectural construction since 1956. Our firm, with 30 employees, is located in the Innovation PowerHouse (INPH) at Strijp-T.
Van de Laar operates within an ecosystem that creates buildings through interdisciplinary collaborations. In the increasingly complex world of construction, more and more specialists are emerging who have a significant contribution to the realization of a construction project. Developing sustainable structures is an important theme for us.
Constructions that are flexible, future-proof. Constructions that can adapt to changing housing demands and thereby enable circularity at the building level; also applying construction materials efficiently and facilitating circular use at the material level. We are going to experiment, we will investigate during repurposing what is possible or what is achievable with limited interventions. Not every existing building can be transformed into housing affordably, but a transformation into an office or a school building may be feasible.
In new construction, the focus is not only on circularity but also on functionality now and in the future. A flexible skeleton with maximum freedom for users, architects, and installers. This flexibility provides the greatest sustainability benefits. Close collaboration and interaction with other disciplines are necessary for all these activities.
It has been a long time since only the architect on behalf of the client was responsible for the realization of a building. Other consultants, such as the structural engineer, W and E consultant, building physicist, cost expert, fire safety specialist, and the executing parties, have become essential links alongside the architect in the overall design and construction process of a building. A process in which the creation of the final product can only be successful if it takes place within a creative and innovative ecosystem.
As a structural engineer, we work in open 3D Revit/BIM environments with our project partners on projects, thereby improving and innovating the production process. We collaborate with our partners on Design & Build and Engineer & Build projects, among others.
Finally, we are constantly looking for new talent and we enjoy working with interns from technical universities and universities of applied sciences. These young individuals are exposed to all stakeholders in the construction process from day 1 of their internship or trial period. Their ideas and research studies are tested in practice and implemented where possible. We provide workspace for students to introduce them to the field, supporting them in their graduation projects.
The INPH provides us with the ideal work environment to continue developing and expanding our innovative approach.