Old Philips machine factory TX in Eindhoven gets a total make-over: 56,000 square meters for businesses

Source: Eindhovens Dagblad, September 8, 2023 - Michel Theeuwen

Building TX, the former Philips machine factory at Strijp-T in Eindhoven, is being completely transformed. Soon, the enormous hall and three new work towers will offer space for 56,000 square meters of office and business space for high-tech manufacturing companies. The first tenants will be announced later this month.

Building TX is the next building on the former Philips industrial estate at Beukenlaan/Achtseweg-Zuid where owner GEVA Real Estate is sinking its teeth into. This year, demolition and asbestos removal will take place, and next year the renovation can begin. This way, the first keys for the new tenants can be handed out after the summer of 2025. Nearly a third of the space already has concrete agreements with companies, says Boudie Hoogedeure of GEVA Real Estate, but he does not want to disclose names yet. He also does not provide information about the investment.

2,500 people working at Strijp-T.

Building TX was taken into use by Philips in 1957 as a factory where machines for the company's own production of televisions and X-ray equipment were made. It was the longest factory building ever built by the Eindhoven company, with a length of 270 meters and a width of 67.5 meters. Three football fields could fit in there. Earlier, the energy plant TR (Innovation Powerhouse), pump house TAQ, buildings TQ and TY (Glass Laboratory) were given new functions on the 25-hectare Strijp-T site. As a result, a total of 2,500 people currently work in about fifty high-tech manufacturing companies. This number is likely to double with the new use of TX, says Hoogedeure. There are also some production companies on the site such as Draka and Smurfit Kappa.

Closed bastion opened

The closed bastion TX is divided into two unequal parts with a 30-meter wide passage. There will be a covered catering square for users and visitors. The two halls with offices on the facade sides will be issued in two phases. "Unless it goes faster than expected, because the Brainport manufacturing companies are knocking on our door for space," said Hoogedeure. The rooftop terrace will be publicly accessible via some stairs on the outside. On top, TX will have three new working towers of five levels, in the style of Strijp-T. Sustainability is also taken into account. The building will be reused and well insulated, and it will have the most modern energy-efficient installations, such as heat pumps. There will be a lot of solar panels on the roof.

Factory-like character preserved

Het ontwerp van de transformatie van TX is van de Eindhovense architect Stefan de Bever. Bij de vernieuwbouw was respect voor de historie een van de uitgangspunten, zoals overal op Strijp-T, zegt De Bever. ,,We wilden het fabrieksmatige karakter van Philips behouden.” De oude machinefabriek blijft grotendeels bewaard, alleen worden de gevels opnieuw opgebouwd, mét isolatie. Op de kopse kanten wordt het gebouw 15 en 30 meter verlengd. De constructie en de sheddaken die voor veel daglicht zorgen blijven behouden. Net als veel materialen uit het gebouw, zoals balustrades, stalen binnenkozijnen, trappen en de parketvloer. Verder was het volgens De Bever een uitdaging om het gebouw een ontmoetingsfunctie te geven voor de gebruikers en medewerkers van omliggende bedrijven. Daarvoor heeft hij een 30 meter brede doorgang met horeca bedacht. Dat moet een verblijfsgebied worden dat ook ’s avonds open is. Hier is ook de ingang naar de kelder van 10.000 vierkante meter. Hier komen een enorme fietsenstalling voor duizend fietsen, technische installaties en ateliers.

"Overall, a complex transformation to blend the old and the new together," says De Bever.

"Other parties would have demolished the building and built new construction," adds Hoogedeure. "We put effort into preserving the historic building."

It took a while before TX was discussed. According to alderman Stijn Steenbakkers, the parties had 'tough conversations', especially regarding the building possibilities and height within the existing zoning plan. Eventually, the parties reached a compromise of five building floors. There is also room for more greenery and new construction on the site later, especially at the edges. This will be addressed after 2028, once the zoning plan has been changed.

'No donation from municipality'

Furthermore, agreements have been made regarding the costs that GEVA Real Estate and the municipality must settle. Steenbakkers is canceling the contribution to the Neighborhood Fund (payment from developers for various facilities in the city) for the 5,000 square meters of expansion included in the plan. This amounts to about 55,000 euros. "No, that is not a donation. We have agreed that GEVA Real Estate will settle for each new meter that will be added after building TX."

Strijp-T as a driver of the city's economy

Steenbakkers believes that the 'Philips legacy' as one of the campuses is a 'driver of the city's economy', comparable to the High Tech Campus and Brainport Industries Campus. "Redevelopment of TX is now necessary to provide housing for important Brainport companies so that they remain in the region. Several parties have concrete plans to establish themselves here. Companies coming to TX will free up space elsewhere. For other companies, but perhaps also for housing."

To better connect the 'business park' with Strijp-S and the city center, the municipality is conducting a study on an grade-separated intersection with Beukenlaan/Ring. The idea of a sunken Ring was proposed years ago, but there was no funding available at that time.

More information can be found at www.gebouwTX.nl