In short
- Smart buildings need to be developed to save energy and to reduce CO2 emissions
- The city hall in Almelo is such a building. Sustainable materials and clever practices were applied to make the building as sustainable as possible.
Global Goal
Various sustainable technologies have been applied in the town hall. The building has a ground-coupled heat exchanger, triple glazing, is very well insulated and has concrete core activation. This combination ensures sustainable heating and cooling, saving up to 100,000 kWh annually.
The facades of the town hall are optimally oriented to the sun, most effectively using the sunlight. Additionally, natural blinds, LED lighting and daylight sensors are used. The roof contains more than 1,000 m2 of green space for birds, bees and various plants, making the building even more ecologically friendly.
Connection, responsibility, trust and freedom are to the core of the town hall in Almelo. Spaces are connected through large open spaces on the north and south sides of the building, forming one large three-dimensional connected workspace. Flexible working is encouraged through the open design of the building and the many (over 600) flexible workspaces. The meeting rooms, consultation places, the council room and the staff restaurant can accommodate more than 1,000 people. Warm and soft fabrics are used at workplaces, while common spaces are equipped with harder materials like ceramics, linoleum and corian.
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Like the smart building, its location also exudes sustainability. The surrounding square is paved with baked stones, and the town hall is surrounded by greenery and water, offering local residents a pleasant view. Almelo once was home to the largest cotton port in Europe. With the Waterboulevard project, water is now being returned to the city. The parking area in front of the town hall regained its historic water function by becoming part of the water in Overijssel again.
Before the municipality was rewarded with a BREAAM-NL Excellent certificate, nine different sustainability aspects were considered. Aspects in the building such as energy, materials, health and spatial organisation. The town hall has only been in use since March 2015, but the design was already rewarded in 2012.