The IBIS hotel is located close to the main railway station in the ancient inner city of Amsterdam. Due to a lack of space, the only possibility to extend the hotel was to build straight above the railway tracks and to found the building on the existing platforms. This challenge has resulted in an innovative design&construction method and tendering process.
Witteveen+Bos has been involved in the project since 2003, providing our patron (railway real estate company NS Vastgoed) with consultancy services on a wide and above all integrated range of subjects (structural and geotechnical design, railway technology, noise nuisance, vibrations and climate control, cost management, contracting and general project management).
The design is realised, starting from the early days, in close co-operation with Ruland and partner architects. The challenge to construct this building at this special location was one of the major criteria for the structural design. In view of this, the design team was extended, before the start of the final designing phase, with the nominated contractor J.P. van Eesteren. The contractor was selected in a tendering process based on his idea to erect the building at a safe height above platforms and electric railway systems and to jack it downwards to its final height after the first store was finished.
At its final foundation, the overall building is placed on special springs in order to avoid vibrations due to frequently passing railway trains, which is unique in its kind in the Netherlands. Obviously, special attention has also been paid to the specific resonance of the hotel itself.
The exchange of knowledge between Witteveen+Bos, Tyréns and NIRAS will make it possible to realise more special and complex buildings like this hotel in the near future, above street level or subsoil. We hereby focus on the idea to create more space in exiting (ancient) inner citys and at the same time improving the quality of the urban environment.
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