Photoreport of the new Enza Zaden R&D center

"Due to the strict hygiene requirements of the laboratories in the new building, living green was not desirable, but thanks to the oakwood cladding still a warm atmosphere was created," says architect Anton Hanemaaijer.

The construction of the new complex has recently been completed. AABnl, together with the staff from Enza Zaden, designed the building and coordinated the construction. Together they look back on a comprehensive project.

"Two and a half years ago we started designing," Anton says. "Enza Zaden is growing very fast, this growth created a strong need for new and modern facilities. We first had to adjust the zoning plan in order to create sufficient space for all the expansions." In 2015 and 2016, Enza Zaden and AABnl realized a seed storage and processing hall of approximately 17,000 m² of floor space and a new facility center including a 7,000 m² research greenhouse. "As long as Enza Zaden continues to grow, this principal will continue to challenge us to develop beautiful and innovative projects."

"The building had to be given a flexible layout and a sustainable appearance. In the design we have built all facilities in a modular way to make the building future-proof.”

Laboratories and office spaces are set up in the same dimensional grid. All installations can be adjusted relatively easily in the event of a layout change. "Important requirements for the R & D center were that hygiene and safety for employees and products are warranted." Everything was developed in consultation with Enza Zaden. Various zones can be closed separately from a hygienic point of view and safety measures have been taken, such as a sprinkler and gas extinguishing systems and emergency and eye showers."

The research greenhouse consists of 21 departments, all of which can be controlled on a separate climate. The departments are equipped with movable cultivation tables or cultivation gutters. Furthermore, mostly SON-T lighting is provided, but also a number of departments have LED lighting. By means of air treatment units and outside air intake, active cooling can be effected in the departments.

In the greenhouse also space was created for the installation of two transformer stations, an emergency power generator and a liquid nitrogen tank of 3,000 liters. The latter element is fitted in such a way that the users from the laboratory can 'tap' nitrogen directly from the building.

Heat and cold is provided in a sustainable manner with an energy storage system underground (doublet of 150 m³/h) in combination with heat pumps and a cold storage tank. "With this system, we put low-value heat in the greenhouses, the climate cells and buildings at the moment it is needed."

The cold thereby generated is stored intermediately in the cold storage tank and the doublet. "This combination of energy generation between buildings, greenhouses and research facilities has not previously been applied in the Netherlands. For the generating system of the laboratory and the adjacent test greenhouses, in view of the innovative and sustainable character we have applied for a MEI subsidy at the end of 2016. The subsidy was ultimately granted." 

In the laboratory a large part of the ground floor consists of various types of climate cells. Among others, a large number of phytotrons, in vitro cells and a conditioned space for the storage of seed have been realized.

In addition, various specific installations for the laboratory are provided, such as compressed air, nitrogen, helium, industrial and demineralized water. "An independent institution tested the applied installations for quality, to show that the prescribed degrees of cleanliness are met."

"The new building has been named Innova, with which the principal likes to emphasize the progressive character," says Maik Rodenrijs, who was responsible for the architectural aspect of the project. The construction lasted a total of 14 months. The biggest challenge was that the new R & D center had to be built in between the existing buildings and the operational management. "700 piles were used, 6,000m² of hollow-core slab floors, 460,000 kg of steel and 3,500m² of steel roofing sheets. The processing of all these materials, while people are everywhere at work, presented here and there some challenges. Especially for that reason it was vitally important to keep communicating well within the project organization and outside."

AABnl did not yet have a laboratory project of this scale in their portfolio. "But then it is true that we have been working together with Enza Zaden for many years. Despite the fact that we had never built a laboratory, the company entrusted us with this assignment." The collaboration does not stop after this project; the next construction project is already scheduled. ''The professional hands-on mentality of AABnl and the pragmatic approach of Enza Zaden, is a proven combination,'' Maik concludes with satisfaction.