Integrated approach for Maasvlakte II container terminal
APM Terminals' flagship
Integrated approach for Maasvlakte II container terminal
APM Terminals developed a new container terminal on Maasvlakte II. The automated terminal is one of the most advanced, sustainable and efficient of its kind. The terminal covers an area of approximately 180 hectares, with 2.8 kilometres of deep-sea quay and 500 metres of inland waterway quay. Witteveen+Bos took an integrated approach to the architecture and engineering for the entrance gate, office building and workshop.
Visual quality in the port
The port and industrial landscape has its own beauty with a pure appearance. This is thanks to the clean appearance of technology without frills. In this context, the office building has been designed to be functional and efficient. The office building, from which the cranes are controlled, covers 5,000 m² GFA and contains offices, a data centre and a control room. The entrance and control room are strikingly marked with red slats. The office floors with horizontal window strips form a solid base and are reminiscent of the contours of a ship.
Iconic ‘gate canopy’
The entrance building, the ‘gate canopy’, forms the gateway for freight traffic to APM Terminals' new container terminal. From here, container transport to and from the hinterland is handled, with drivers receiving route instructions via electronic columns. The canopy consists of steel arches with a double-curved roof surface. This element largely determines the appearance of the terminal.
Parametric model
The design of the canopy was created in a parametric model. This was possible due to the high degree of repetition. Working within a parametric model made it possible to refine the design of the canopy by literally turning the knobs. A direct link between the model and a structural calculation package also made the structural implications of the refinements visible in real time. The wind load on the canopy was investigated using both CFD calculations and a wind tunnel with a printed 3D model.
BREAAM certified
The Dutch Green Building Council has issued a BREEAM-NL completion certificate for the office building with a score of Very Good. In the run-up to the realisation, various concepts for energy generation from renewable sources were investigated: solar collectors, PV panels, biomass CHP installations, hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, thermal energy storage with heat pumps and fuel cells. The feasibility of each technology was assessed in terms of space, technology and economics.
Based on the calculations, a thermal energy storage system was chosen. Energy-efficient buildings were realised, partly through the utilisation of waste heat from the data room and the use of heat pumps. Charging points for electric cars and charging facilities for electric bicycles were installed on the site.
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