Structural challenges of a bicycle parking garage

They call themselves integral structural engineers As an engineering firm, Verhoeven and Leenders is therefore at home in both structural and civil engineering. This came together very nicely in the project Bicycle Parking Garage Strawinskylaan on the Zuidas in Amsterdam.  

In the most urban part of the Netherlands, Amsterdam's Zuidas, a new bicycle parking garage was built in 2018.  The project includes the construction of an underground bicycle parking garage with space for 3,500 bicycles and a new layout of the park the Vijfhoek. The main contractor was Van Boekel Bouw & Infra from Zeeland. A partner that Verhoeven and Leenders works with frequently "For many of their projects, we are the regular structural engineer," says engineer Corné van Weert.  "Right from the beginning, we collaborated in the best suited building options for this project. The City of Amsterdam had two important conditions: To minimize the inconvenience to the surrounding area during the construction phase and the appearance and ease of use of the bicycle parking garage. During the tender phase, we provided the structural design for Van Boekel Bouw & Infra. After the award, we provided the engineering for the project as the lead structural engineer."

The entrance to the bicycle shed

Underground challenges

In order to build underground, a temporary construction pit consisting of steel sheet piles and a strut frame also had to be realized. "We also have the expertise in-house to come up with the best and most economical solution for this. In addition, the many underground cables and pipes and the limited working space also provided the necessary challenges."

Two disciplines in one

The result is a project they are proud of at the engineering firm. "wUrck was responsible for the architectural design. Despite being an underground garage, it is very nicely lit both during the day and in the evening. For us it was a special project because two of our main disciplines came together: civil engineering and structural engineering.