Campus De Braak stadium: graceful symbol of unity and connection

Striking slat construction for Helmond sports complex

The realization of Campus De Braak in Helmond is in full swing. The completion of the multifunctional sports accommodation (MFSA) took place recently, an eye-catcher that will become the home of various sports clubs and organizations. Reynaers Aluminium from Helmond made a significant contribution to the creation of the iconic building. With their aluminum systems, but also through advice to the architect, which was substantiated down to the last detail,...

Within Campus De Braak, everything and everyone pulls together. Education and sports, businesses and welfare: young and old find each other in the new complex that brings Helmond into motion. The campus includes a secondary school, sports hall, outdoor space, parking facilities and a multifunctional stadium. Reynaers Aluminium supplied the transparent ConceptWall 50 curtain wall system and the slim SlimLine 38 window and door system for the façade of the latter facility. 

Remittance

Both solutions, produced and assembled by Van Oorschot Aluminium (also from Helmond), fit seamlessly into the character of the complex. At the same time, they combine perfectly with the striking aluminum slats that hang like a curtain from the outer wall. In an aesthetic and constructional sense. "MoederscheimMoonen Architects, structural designer of the stadium, had the explicit wish to have the slats at the places where the visitors enter the stadium cantilever at the bottom on the curtain wall elements and frames we supplied," says project consultant Mark van Rosmalen on behalf of Reynaers Aluminium. "Without using any visible auxiliary construction." 

Calculations

In order to check the possibility of this, Reynaers Aluminium carried out various static calculations based on the product specifications and dimensions of the slats. "These showed that the forces that the corrugated slats exert on the facade, due to wind and other factors, would not affect the self-supporting facade," continues Gerard Meijer, development expert within Reynaers Aluminium. "Subsequently, we developed a method to actually attach the slats to the curtain wall and frames. We shared this with Van Oorschot and it was ultimately applied during execution."

Connection

Despite the fact that the stadium is used by several parties, the building exudes a strong unity thanks to the application of the façade consisting of slats. This holds the whole thing together and symbolizes connection. "Exactly that was our goal," says Erik Moederscheim, creative director at Rotterdam-based MoederscheimMoonen Architects and also chief architect of the stadium. "In addition, we wanted to achieve a building with a stately appearance and the grandeur of a real soccer stadium. We succeeded brilliantly in both. Thanks in part to Reynaers Aluminium, a partner we regularly work with to our complete satisfaction."

Relief 

In the form of SlimLine 38, MoederscheimMoonen Architects chose a window and door system with a striking relief. Thanks to this strong relief, the profile is highly visible on the outside and forms one attractive vertically aligned whole with the applied facade cladding and slats. "An additional advantage of the relief is that you can more easily support the slats on it where the entrances are located. So the knife cuts both ways," continues Erik, who is pleased with the cooperation with the Helmond supplier. "It's great that we can spar with a professional partner like Reynaers Aluminium at an early stage on design issues. As far as we are concerned, that is where the real profit lies. As an architect you have an idea which then has to be translated into reality. Reynaers has once again proven itself to be a valuable partner in this. Not only by supplying the assembled window frame and curtain wall elements, but also thanks to its considerable expertise and ability to think along with you. All this contributed to a beautiful end result."