Calatrava's aesthetic vision translated by GTI into CO2-neutral building

GTI Zuidoost received an order to carry out the design of world-famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava at the University "Campus Maastricht". GTI was successful in identifying with the architect's vision and translating it by own initiative into an entirely CO2-neutral design. This achievement is attributed to the close contact that Calatrava and GTI had already established during the design phase. The end result proves that even a campus with relatively small housing units can build prestigious and sustainable premises offering maximum comfort. The contract worth EUR 20 million was awarded to GTI by Servatius Wonen & Vastgoed. The total project will be covered by a building combination consisting of six important companies.

Grotesque constructions
Architect Calatrava's designs combine aesthetics, construction and technique to turn seemingly impossible ideas into reality. The campus consists of a series of "floating cubics", which are cubes suspended above a large pond, containing 542 housing units for students. Sports facilities such as an indoor climbing wall, gyms and squash courts are situated around a large sports centre. The project will also include more than 8,800 m2 of office space situated above 1,600 m2 of space for catering establishments and shops.

Sustainable underground storage of heat and cold
GTI has created a sustainable design that will preserve the stark and slender lines of the building and take the comfort of the residents and users into account. Sustainable cooling will be offered throughout the premises, even in the student apartments. Not only is the design CO2 neutral, but the energy performance of the entire complex is also remarkably low. The heart of the system will be formed by a heat pump installation with a ground or borehole collector. This collector with its 160 boreholes reaching depths of 160 metres will be the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. The system will provide the bulk of the heat and cold required. The climate-neutral boilers will generate additional heating during peak periods. The boilers will be fuelled by wood pellets; a waste product of the wood-processing industry. Unlike conventional systems, these combined measures will serve to reduce CO2 emissions by some1.500 tonnes a year. GTI will be involved in the development not only as a designer, builder and maintainer, but also as a partner in exploitation. The construction started in September 2007 and is due in June 2011.

Together with the companies Axima, Elyo, ENDEL, INEO, Tractebel Engineering and Fabricom GTI, GTI is part of GDF SUEZ Energy Services. As the European leader in multitechnical services, GDF SUEZ Energy Services offers global solutions to its customers in the industry, the infrastructure and the tertiary sectors, from the design, realisation and maintenance of installations to energy and utilities management and long-term multitechnical management. GDF SUEZ Energy Services employs 76,000 people and achieved revenues of ? 14 billion in 2007. GDF SUEZ Energy Services is a business line of GDF SUEZ, one of the leading energy providers in the world.

PRESS CONTACTS
GTI NV
Ingrid Clauwaert, Manager Public Relations
Kosterijland 50, 3981 AJ Bunnik; Postbus 210, 3980 CE Bunnik
Telephone: 030 656 94 59; fax: 030 656 94 15
e-mail: ingrid.clauwaert@gti-group.com; internet: www.gti-group.com