Immediately after graduating from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in 1997, I started doing consulting work in installation engineering. Since 2000 I have been doing this with great pleasure at Valstar Simonis. In this dynamic company and technical field there are many challenging facets. Because technology is always on the move, so developing and keeping up to date is important. This also applies on a personal level. I started as a mechanical technician and progressed to project leader. I now fulfill the role of advisor and contribute to the policy of the organization in the management team.
An indispensable element in installation technology nowadays is BIM. In 2008, it became clear that investing in BIM for installations was necessary to remain a serious market player. We explored the available software packages and purchased Revit. In 2009, we started projecting installations in a virtual 3D environment with a select group. The software was then very much in a nascent stage and not everything we needed was available. We created our own library for the components and developed smart and practical applications. Today, the application of BIM is indispensable. It gives a proud feeling to have been involved in this from the beginning and to still be part of the BIM core group.
The projects I have worked on are very diverse. From new construction to monumental renovation, from small to large and complex. Currently we are working hard on the design of the new building of the House of City and Region Dordrecht. This year the design will be finalized and the tendering will start. The renovation of the University Library in Amsterdam is currently in the work preparation phase where we are supervising the execution.
A prerequisite for a successful project is good cooperation. This applies to both colleagues and people from the design team and the executing parties. Trust and openness are crucial building blocks for this, which I use in a personal way as much as possible in my projects.
