Newsletter 9

The selection of a contractor for the execution of the renovation by means of a European tendering turned out to be a lengthy process. The first phase, open to any contractor, started in September 2014. According to our predetermined criteria, 30 applicants were in fact eligible for the execution of the project. 13 of them scored utmost on the criteria. Only 5 made it to the second round, chosen by lot by a notary. The five candidates that were thus selected presented their proposals on 18 September 2015. The proposals consisted of an action scheme and an estimate of the building costs. The action schemes included approaches of how-to-handle the fact that education will take place at location, while building. The schemes were also orally presented by the contractors and as such we were given an impression of the people we are going to work with.

From the presenting parties for the tendering the construction firm M.J. de Nijs en Zonen, from Warmenhuizen, was chosen to do the project, being one of the candidates with a thoughtful action scheme and moreover the firm with the lowest price. Still, the lowest price is above our budget. As a result we need an extra period now, so that the contractor can look for ways to lower the costs, together with the design team, without drastically changing the character of the building. The design team as well as the contractor have expressed their confidence in finding clever solutions for the realisation of the building within the budget.

The extra period is expected to take 3 months. Consequently the start of the execution will also be 3 months later, probably in March or April 2016. This does not necessarily mean that the planned completion (mid 2017) will also be delayed. It might be possible to shorten the construction period a little, which would benefit the costs simultaneously. The eventual effect on the planning will be clear at the end of the extra period of three months.

We’ll keep you posted. Mid February cables and pipes will start to be repositioned on the terrain of the academy, in preparation of the new building.

In the Rietveld building people have been working really hard lately on the new kitchen of the canteen, taken into use again after the autumn break.

In the Benthem Crouwel building the 2nd and the 5th floor have officially been completed.

Late November the 7th floor of the Benthem Crouwel building will be ready. The Dogtime department will move to this renovated floor on 30 November. The design for this floor is made by the teacher Jan van Grunsven.

The TNT-building will no longer be part of the Rietveld at the end of December. The building will soon be redeveloped by the owner. And so the library will move to the ground floor of the Rietveld building on 16 December, facing the TXT department. The SKOR archive (Stichting Kunst en Openbare Ruimte), taken over by the academy due to its connection to the lectorate, will be translocated to the Rietveld basement.

Having to leave the TNT-building also effects VAV; before the Christmas break they will move to the first floor of the Rietveld building. This is in accordance with the plan for the final situation of VAV.

After the Christmas holidays, the graduation students of Fashion will start working on the first floor of the portacabin.