Zalando Fulfillment Center MEP Fit-Out
Zalando Fulfillment Center MEP Fit-Out | Bleiswijk, Netherlands
Zalando’s Bleiswijk fulfillment center is the first logistics facility DPR has built in Europe. DPR gained much of its experience in Europe building data centers, which have similarly complex mechanical and electrical systems. The project team effectively adapted their skills and knowledge. While terminology and equipment differed from data centers, the fundamentals remained constant. The team maintained their focus on Zalando’s needs, asked the right questions and stayed true to DPR’s core values.
Building as
One team
DPR’s scope, MEP fit-out, was tightly interrelated to other building systems. Many trade partners needed to perform installations in the same areas of the facility, requiring close coordination to avoid clashes. DPR’s team went beyond managing our own trade partners, helping to lead and organize the larger group of participants for the benefit of the overall project.
DPR solicited input from Zalando’s vendors by converting our 3D model into 2D—a format vendors were more comfortable using—then taking the annotated drawings, updating our model and detecting clashes virtually. DPR augmented the model with laser scanning, performed at several stages, to capture areas like the robotic shuttle system, so the model accurately reflected the as-built conditions.
Beyond coordinating the teams onsite, DPR also built positive
relationships with trade partners. At the beginning of the project,
trade partners were hesitant to work in DPR’s non-traditional, more
collaborative way of working. DPR’s approach of going beyond compliance
with safety regulations and towards prevention of incidents was also
unfamiliar. We made everyone feel part of a single team through safety
awards to recognize outstanding performance and events like Construction
Inclusion Week and Construction Safety Week. By the end of the project,
we achieved 150,000 incident-free work hours, and many of our trade
partners expressed an interest in working with us on future projects.
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Photo: Adam van Noort
Customer
Focused
This project demonstrated what sets DPR apart from the market— making decisions for the good of the project and our customer’s interest.
DPR demonstrated flexibility accommodating Zalando and its vendors. One of the examples was the electrical sockets, which are typically commissioned in phases, with specific areas becoming live at one time. The robotic shuttle system vendor needed specific sockets to be live to proceed with their installation. DPR prepared a commissioning schedule which prioritized specific sockets. In some cases, DPR arranged for temporary cabling and electrical panels to get specific components Zalando wanted to operate first. By being flexible, progress by Zalando and its vendors could keep proceeding at pace.
When it came time to hand over the facility, we wanted Zalando’s
experience to be as smooth as possible. We assisted their operations
team by explaining where to find information and whether it was in the
format which was desired. We also outlined the functions DPR was
performing which would need to be transferred over.
Quality
Counts
Many of the same types of installations were repeatedly performed. Among these installations were hundreds of kilometres of sprinkler piping, bus bars and cable trays. Quality benchmark boards were used to visually demonstrate what proper and improper installations looked like, with short descriptive remarks. This helped focus craft team members’ attention, set clear standards for completed work and ultimately lead to more equipment installed right the first time.
Photo: Harmen Rockler
Quality
Counts
Many of the same types of installations were repeatedly performed. Among these installations were hundreds of kilometres of sprinkler piping, bus bars and cable trays. Quality benchmark boards were used to visually demonstrate what proper and improper installations looked like, with short descriptive remarks. This helped focus craft team members’ attention, set clear standards for completed work and ultimately lead to more equipment installed right the first time.
Photo: Harmen Rockler
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