Eddy De Coster
Department Head of Technical Services
The Technical Department is responsible for all UZ Leuven buildings and their equipment, and for all purchases of a technical nature. Our team has 250 people, from engineers and site supervisors to carpenters and electricians. Together we do about one-third of the work, while the rest is outsourced. Especially during periods of boom - in recent years, we commissioned 100,000 m² new construction, accounting for 25 percent of our total area - we rely heavily on external services.
"For accredited hospitals in flanders, energy supply and its security is an important item. That is why we have been working with Ingenium for over 10 years."
We became acquainted with Ingenium over 10 years ago, when we launched our "energy master plan. After all, for accredited hospitals in Flanders, energy supply and its security is an important item. Together with Ingenium, the master plan of that time has been continuously adjusted in recent years. Meanwhile, our infrastructure has been almost completely renewed, and we are working on optimization.
"Monitoring, following up and having the agreements made honored is the most important thing a partner like Ingenium can relieve us of."
It is very important, especially in the healthcare sector, that you can agree on something and that those agreements are complied with. For this you have to plan backwards rather than forwards, using the date when something has to be operational as a starting point. Usually it is a matter of finding a realistic timing together with the study bureau and the architects. Monitoring, follow-up and compliance with the agreements made is the most important thing that a partner like Ingenium can relieve us of afterwards. It is not feasible for us to constantly have to chase people ourselves. But for that you have to have the necessary clout as a study bureau, in case someone falls ill or if additional work comes up.
By betting heavily on BIM fairly early on, Ingenium ensured that the error rate and the number of changes on the site itself went down seriously. But they also suggested training our own people to work in BIM. That's twice the profit, because this way we are even more on the same wavelength. Moreover, by working digitally, the distance between Leuven and Bruges no longer matters. Nevertheless, personal contact remains necessary to bring a project to a successful conclusion. With their office at the railway station in Leuven, Ingenium is literally close to us.
With some engineering firms or architects we sometimes get the feeling that they know it all better and come to tell us how things should be done. But our 30 engineers find it important that their opinions and knowledge are also taken into account. The people of Ingenium do not 'float' above our people, but they stand between them. Based on genuine interest, they form a team with us and always seek to make 1 plus 1 more than 2.
