How the steel construction holds the project together
Engineering the Steel Core
The three Silos started as tanks — concrete walls made to hold water. Now we are giving them new life with major additions. That means new loads: floors, offices, parks, bridges. To carry all that, we designed a steel structure inside and on top. Buiting Staalbouw is delivering the full steel structure: from internal frames to the roofs.
Inside each silo, we place truss (vakwerk) spans that rest against the existing concrete walls (penanten). These spans are over 5 meters tall and weigh over 20 tons. They connect to the concrete walls at six reinforced vertical ribs (penanten) that run full height.
On top of this, a “table” steel system supports the roof structures and the added floors. Much of the weight is fed back into the silo walls — that way, the walls become structural partners, not just containers.
A central steel core (stability core) and neck (halsconstructie) rise through the middle. From that lies the new office floors and rooftop connections.
We also added columns beneath the core to take part of the load — these stand on plates anchored into a newly built floor slab.
Reinforcing & Adapting the Old to the New
Because the original silos were built for very different loads (settling tanks, even load distribution), we had to redirect forces. The new functions create different stresses — concentrated, asymmetric, dynamic.
To spread forces properly, we cut intentional openings (sparingen) in the lower wall sections. That allows the new thickened floor slab (70 cm) to work together with the wall. Connections (stiften) bind old concrete and new slab so they behave structurally as one.
The pre-stressing cables originally in the walls are maintained through the cuts. That was critical.
In short: we strengthened floors, reworked walls, and balanced loads — so the walls, steel, and new slabs all share responsibility.
Floors, Steel Plates & Efficiency
Inside the additions and upper levels, we use ComFlor steel-deck concrete floors (types 95, 100, 210+). These floors are prefabricated to size in Buiting’s factory, which speeds up onsite work.
ComFlor is ideal here because of its flexibility: curved shapes, interrupted spans, cantilevers. And the weight is relatively low compared to alternatives.
Because the steel plates are hidden and structurally integrated, they also allow clean visible surfaces in the finished space.
Safety, Certification & Quality
The steel construction is designed to meet high standards. The project must reach BREEAM “Outstanding” certification.
Buiting works under EN 1090-1 execution class 4 — one of the highest levels — to ensure strength, weld quality, durability.
Every component, connection, weld, and coating is engineered for safety, longevity, and performance under all loads: wind, live load, thermal expansion, dynamic use.
The Result: A Strong Framework, Ready for Use
The steel structure lets us add many floors, roofs, bridges, halls — all without overloading the original concrete. Because the design uses both old and new materials together, the Silos stay true to their industrial heritage while becoming modern, flexible spaces.
This is engineering you won’t see — hidden in the structure — but without it the Silos simply could not transform into what they will become.
Steel holds the future up — strong, precise, lasting.