Residential

The Bunker Tower

NetherlandsContractors: GDS Bouwsystemen

The Bunker Tower - Gypsum International Trophy 2025

Project description

The Bunker Tower, former student society of the Eindhoven Technical University, was renovated and transformed into an architectural and sustainable icon, offering a mix of historic and contemporary elements. The Bunker Tower combines ‘beauty and brutalism’: the exterior being concrete and bold (referring to World War II-bunkers), whilst the interior is modern and comfortable.
High level plasterboard solutions were applied to realize the tower that houses 210 high quality apartments. The project offers the concept of ‘vertical living’ in an urban environment where space is rare. It combines living, working and recreating.

Main information

Building size

34 000 m²

Building purpose / type

Residential building

Building owner name

Technical University Eindhoven

Architect name

Powerhouse Company

Contractors

GDS Bouwsystemen

Company name: GDS Bouwsystemen

Main Representative: Mr. Glenn Simons

Other Representative: Mr. Olivier Gorrissen

Number of collaborators: 60-100

Specialties: Drywall construction, Fire resistant constructions

Founded in: 2005

Biography: GDS Bouwsystemen is specialized in drywall construction and fire resistant constructions. Their pro-active and no-nonsense attitude is widely appreciated by their customers. GDS offers added-value by early-on project participation from the calculation stage to the final project delivery and aftercare.

Website: www.gdsbouwsystemen.nl

Key Challenges

Flexible outer shell: a 6 mm movement in the outer shell of the façade had to be absorbed.
Burglar resistant separation walls had to be installed everywhere between corridors and apartments.
Logistic challenges due to the height of the building and the closed façade, with limited vertical transportation facilities.
Fire resistance: the installation of an overpressure shaft of 115 meters for smoke development.

Key Achievements

The movement in the outer shell of the façade was absorbed by creating a flexible connection:
• No solid connection between concrete façade construction and interior wall construction.
• This construction was achieved without negative impact on fire resistance and acoustic insulation.
Habito separation walls were installed between all corridors and apartments to meet the demand of burglar resistance.
Logistic challenges due to the height of the building and the closed façade, with limited vertical transportation facilities were overcome by:
• Careful and exact calculations of volumes were processed to match the available timeslots for loading/unloading.
• The planning of weekend transports to create more flexibility.

Sustainability in the project

For optimized efficiency and recycling, a carefully organized process of logistics, waste management and separated waste flows was set up.
An optimal recycling flow of both gypsum and insulation materials was created, resulting in a minimum amount of waste:
• Isover glass wool was collected in the special recycle bags supplied by Isover which were collected by Isover when they were full.
• Plasterboard waste was collected in a separate container and processed by specialized company Coppens Recycling in collaboration with Gyproc.
Energy-efficient installations were applied, like solar panels and heat-cold storage.
Green spaces were created for natural insulation and water saving.
The public rooftop park functions as water buffer. This meets the ambition of the city of Eindhoven to create a greener urban environment.