BESIX Nederland delivers new Scheveningen control centre in The Hague

Although relatively small in scale, the technical complexity of the project presented a particularly interesting challenge. BESIX Nederland was responsible for both the structural works and technical installations. These included lighting, power supply, mechanical systems (such as sanitary facilities), climate control systems, charging stations, a lift, and a fire alarm and evacuation system.

In the compact technical area, all installations were expertly integrated, including an emergency power supply with battery backup and an emergency generator, and fire extinguishing systems for the server rooms. Thanks to these provisions, the facility remains fully operational even during power outages.

The first major transition took place in May 2024, when navigation control was relocated from the old Semaphore building to a temporary site, and tunnel operations were transferred to a secondary control centre. In December 2024, the second major transition occurred: over a 48-hour period, operations were successfully moved from the temporary site to the new control centre. Shortly thereafter, tunnel operations were also transferred. The secondary control centre remains available as a backup to guarantee maximum security.

The new building is both sustainable and future-proof. Heat extracted from ventilation air is reused to warm the office spaces. Solar panels on the roof generate renewable energy, while inside, energy-efficient LED lighting with motion sensors and individual dimming controls has been installed at each workstation. The building is entirely gas-free, thanks to the use of electric heat pumps.

A notable innovation during construction was the use of a 360-degree camera, which served as a digital time capsule, allowing the progress of the building to be viewed retrospectively, much like Google Street View. The installation of two large video walls enables operators to maintain an immediate overview of all objects managed from the control centre.

The Design, Build & Maintenance contract includes a 15-year maintenance period. Through this long-term commitment, BESIX Nederland will continue to be actively involved in the management and maintenance of this critical infrastructure, thereby contributing to the ongoing safety and accessibility of the region of The Hague.