your chance to influence your workplace

With the new building for De Kooi awaiting execution, we spoke to helicopter pilot Jan Parleviet. He is the project lead for the new facility on behalf of Squadron 860, which will share the building with Squadron 990 at the naval air base in Den Helder. With offices, hangars, a wash bay, storage and logistics all coming together in one design, the programme is extensive.

At cepezed, we found you remarkably accessible for a project lead. It felt like we could call you with any question at any time.
“I think it is a matter of priorities. I consider this project an important one. Even though I am not the client, I represent the end user and for them it is essential that the result is good.”

The final design is now in place and the contractor selection procedure is underway. Will it indeed become a good workplace?
“The unit I work with consists of several departments, with different entities and specific activities. As a helicopter pilot I belong to Operations, although I have been mostly office-based recently. The requirements for those offices also vary; for instance, there is a dedicated space for classified information. In the building, maintenance takes place in a hangar, the logistics staff need multiple counters, storage space and an area where equipment can be prepared for lending, and then there is, for example, a room where flight gear is maintained.”

At the same time, a shared identity also had to take shape.
“We indeed share an identity and also several spaces, such as recreational areas and briefing rooms.”

Did you feel users had sufficient input?
“I feel we found the right partner in cepezed. Because I cannot decide for someone else what their workplace should look like, we organised a series of workshops that cepezed always prepared and facilitated well. The basis for the design was the programme of requirements, and within the room it allowed, we made adjustments. I experienced the collaboration as very positive, we made good use of the available space.”

What did the user sessions look like?
“We would gather around the table with tracing paper, sketch ideas and exchange thoughts. I found it an effective way of working.”

It is not always easy for everyone to reflect on their daily working routines and then come up with ideas for improvement.
“You do indeed need an awareness of what your working day actually looks like. But we had never before been able to exert influence in this way. ‘This is your chance!’, I kept telling my colleagues. It was an enjoyable challenge to encourage people to step outside their habits and traditions. People are creatures of habit, especially within defence. But I think we succeeded very well.”

How did the shared identity take shape?
“Fortunately, cepezed also received the interior commission. This allowed us to express the identity through colour, materials and furniture. In the palette we found a clear common thread that works for all users: the technicians who get their hands dirty, the people who fly and everything that comes with that. The unity is clear, and in between you can still see the individual character.”

It sounds like you are satisfied with your role in the process.
“It was a genuine collaboration, not a case of me giving an assignment and cepezed simply getting on with it. As a user, I was part of a creative design and decision-making process. I contributed to aligning choices and joined the search for solutions. That made it especially enjoyable.”

We learned a great deal about defence. Did you learn something from cepezed?
“One hundred per cent! I always wondered how architects possibly keep an overview, with all the components of a plan, all the design versions and all the different layers of thinking. There is an interior layer, a technical layer, and a structural layer. It was fascinating to see project management up close and to witness how the team collaborates internally. I am genuinely impressed.”

What stood out to you in particular about the management and collaboration?
“Everything affects everything else. If you adjust something in one place, three other cogs start turning elsewhere. Being aware of that and still making it all work is what I find very impressive.”

Are your colleagues just as eager as you are to move into the new building?
“Everyone can’t wait!”