Aarhus Municipality has begun the work on one of the largest construction projects it has ever undertaken, with a price tag of DKK 2.25 billion. The project will link the city and the water, impacting on the harbour area and urban life. The central harbour area will be transformed from an industrial harbour into an urban space.
The project is called Urban Mediaspace Aarhus, and covers construction of Aarhus' new main library and citizen services centre, totalling 18,000 m², as well as approx. 10,000 m² of leased floor space.
The project also covers construction of waterfront areas and the largest automatic car park in Northern Europe, with a capacity of around 1000 vehicles. The car park will have 13,000 m² of shelf space. Motorists simply drive into one of the 20 elevator cabins and park their vehicle on the elevator platform. The elevator will lower the vehicle below ground and move it to an empty parking slot. Returning motorists simply insert their parking ticket in a machine and the elevator system will quickly retrieve the vehicle.
The car park is expected to be ready for use in late 2014, while the waterfront areas and the rest of the project will be completed at the end of 2015.
Brøndum A/S has been awarded the project contract for heating, sprinkler systems, sanitation and ventilation.
The Urban Mediaspace project is a prestige project for Aarhus Municipality, and all elements must be high quality.
The municipality is also giving priority to sustainable solutions. The project therefore focuses on optimising energy consumption, indoor climate and material choices. Both Brøndum and its subcontractors are subject to strict requirements in relation to quality products, reliable delivery and low-noise maintenance-free operation of the heating/cooling system.
Frese's dynamic control valves were chosen to ensure hydronic balance in the heating/cooling system and correct temperatures throughout the building. Two hundred Frese S, Frese OPTIMA and Frese OPTIMA Compact valves (DN15 to DN50 flange valves) are being installed.
Frese OPTIMA Compact valves combine an adjustable automatic balancing valve, a DPCV and a modulating motor valve with full authority, independent of maximum flow. Frese OPTIMA Compact valves make it easy to achieve 100 percent flow control in the building, while creating a high degree of comfort and energy savings. No extra commissioning is required if the system is later expanded.
"We chose Frese's control valves because the company is able to supply uniform products of any size. And quickly. We often need next-day delivery when we are installing systems and they always provide this," says Christian Lassen Kallesøe, Project Manager at Brøndum A/S.
The approval procedures have made it clear to Brøndum that all elements of the construction project have to be high quality.
Christian Lassen Kallesøe adds that Brøndum's engineers have used Frese as a sparring partner and adviser when configuring valves and calculating flow in the various systems.
Every element of each system has to be approved. Frese has helped by providing documentation for the various valves and control principles.
Frese has supplied valves to Brøndum's large projects and contracts on previous occasions, so they know the company well.
"Frese is fast and reliable when we need delivery. They are happy to deliver valves directly to our fitters on the construction site when we need them urgently. That is something our people appreciate," says Christian Lassen Kallesøe.
