Fontys Sports College

Fontys Sports College

In the 'Genneper Parken', one of the biggest sports concentration area in the Netherlands, the construction of the new Fontys Sports College Eindhoven was started on September 16, 2010. The design by Mecanoo Architects takes into account both a sport as an educational function. The 16,500 square-meter sports complex will include five gymnasiums, a 15 meters high climbing tower, lecture rooms and a parking basement.

Essence of the building

As the Sports College and its partner the municipality of Eindhoven had to consider multiple stakeholders, they quickly chose for the development of a Virtual Scale Model. "Communicating the essence of a building is very difficult from a flat drawing, especially for those who are not too acquinted with the project," says Pieter Cornelissen, Senior Consultant, Marketing & Communications Fontys Sports College. "With the deployment of a Virtual Scale Model this is not a subject anymore. Employees can 'walk' independently through the building, discovering its opportunities and even their future workplace, while residents can study the impact of the building on their environment."

Grease

"Actually the Virtual Scale Model is the grease of the communication process." Fontys Sports College is not only moving the former dependances in Sittand and Tilburg to a new building in Eindhoven geographically, but also merging two different groups of employees. "The Virtual Scale Model ensures we all share the same idea, the same outlook on the future and makes te building tangible."

Applications

Job van Lier, Head Marketing, Communication & Media for the sector Sport & Physical Activity in Eindhoven, is conviced of the benefits of the Virtual Scale Model. "The applications of this single product are numerous because it facilitates presentations on multiple digital media. You can look at it individually, but since it can be projected easlity, you can also inspect it with many spectators at a time. Despite, or perhaps even because of its physical absence the Virtual Scale Model has a long life."

Collaboration

"The return on the costs is many times larger with the Virtual Scale Model than with a conventional physical model," says van Lier. "The short lines and personal communication of 3D capacity allow quick reactions," Cornelissen adds to that. "Crisp, clear conditions and doing what was promised (and sometimes even more than that) characterize the cooperation with 3D capacity."