Thanks to new technology for storing heat and cold, the city council of The Hague has assured itself of the right level of cooling in its ‘ice palace’. This was the nickname given to the imposing City Hall when it was opened fifteen years ago. A particular challenge for Imtech Building Services while upgrading all the technological solutions in the building was that it had to remain fully operational. This was a real test, in the view of Project Manager Antonio Montanus.

For the employees in and visitors to the heart of The Hague, watching a gigantic crane lifting three cooling installations, two of which weighed seven tons, with such amazing precision to the twelfth floor was an attraction in itself. The new machines are part of a thorough upgrade of the technology in the City Hall and library complex. Imtech was awarded the contract for supplying, installing and putting the engineering and control solutions into operation.

Antonio says, ‘Being able to guarantee the best-possible level of climate control meant increasing capacity. This was a matter of improving cold and heat storage, increasing the reliability of the cooling systems, enhancing the quality of the climate in the archives and upgrading the running of the building; this also included carrying out the electrical and architectural work that was needed to accommodate this new technology. It was an extensive operation with some difficult logistical challenges, but that is something Imtech can always be relied upon to conquer.’