From education campuses to world conferences and from the Olympic Games to international air shows, Neptunus has a temporary building for every occasion
Temporary structure specialists Neptunus built its reputation through the short-term rental of accommodation for the events and exhibitions sector.
Its structures have provided facilities at global sporting occasions such as the Olympic Games and Rugby World Cup and at prestigious exhibitions, such as the Farnborough International and Paris air shows and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
However, in recent years Neptunus has developed its renowned technology to be able to adapt temporary buildings for a limitless range of semi-permanent uses – providing instant solutions to organisations that urgently require cost-effective additional space.
Flexible and versatile, Neptunus’ structures have the capability to meet any challenge –providing accommodation for a multitude of purposes including supermarkets, warehouses, offices, conference centres, sports halls and airport buildings.
The education sector in particular has been reaping the benefits of Neptunus’ innovative space solutions.
Fontys University in Tilburg, Holland, is famous across Europe for its Academy for Circus and Performance but for years students had been undertaking their studies in a traditional old-style ‘Big Top’ marquee.
The Academy for Circus and Performance Art distinguishes itself from other European circus schools by bridging the gap between classical and contemporary circus. The Academy’s programme includes a mixture of traditional subjects, such as acrobatics, trapeze, juggling and clowning, as well as contemporary subjects comprising mime, movement, performance and working with objects. Additional subjects include set design, multimedia and theatre technology. The art of circus is fed by other art forms, such as theatre, visual arts, dance and music.
The university required a building with the flexibility to cover the total range of subjects within an environment that could accommodate the specialist practical training but could also offer quiet areas where students can study the theory of performance art. Sitting within a busy campus, it was essential for the academy’s new building to be erected and fitted out swiftly and efficiently without interrupting the day-to-day operation of the university.
Students now work in an ultra-modern bespoke training facility which has been fully equipped to accommodate the full range of techniques required during their four-year degree course in becoming a circus artist. More/2
Neptunus erected one of its ultra-modern Flexolution structures measuring over 1,000 square metres to form the sports and training facility. The main sports hall has a height of 10.5 metres with a re-enforced ceiling to bear the weight of sophisticated rigging necessary for hire-wire and trapeze performances. A single-storey extension adjoins the main hall to form classrooms, office space and changing rooms.
It took a six-strong team of technicians just 30 days to complete the building, which the university subsequently purchased from Neptunus to become a permanent fixture on the campus.
In Germany RWTH Aachen is largest research and technical university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. With over 40,000 students, it numbers amongst its alumni several scientists who won Nobel Prizes for physics or chemistry.
With an increasing number of students graduating year on year, the university wanted to ensure that it had a sufficient number of classrooms to provide an optimal learning environment for its students. To meet this need, RWTH constructed a purpose-built teaching facility to accommodate up to 4,200 students.
On top of this, the university sought a separate auditorium to provide soundproofed lecture facilities for a further 1,000 students on a site located near a railway track.
Neptunus’ technicians created a bespoke auditorium within one of its semi-permanent Evolution structures. Despite being a re-locatable building, the Evolution has the appearance and functionality of a permanent building. Equipped with central heating, air conditioning and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), the structure contains all the features needed to create a comfortable environment for students.
The modular nature of the Evolution allows it to be easily modified or re-deployed at any point in the future. At the same time, the aluminium structure is strong, stable and durable - capable of withstanding the harshest of conditions and offering the same safety standards as a permanent building.
Based on a highly technical and innovative design with durable components, the Evolution is suitable for longer-term use. The building comes as standard with insulated, rigid wall panels to retain heat and minimise external noise plus an aluminium space-frame roof for a quick and simple installation.
“The auditorium is situated right next to a train track so we needed optimal soundproof walls,” says the project leader at the RWTH Aachen. “Despite the capacity challenges we want to continue providing our students with the best possible surroundings to assist their education. Neptunus was without doubt the perfect partner to help us with our capacity problem and they provided us with the ideal solution.”
The flexibility and reliability of Neptunus’ products has been again highlighted by the company’s latest high-profile assignment. As the Netherlands took on the Presidency of the European Union for six months from the start of 2016, it was Neptunus that the Dutch Government turned to when they needed additional space.
The company’s creative team have designed and built a state-of-the-art temporary convention centre in Amsterdam where ministers, members of the European Commission and diplomats are holding top-level meetings.
Neptunus took just three months to construct the 8,000 m2 complex behind the walls of Marine Land in Amsterdam on behalf of The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The reusable ‘Europa Building’ consists of six temporary high-tech buildings with conference rooms, lounges, a theatre, interpreting booths and meeting rooms. A stunning ‘void’ has been created in the centre of the roof with an impressive bespoke 150 m2 atrium with full height glass walls constructed beneath, forming a garden/courtyard area. Exterior walls are decorated with façade decoration and 3D printed benches. The interior has a typical Dutch signature, almost museum-like with false ceilings partially decorated with a cloud print.
Despite the temporary nature of the complex, most visitors will not realise that they are in a temporary building. It took Neptunus’ technicians just three months to build the convention centre, which has been created within three ultra-modern and energy efficient Evolution temporary structures, each linked by covered corridors.
Neptunus was responsible for coordinating the interior finish of the complex in collaboration with a team of subcontractors.
The Netherland holds the EU Presidency from January 1 to June 30, 2016 after which the eco-friendly re-useable buildings will be dismantled for use on other temporary assignments.
Neptunus is a family-run business that was launched in 1937 when founder Anton Eilers discovered a chest washed up on a beach. Inside was an army tent which became the inspiration for the start of his business and the trident embossed on the chest inspired the name Neptunus. Anton erected the tent for a party. Friends subsequently asked if they could hire it from him – and Neptunus was born.
Today, the third generation of the family is at the helm and the company now operates from seven locations across Europe – Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom. The company’s reputation has been built around quality and excellence of product with a team of more than 20 creative designers and engineers focused on developing innovative products for rental or sale that are manufactured in Poland.
Managing Director April Trasler, who runs the company’s UK operation, says: “Our temporary buildings offer solutions for providing space for virtually any use with our latest generation of structures being more aligned to permanent buildings. As such they can be adapted for a multitude of purposes including supermarkets, warehouses, offices, sports halls, theatres, class rooms and conference facilities.”
For more information visit www.neptunus.co.uk