Geert Meijer, project manager for the Real Estate Group, reports that drilling work has been delayed three to four weeks. `But we are almost back on track. The fluidization is making it possible to reach the desired depth in at least some places. That should be sufficient.' The work was further hindered by a frozen water pump a few weeks ago.
Meijer: `We expect to be able to install the sheet piling by the end of January, after which work can begin on excavating the pond. If all goes well, five hundred cubic meters of ground will be dug out per day. It will be replaced with five hundred cubic liters of water. This process should be finished in four weeks. After that, the pipes will be installed and the plaza around the pond will be built.'
The cooling pond should be completed by the end of June. The water will be used primarily to cool the equipment in the building. It is also a basin for the sprinkle installations in buildings in the Education & Research area.
