Circular demolition at Schiphol
Circular demolition at Schiphol
Circular demolition at Schiphol
Various preparatory works are underway to facilitate the construction of the new baggage handling hall. In the spring of 2025, we started demolishing the so-called dogleg, a short corridor with a sharp bend that connects Pier B and Pier C. This corridor has become obsolete since the opening of the new BC link. The demolition was carried out in a fully circular way, made possible by a collaboration between Schiphol and GKS Sloopwerken.
Before the work began, a complete inventory was made of the entire object to be demolished in the dogleg area. As many reusable materials as possible have now been given a new lease of life at Schiphol. Components that we could use have either been utilised in construction projects at the airport or stored at the designated central location so that it can be used later.
No less than 90% of the materials leftover from the demolition has been reused or recycled. And that has resulted in some surprising applications. The leather roof covering was transformed into asphalt by Roof2Road and used on a new taxiway at Schiphol – a brilliant example of recycling. And the 1,250 m² of metal ceiling grids were immediately given a second life at Pier C. Other components, such as works of art, First Aid cabinets, bins and safety barriers can now be found in the new BC link.
Circular demolition at Schiphol
Circular demolition at Schiphol
Circular demolition at Schiphol
A large part of demolition work is done manually. Extra attention was therefore paid to safety and the implications of physically demanding work during this demolition project.
The project was submitted to trade association Stichting Veilig en Milieukundig Slopen (SVMS). This organisation awards official certificates to circular demolition projects. Before the work started, SVMS and GKS Sloopwerken verified whether the project met all the requirements.
The entire disposal and registration of the materials was checked by Normec (the certifying body) and found to be in order, which means we have officially completed the project and had it certified as a Circular Demolition Project.
The experience gained from this project shows us that circular demolition is feasible at Schiphol and contributes to our sustainability ambitions. The approach taken in the dogleg area offers valuable insights for future projects in which sustainability plays a fundamental role. The preparatory works to facilitate the construction of the new baggage handling hall are expected to be complete by the end of the year.