Lock Operation Centre of the new sea lock at IJmuiden reaches its highest point
One year after the start of the construction on 9 October 2017, the contours of the striking object halfway along the southern lock chamber wall are clearly visible. A distinctive characteristic of the design is that the 18 metre high building inclines towards the lock at an angle of 15 degrees.
One of the requirements was that the front of the building should be built this way to prevent reflection in the windows. That gave Rotterdam-based architects ZUS the idea to apply this concept to the entire building.
Lock keepers
The result is a functional control building that hangs, as it were, over the lock chamber, making it an iconic part of the new sea lock. From the Lock Operation Centre (‘SOC’), Port of Amsterdam's lock keepers ensure the safe and smooth passage of the large seagoing ships to and from the docks of Amsterdam.
Different functions
The control building has several different functions and consists in fact of three seven-storey buildings in one. That is why the building has several 'front doors', all on different levels. In addition to a lock control building, it also houses a maintenance building for Rijkswaterstaat's management and maintenance tasks. Also included are service rooms and a number of technical rooms for the electrical and fire-fighting installations. The entire building will be energy-neutral. The lower part of the SOC building forms part of the primary water-control structure.
The new sea lock at IJmuiden
To accommodate increasingly larger ships, a new sea lock is being built at IJmuiden. The construction started in 2016. It will be the largest sea lock in the world. The sea lock ensures that ships can access the ports and port businesses along the North Sea Canal in a safe and efficient way, irrespective of the tide. The new sea lock will be 500 metres long, 70 metres wide and 18 metres deep. The project is a joint venture of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Province of North Holland, the Municipality of Amsterdam, the Port of Amsterdam and the Municipality of Velsen. The OpenIJ group of contractors is building the new sea lock on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management.