How we work

DBFMO-projects

As a reliable partner for the entire construction process, you can leave every aspect of DBFMO to us: design, building, financing, maintenance and even operational matters. For instance, through our sister company Vita Group, we are involved in the funding and operation of swimming pools. And by working with installation company Imtech, also part of the Cordeel Group, you can take advantage of our highly specialised knowledge when it comes to electrical, sanitary and HVAC installations. Our Cordeel Maintenance department manages a large portfolio of buildings, which means we know how to integrate the total cost of ownership (TCO) into the design process.

Construction team collaboration

Collaboration in the form of a construction team has gained significant popularity in recent years. By involving Cordeel in the design phase with the client, architect, engineers, and other specialized partners to provide expertise, optimization can be initiated at an early stage on all levels. It is advantageous to involve the right partners (e.g., aluminum carpentry, technicians, etc.) in the pre-construction phase. This minimizes unknown factors and allows us to work towards the target budget. The result is a feasible and executable design. Collaboration in a construction team also allows for considerable optimization in terms of planning, as the construction process has been thoroughly examined and fine-tuned by all partners in advance.

One significant added value is our in-house production departments for precast concrete, metal structures, and wood carpentry, as well as our own warehouse and equipment such as aerial work platforms, telescopic cranes, and tower cranes,...

Because we strongly believe in the added values of construction team collaboration, Cordeel has made significant investments in a study department in recent years. It includes experts in relevant fields: Architecture (architects), Structural Engineering (structural engineers), Building Services (MEP engineers), and market prices (estimators). They enrich your construction team with their knowledge of sustainable materials (reducing CO₂ emissions), biobased materials, circularity, disassembly, innovative techniques, energy balance, BREEAM, WELL, GRO, Material Passports, BIM, and more.

Cordeel has extensive experience as a construction team partner. Together with our sister companies, we can contribute, if desired, to:

• Accurate estimation of the required budget and its management during the construction team phase (impact of design changes on the budget).
• Maximum insight into life cycle costs (LCC) and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Bringing partners (subcontractors/suppliers) to the table to directly incorporate the right information from the market during the design phase.
• Transforming a "traditional" design into a "sustainable" design.
• C-fast prefabricated concrete elements: shorter construction time and cost-effective.
• C-energy: Proposals for advanced energy optimizations.
• Off Site Belgium: Solutions for prefabricated bathroom units.
• C-wood: Supply and installation of high-quality custom-made products.
• C-biotech: Providing solutions for biobased materials (including hemp insulation).
• Using Material Passports (Madaster) in the design phase to estimate the CO2 emissions of the designed building.

Additionally, all our realized PPP projects in a DBFMO formula serve as strong references in construction team collaboration, as in this formula, as a contractor, we sit at the table with other consortium partners to obtain the optimal design and accompanying price for construction and maintenance from scratch.

A notable example is the prison of Leuze, a DBFM project that included maintenance for 20 years.

Engineering & Build

Cordeel also has experience as a construction partner within an Engineering and Build collaboration. This construction formula, which encompasses both the technical design and construction, combines the expertise of architects, engineers, and contractors to ensure that the end product is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical, structurally feasible, and compliant with necessary safety standards.

This approach leads to a more streamlined and efficient construction process, as potential issues are identified and addressed early in the design phase. As a result, projects can often be completed faster and more cost-effectively than through traditional construction methods. Moreover, this approach allows for more flexibility during the construction process, as the design can be adjusted to changing needs or circumstances.

Public-private partnership (PPP)

We also have extensive experience with public-private partnerships, for instance with the government as a public partner and Cordeel as a private partner. Projects may involve renewing an urban district or an industrial estate or renovating a school. Cordeel is able to finance all or part of the project and then rent it out to the public partner. At the end of the lease, the public party can take over the property according to a previously agreed amount and set conditions. This is just one example as PPPs can take many different forms. We would be delighted to tell you more.

Would you like to know more about the benefits of our approach?
Kristien Olaerts will be happy to explain how your project can benefit from our way of working.