A Unique 6,000 m² Puzzle
Along the Spuiboulevard in Dordrecht, offices are making way for homes, grey is giving way to green, and cars are уступing space to cyclists and pedestrians. At the heart of this urban transformation, a remarkable new civic hub is taking shape: Dordthuis, where the municipality, city library, Social Services Drechtsteden and the tourist office will come together under one roof from 2026.
For this new-build project, Vorsselmans delivered the impressive unitised façade, with terracotta elements in authentic Dordrecht colours pre-mounted onto the façade units. We were also responsible for the production and installation of approximately 2,500 m² of curtain walling and 264 window frames.
Unique Façade Challenges
Dordthuis was designed as a hybrid structure combining timber and concrete — an innovative construction method in the Netherlands. Combined with the building’s substantial cantilevers and voids, this resulted in exceptional challenges both during and after construction. Where façade deformation would normally range between 10 and 20 millimetres, this project involved movement of up to 50 millimetres.
To accommodate these conditions, we developed and tested bespoke seals and rubber systems to ensure the façade remains durable, high-performing and weather-resistant over time.
The aluminium façade itself is another defining feature of Dordthuis. Its distinctive character is enhanced by terracotta façade elements, applied directly by façade specialist Sorba in our assembly hall in Loenhout.
The result is a project of exceptional technical and aesthetic quality — one that once again pushes the boundaries of high-end construction and façade engineering.
A Perfectly Tuned Production Line
For the production of the façade elements, Vorsselmans set up a temporary workshop in which, together with Sorba, an exclusive assembly line was developed specifically for Dordthuis. Every week, five to six trucks arrived carrying glass, aluminium profiles and Sorba’s ceramic decorative elements. The same number of trucks then departed fully loaded with assembled façade units bound for Dordrecht, where our team often installed them on the building the very same day.
This process continued for 25 consecutive weeks — operating like a perfectly tuned machine. Its success was the result of thorough preparation during the design phase, combined with excellent coordination and close collaboration throughout the entire project.
1300-Kilo Façade Elements
The façade units for Dordthuis were anything but standard. Each element weighed around 1,300 kilos, including 500 kilos of glass. In addition, the projecting ceramic decorative elements increased wind loads significantly. All of these forces had to be transferred safely to the building envelope, without interrupting the thermal insulation line. A simple solution using steel brackets was therefore not an option.
That is why we designed and engineered project-specific anchoring systems and moulds, fully tailored to the unique requirements of this project.
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