15 January 2017

Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, the Van Nelle Fabriek in Rotterdam is said to be an iconic example of Europe’s Modern Movement.

NETHERLANDS - The iconic Van Nelle Fabriek complex in Rotterdam has installed a Xirrus Wi-Fi network throughout its office spaces and public areas. 

Considered the main industrial monument in the Netherlands, the Van Nelle Fabriek was built between 1927 and 1930 for the production of tobacco, coffee and tea.

In 2014, it was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After the factory stopped manufacturing in 1998, the building was transformed into offices and is now home to more than 80 entrepreneurs and businesses including a variety of new media and design companies. 

The Van Nelle Fabriek complex selected Xirrus Wi-Fi as part of a broad infrastructure upgrade.

Spanning more than 68,000 square metres and set in around 11 hectares of outdoor space, all critical building and facilities management systems across the site will be operated and managed via the Wi-Fi network. 

Businesses will also gain access to a high density 5GHz network that meets current demands for video streaming, cloud-based computing and document sharing – even when the complex plays host to major conferences or other big events. 

“Because many creative industries have businesses here, they need to be able to stream high resolution video and HD photography and also back-up their large media files to the cloud for safe keeping or file sharing,” says Roger Meertens, general manager, Van Nelle Fabriek.

“The high density Wi-Fi offered by Xirrus ensures that companies can always rely on their connection, even at times of extreme usage.”

He adds that thanks to software programmable radios that can easily cope with new Wi-Fi standards, the system also has the capability to adapt to future needs, and means that there will be no need for Van Nelle Fabriek to resort to costly replacement programmes.