During the ‘Circularity in Social Housing’ congress, more than eighty professionals from housing associations, government, academia, research institutions and the construction industry visited the construction site of Circulair Centrum Nederland in Heerde. The site visit offered participants a unique insight into one of the Dutch pilot projects within ReCreate.

During the tour, Lagemaat explained how the precast concrete elements from the donor building Prinsenhof A in Arnhem were carefully dismantled, documented and assessed. Following extensive structural analyses and, where necessary, refurbishment, the elements have been prepared for a second life in the construction of Circulair Centrum Nederland.

A key part of the tour focused on the refurbished façade elements and hollow-core slabs. Participants learned about the steps required to safely reuse existing precast concrete elements. The visit demonstrated that circular construction is not only about harvesting materials, but also about close collaboration between demolition specialists, structural engineers, researchers and contractors.

The tour also highlighted the full-scale mock-up developed as part of ReCreate. This prototype was used to evaluate how the refurbished façade elements and hollow-core slabs come together in practice and to identify any challenges during assembly. The knowledge gained forms an important foundation for the successful application of these elements in the new building.

The visit clearly demonstrated how research and practice come together within ReCreate. By guiding professionals through the entire process—from careful dismantling to real-world reuse—the project helps build confidence in the reuse of precast concrete elements and supports the wider adoption of circular construction practices.