Trust, ownership, flexibility, and comprehensive expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) for complex technical projects, all under one roof. For Roy Smeets, Director Projects & Programs at KLM Real Estate & Facility Contracting, these qualities are crucial to the strong collaboration with KH Engineering, both for planned projects and ad hoc requests.
Roy Smeets studied Civil Engineering at TU Delft, earning a master’s degree in Building Engineering. He held various roles, including project manager, at several project management firms before transitioning to a property development company. In 2023, he assumed a leadership role at KLM Real Estate & Facility Contracting, where he now serves as Director Projects & Programs, overseeing all real estate projects across the technical estate.
Trust
‘Trust is the cornerstone of our partnerships’, Roy states. ‘You need to have complete confidence that what we agreed upon will be delivered. Ownership is equally critical – partners must be proactive and bring ideas to the table. KH Engineering primarily supports us with complex technical projects, whether it’s about electrical systems, compressed air, or climate control installations. In managing such complexity, KH Engineering stands out; their expertise primarily lies in challenging technical projects rather than standard construction or interior design projects.’
Framework agreement
‘Years ago, we established an EPCm framework agreement with KH Engineering, enabling them to provide comprehensive support. Our internal programme managers guide KH Engineering’s project managers. KH handles the actual execution of projects, from initiation to completion. Each year, we have a budgeting cycle in which we draft a new portfolio of projects. This is based on our multi-year maintenance plan and the requirements of ‘the business’ – our internal clients.’
Choosing the right partner
‘We select partners based on the nature of the project’, Roy continues. ‘For technically complex projects, KH Engineering is our go-to. They have personnel working for us both at their Amsterdam office and on-site at Schiphol-East, ranging from engineers to construction advisors and project managers. KH Engineering’s technical expertise is robust, but there’s room for growth in project management. To continue meeting our needs optimally, it is important that they further expand their team with project managers who possess the right technical expertise, are results-oriented, attentive to all stakeholders, and skilled at effectively managing people.’
Increasingly successful projects
At the moment, this is going very well, Roy explains. ‘I should add that we’ve also taken a critical look at ourselves as the client: was our scope clear enough? We’ve become more critical too; we no longer simply ‘throw something over the fence’ because the people at KH Engineering also need to know exactly where they stand and what our expectations are. Over the years, the collaboration has become increasingly close, and we’ve observed a positive trend in successful projects.’
Clear communication
According to Roy, KH Engineering has much to offer. ‘They have talented people we enjoy working with, and we’re getting better at connecting with each other and clarifying mutual expectations. This clarity reduces debates over budgets and hours spent on projects. The team we work with now is of an ideal size, and we know their strengths. Communication is straightforward, and we’re well aligned.’
A military operation
‘Together with KH Engineering, we’re involved in numerous exciting projects. For instance, the revitalisation of Hangar 4 and the renovation of the platform at Hangars 11 and 12. Just a few weeks ago, we completed the replacement of a critical component in the electrical installation of the KLM Operations Control Centre, where all KLM activities, including aircraft locations, are monitored. We approached this project with KH Engineering like a military operation, including backup power systems, and it went exceptionally well. Even for ad hoc requests, I can rely on prompt and effective support. Recently, we needed to estimate the energy consumption of a specific building. With just one call, I can find someone at KH Engineering to take care of that for us.’
For more information about KLM: https://www.klm.com/
From offices to hangars and from repair shops to cargo environments, few organisations in the Netherlands have such a diverse range of buildings as KLM – all centred around Schiphol. This 700,000 square metres of workspace must frequently adapt to new legislation, sustainability goals, or the evolving needs of employees. Moreover, the services within these buildings demand constant attention. KLM Real Estate & Facility Contracting takes care of this.