TRAINING AT A GLOBAL LEVEL
Imagine training 6,500 employees every year with the latest technologies to operate your ships safely. That’s one of Carnival Corporation’s tasks as the world’s largest cruise operator with 162,000 employees, 102 cruise ships, and 10 cruise lines.
Their old premises no longer met modern standards. Their wish? A new, state-of-the-art international training centre: the Centre for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART) Academy. Trainees from all over the world convene in the 22-metre-high atrium. The training centre is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology and industrial resources and a large part of the bridge and engine rooms of the cruise ships have been recreated here.
The finishing touch to the complex is the 4-star CSMART Hotel. Here, trainees are able to rest and optimally prepare for their exam at the end of the training week.
The hotel stands 50 metres above sea level and overlooks the dunes of Almere. Large glass surfaces with horizontal lines, natural materials and permanent sun blinds give the hotel a high-quality, open and classy vibe. International allure in the Dutch polder.
Features
• 23,000 m2 floor area • Design by Paul de Ruiter Architects • LEED Gold certification
CONCEPT
PAUL DE RUITER, ARCHITECT CSMART
EXPERIENCE
LARS HUSTED, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CSMART
A BUILDING TO BE PROUD OF
Regarding the collaboration with Dura Vermeer, Carnival Corporation said the following: “They fulfilled our main wishes. It’s a fantastic design that blew us away, and the building was delivered on schedule, too.”
Carnival liked the design-and-build contract, which agreed to involve the company in both the new training centre’s design and its construction. “The project team really made us part of the process. They asked us to make decisions. Moreover, they did not impose any solutions, but were approachable and listened to us.”
Not only the management of Carnival Corporation but also the employees speak highly of the development. “They find the building pleasant to work in, light, and nicely finished with wood and other materials. A building with a high wow factor. Truly a building to be proud of.”
CSMART Academy
• 10,000 m2 • Four full-mission bridge and engine simulators • Classrooms and offices • 22-metre-high atrium • 6,500 students per year
CSMART Hotel
• 13,000 m2 • 14 floors, 76 rooms • 50 metres above sea level • Restaurant, lobby and fitness centre on ground floor