How Wageningen University & Research uses building data to support an evolving campus

Managing building data across a large, complex campus is as much an organizational challenge as it is a technical one. For Wageningen University & Research (WUR), with more than 200 buildings, dozens of active construction projects, and ambitious sustainability goals, continuous access to reliable, unambiguous property information is critical. 

Since 2022, WUR has used BIMcollab’s Common Data Environment (CDE) to provide structured access to all real estate information across its portfolio. According to WUR’s Jaco Kamphorst and Eric Steinebach, the platform plays a pivotal role in aligning people, processes, and data. As Kamphorst explains: “We must all speak the same language and BIMcollab’s CDE is the ‘translator’ to communicate with each other.” 

Background 

Founded in 1876 as the Rijkslandbouwschool (National Agricultural School), Wageningen University & Research has grown into a globally acclaimed institution in the field of Life Sciences. The university has been voted the best university in the Netherlands no fewer than sixteen times and is internationally recognized for research into flora and fauna, water management, food supply, and climate change. 

Today, WUR has over 12,000 students from more than 100 countries and more than 7,000 employees. They study and work across a professional research environment comprising over 200 buildings at multiple locations, with a total gross floor area exceeding 650,000 square meters. This makes WUR one of the largest property owners in education and research in the Netherlands. Needless to say, this expansive portfolio makes data hygiene and efficacy crucial for building management.  

The challenge 

Within WUR’s Business Office, responsibility for managing this extensive real estate portfolio is shared across several disciplines. Jaco Kamphorst oversees property information management, while the Construction & Housing Management section, led by Eric Steinebach, includes 22 project managers, technical building managers, and contract managers. Together, they are responsible for building maintenance, sustainability, innovation, and new construction. 

The scale and pace of development create significant information management challenges. At any given time, more than 200 projects are active, with an additional 40 in preparation. Project managers request revisions on a daily basis, and updated documentation is regularly delivered at project handover. 

As Steinebach explains, maintaining control over this growing volume of information is essential: 

“The processing and management of all that data is essential; this is the tool for the project managers. It must always be in order.” 

At the same time, WUR is transitioning from traditional 2D documentation toward BIM-based working, building by building. This requires not only technical readiness, but also clear information structures, consistent standards, and systems that can support both current and future ways of working. 

The solution 

To support this transition, WUR initiated a professionalization process within the Business Office. Existing real estate information was reviewed, validated, and prepared for structured use. As Kamphorst explains: 

“We are now checking existing real estate information and then filling the system with this information. We have to convert the current 2D information into elements so that we then link it in BIMcollab’s CDE to documents like contracts, user and supplier information.” 

Following an extensive selection process for a document management system, WUR chose BIMcollab’s CDE. In addition to supporting access to 2D drawings and BIM models, the platform enables WUR to structure, validate, and manage building data across new construction, maintenance, and renovation projects. 

Crucially, BIMcollab’s CDE supports WUR’s long-term ambition to develop a future-proof real estate file; one that can evolve alongside the organization’s BIM maturity and integrate with other systems and applications. As Kamphorst notes: “With BIMcollab we are fully prepared for the future.” 

The outcome 

By centralizing building information within BIMcollab’s CDE, WUR is laying the foundation for consistent, accessible, and reliable property data across its entire campus. Project managers, technical teams, and external partners work from a single, shared information ‘hub’, reducing ambiguity and improving coordination. 

This approach aligns closely with WUR’s integrated way of working on complex construction projects. A clear example of this can be seen in the education building, Aurora, completed in July 2021. The building was designed as a highly flexible, nearly energy-neutral structure with a strong focus on sustainability, adaptability, and lifecycle performance. Achieving this required intensive collaboration between all design disciplines and thorough integration of installations within a shared BIM model throughout the design phases. 

More broadly, WUR aims to create an accurate digital Twin of the entire campus. Cloud-based access and system integration are essential prerequisites.

As Kamphorst explains: 

“We are working on a digital twin of the WUR Campus that will provide us with insights into property information 24/7. It is very important that it can be linked to other systems and applications.” 

Conclusion 

For Wageningen University & Research, managing building data is not a standalone task: it is a strategic capability that underpins project delivery, sustainability ambitions, and long-term asset management. By adopting BIMcollab’s CDE, WUR ensures that all stakeholders work with consistent, structured, and future-ready information. 

In a complex environment with hundreds of buildings and continuous development, speaking the same language is essential. BIMcollab’s CDE provides the shared framework that makes this possible, today and in the years to come.