'We are only content when everything is taken care of'
Two organisers at heart. In the background, facilities managers Nick van Asperen and Kees Schoonwater ensure that staff and students have everything they need to work and study well. Recently, the familiar faces started doing so in a new role. Schoonwater is now project manager housing and Van Asperen is taking over Schoonwater's old role as facilities coordinator. ‘We think in solutions rather than problems.’
Running back and forth or actively arranging things over the phone, that is how the two often walk through the building. From extra chairs to a classroom, poster boards in the corridors to internal moves and departmental requests: the facilities team makes sure everything is in order in the building. Schoonwater was team leader of the facilities department for years. Now that the new part of the Gorlaeus Building is nearing completion, he has a new role: coordinating the structural delivery of the building.
‘From the moment we have the key to the final stage of the move, I am going to coordinate everything. I have to guide everything in the right direction to ensure we can move as smoothly as possible.’ The fact that he knows the building inside out is a big advantage. ‘I was also involved in the project of the older part of the building. Therefore I know what the potential pitfalls are. And of course it is a fantastic project to be allowed to furnish.’
‘Rolling up your sleeves and getting it done’
Van Asperen took over the position as coordinator. ‘It is a challenging and broad position and that is incredibly fun. I now manage the facilities team consisting of the service desk and the expedition. Together, we ensure that all facility matters within the building are well-organised. From departments with specific requests to small movings and all kind of events. No day is the same and that's what makes it fun.’
Arranging and preparing everything well is important to them both. ‘If something goes wrong, we feel really bummed. But then we just roll up our sleeves,’ says Schoonwater. ‘We first get the job done and then look at where it went wrong,’ adds Van Asperen. It's a profession in which you have to think in creative solutions and sometimes need to be able to act quickly, the men explain. ‘We think in solutions rather than in problems. And we prefer to never sell no.’
‘Then you do feel proud of your team’
Making researchers and students feel unburdened is what motivates the two. ‘It's nice to be able to help people with very different questions. When someone has a request, we make sure it gets to the right place. From an internal move or replacing a lamp, to preparing a space for an event. Ideally, we want no one to have to look after anything and for us to take care of it for them. If we succeed, that feels great,’ says Nick. ‘It makes us happy when we see that everyone is happy and everything runs smoothly,’ says Schoonwater. ‘The Leiden Science Family Day is a great example of that. Then we stood and watched the happy children walk through the building and everything ran smoothly. That's what you do it for and then I do feel really proud of our team.’
'It's nice to be able to help people with very different questions.'
Despite the new roles, they can always count on each other's support and help. ‘We work together very pleasantly. Of course, I will still need his team in the future. If anyone at the faculty wanted anything, it said "Call 0900-Kees". That has become a term,’ Schoonwater says while laughing. ‘Now it has to become 0900-Nick.' Van Asperen adds: 'Everyone knows that if you call Kees, everything will be fine. I hope I can build the same trust and gain the same knowledge and experience. That's what I want to grow towards.’
Creative mind under time pressure
Schoonwater himself is especially looking forward to the moment he gets the key to the new building. ‘I am already preparing, but then it really begins. Fortunately, my creative mind also works best under time pressure. It's a nice challenge in which I can bring a lot of knowledge from my previous job. And in the future, I will still work closely with Nick and his team.’
Text and photos: Inge van Dijck