Read the story of
Luis - BIM Product Owner
Read the story of
Luis - BIM Product Owner
With a background in architecture and years of experience in BIM implementation, Luis Calderon moved to the Netherlands in 2023 to join Van Oord. Originally from Venezuela, he’s now helping shape the future of BIM at Van Oord – building digital models, driving collaboration, and bringing international teams together.
With a background in architecture and years of experience in BIM implementation, Luis Calderon moved to the Netherlands in 2023 to join Van Oord. Originally from Venezuela, he’s now helping shape the future of BIM at Van Oord – building digital models, driving collaboration, and bringing international teams together.
I trained as an architect, but I quickly realised I wasn’t your typical designer. When I first discovered BIM – working as an MEP modeller – everything clicked. It helped me understand the design and construction process, and over time, I shifted my focus to implementation, strategy, and knowledge sharing.
For the past ten years, I’ve specialised in implementing BIM across different companies. But I was ready for something new – a chance to build something from scratch. When I came across Van Oord’s vacancy, I knew it would be different. I had no background in dredging or offshore wind – and I told them that right away. But they were looking for someone who understood data, processes and optimisation. That’s exactly what I do.
For the past ten years, I’ve specialised in implementing BIM across different companies. But I was ready for something new – a chance to build something from scratch. When I came across Van Oord’s vacancy, I knew it would be different. I had no background in dredging or offshore wind – and I told them that right away. But they were looking for someone who understood data, processes and optimisation. That’s exactly what I do.
Building a solid foundation
I joined Van Oord as a BIM Product Owner in April 2023. The ambition was clear: to standardise and scale up BIM across the entire organisation. At Van Oord, we don’t just use BIM for buildings or infrastructure – we apply it to vessels, assets and full project lifecycles. That opens up huge opportunities.
We use 3D modelling for all our dredging and offshore wind projects. Our goal is to centralise and structure information so that everyone has access to what they need – from design engineers to asset managers. One great example is our monopile logistics model. Normally, planning the storage and handling of dozens of monopiles would be done in a spreadsheet. We visualised the entire process in a 3D model – for over 100 monopiles. It made planning faster, smarter, and far more insightful.
At Van Oord, you start small and show what BIM can deliver. Once people see the value, things grow quickly.
We use 3D modelling for all our dredging and offshore wind projects. Our goal is to centralise and structure information so that everyone has access to what they need – from design engineers to asset managers. One great example is our monopile logistics model. Normally, planning the storage and handling of dozens of monopiles would be done in a spreadsheet. We visualised the entire process in a 3D model – for over 100 monopiles. It made planning faster, smarter, and far more insightful.
At Van Oord, you start small and show what BIM can deliver. Once people see the value, things grow quickly.
I trained as an architect, but I quickly realised I wasn’t your typical designer. When I first discovered BIM – working as an MEP modeller – everything clicked. It helped me understand the design and construction process, and over time, I shifted my focus to implementation, strategy, and knowledge sharing.
For the past ten years, I’ve specialised in implementing BIM across different companies. But I was ready for something new – a chance to build something from scratch. When I came across Van Oord’s vacancy, I knew it would be different. I had no background in dredging or offshore wind – and I told them that right away. But they were looking for someone who understood data, processes and optimisation. That’s exactly what I do.
For the past ten years, I’ve specialised in implementing BIM across different companies. But I was ready for something new – a chance to build something from scratch. When I came across Van Oord’s vacancy, I knew it would be different. I had no background in dredging or offshore wind – and I told them that right away. But they were looking for someone who understood data, processes and optimisation. That’s exactly what I do.
Building a solid foundation
I joined Van Oord as a BIM Product Owner in April 2023. The ambition was clear: to standardise and scale up BIM across the entire organisation. At Van Oord, we don’t just use BIM for buildings or infrastructure – we apply it to vessels, assets and full project lifecycles. That opens up huge opportunities.
We use 3D modelling for all our dredging and offshore wind projects. Our goal is to centralise and structure information so that everyone has access to what they need – from design engineers to asset managers. One great example is our monopile logistics model. Normally, planning the storage and handling of dozens of monopiles would be done in a spreadsheet. We visualised the entire process in a 3D model – for over 100 monopiles. It made planning faster, smarter, and far more insightful.
At Van Oord, you start small and show what BIM can deliver. Once people see the value, things grow quickly.
We use 3D modelling for all our dredging and offshore wind projects. Our goal is to centralise and structure information so that everyone has access to what they need – from design engineers to asset managers. One great example is our monopile logistics model. Normally, planning the storage and handling of dozens of monopiles would be done in a spreadsheet. We visualised the entire process in a 3D model – for over 100 monopiles. It made planning faster, smarter, and far more insightful.
At Van Oord, you start small and show what BIM can deliver. Once people see the value, things grow quickly.
A team that grows together
In 2024, I took on a new role: leading our global modelling teams in Rotterdam, Gorinchem, Dubai and Indonesia. It’s a more multidisciplinary position, focused on collaboration and integration. By connecting people and aligning processes, we’ve been able to move much faster. In 2025, we plan to fully merge the BIM and modelling teams into one strong, integrated discipline.
What I appreciate most about Van Oord is how open people are to new ideas. It’s a large organisation, so it’s not always easy to know what’s happening everywhere. But colleagues are enthusiastic, supportive and eager to innovate. When innovation meets collaboration, great things happen.
As an expat, I also felt incredibly welcome. My relocation from Argentina was well supported, and my family – my wife and nine-year-old son – settled in quickly. Van Oord truly embraces diversity; it doesn’t matter where you’re from, but what you bring to the table.
And here, you get the chance to build something meaningful.
What I appreciate most about Van Oord is how open people are to new ideas. It’s a large organisation, so it’s not always easy to know what’s happening everywhere. But colleagues are enthusiastic, supportive and eager to innovate. When innovation meets collaboration, great things happen.
As an expat, I also felt incredibly welcome. My relocation from Argentina was well supported, and my family – my wife and nine-year-old son – settled in quickly. Van Oord truly embraces diversity; it doesn’t matter where you’re from, but what you bring to the table.
And here, you get the chance to build something meaningful.
A team that grows together
In 2024, I took on a new role: leading our global modelling teams in Rotterdam, Gorinchem, Dubai and Indonesia. It’s a more multidisciplinary position, focused on collaboration and integration. By connecting people and aligning processes, we’ve been able to move much faster. In 2025, we plan to fully merge the BIM and modelling teams into one strong, integrated discipline.
What I appreciate most about Van Oord is how open people are to new ideas. It’s a large organisation, so it’s not always easy to know what’s happening everywhere. But colleagues are enthusiastic, supportive and eager to innovate. When innovation meets collaboration, great things happen.
As an expat, I also felt incredibly welcome. My relocation from Argentina was well supported, and my family – my wife and nine-year-old son – settled in quickly. Van Oord truly embraces diversity; it doesn’t matter where you’re from, but what you bring to the table.
And here, you get the chance to build something meaningful.
What I appreciate most about Van Oord is how open people are to new ideas. It’s a large organisation, so it’s not always easy to know what’s happening everywhere. But colleagues are enthusiastic, supportive and eager to innovate. When innovation meets collaboration, great things happen.
As an expat, I also felt incredibly welcome. My relocation from Argentina was well supported, and my family – my wife and nine-year-old son – settled in quickly. Van Oord truly embraces diversity; it doesn’t matter where you’re from, but what you bring to the table.
And here, you get the chance to build something meaningful.
Persoonlijke en professionele groei
We zorgen voor elkaar
Goede arbeidsvoorwaarden
Persoonlijke en professionele groei
We zorgen voor elkaar
Goede arbeidsvoorwaarden
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'Ik heb hier mooie kansen gekregen. Om te groeien, maar ik heb ook de hele wereld gezien. Thuis kan ik op Google Maps laten zien wat ik gemaakt heb!'
André
Hoofd Stuurman
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