A healthy, accessible and attractive learning environment with space for relaxation
A sustainable inner-city learning environment
The University of Utrecht has ambitious plans to strengthen the educational functions in the city centre. The university aims for a sustainable inner-city campus that invites people to work, learn, study and meet. Therefore, the existing monumental buildings Achter de Dom and Achter Sint Pieter will be given new functions, with space for education, collaboration and study.
The strength of the plan lies in the functional connection of the monumental and characteristic buildings: with each other and with the environment, so that an inviting and contemporary education centre is created. EGM developed a plan with a focus on creating an open and dynamic education building, while preserving the peacefulness on this special location near the Dom.
Pleasant and inviting
In the design, the buildings are clearly accessible from the central garden. From here, students and staff are led to the entrance, and from there to the different educational functions in the ensemble. These functions range from dynamic to peaceful for optimal success and a pleasant, recognisable route for all users. The entrance and free meeting and collaboration spaces are centrally located and visible from the street. This makes the university more a part of the city and invites people to stay after class or from elsewhere in the city centre for study or pleasure. There is a lot of attention to daylight, climate, acoustics and flexible use of spaces so that the monumental buildings can be used in a healthy way now and in the future.
Monumental and up to modern standards
An important starting point is the preservation of the monumental value of the buildings with the restoration of the original structures. EGM chose to respect and make visible the rich history of the location. In Achter de Dom 20, where the Nutsspaarbank was once located, the staircase in the original vault is brought into view for an inviting connection with the floors. The original rooms are made visible again by giving them their own style and interior. New construction is being realised in Achter Sint Pieter with high-quality, modern lecture halls. This new construction will provide healthy and versatile educational spaces that are flexibly suitable for various teaching methods and activities. An integration of old and new, with the new route and access forming the key to facilitating seamless transitions between monumental and modern educational spaces for students and staff.
The design gives the University of Utrecht a sustainable inner-city educational environment with attention to connecting routes, functional educational spaces, monumental value and sustainability. Utrecht University has not elected this design by EGM.