UU hoping for a lively campus
Architectural firm Mecanoo designs 'new' Van Unnik
An illustration of what the Van Unnik building will soon look like. Image: Mecanoo
The building is to become a modern and sustainable building that will house research and education activities, as well as office spaces. The idea is to house the Faculty of Social Sciences and the university's Administration there, but other faculties and departments might move there too.
The university is also looking to make the area more lively, thanks to spaces inside and around the building for food suppliers, study workplaces and other facilities. "The planned adjustments to the campus must ensure that the area stimulates people to meet and move," UU writes in a press release.
Inspiring place
Delft-based firm Mecanoo will not only be responsible for the building's makeover but also lead the design team that will redevelop the surrounding area. Architect Francine Houben is Mecanoo's founder and creative director. She is no stranger to Utrecht Science Park: in the 1990s, she redesigned the building of the Faculty of Economics & Management of the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, on Padualaan. More recently, her firm Mecanoo designed the Life Science Incubator, the business complex on Yalelaan. Houben received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2016.
In an interview with DUB in 2016 (available in Dutch only, Ed.), Houben shared her vision of the ideal campus for students. She said that UU's campus competes with other campuses around the world, which is why "you want to offer them an inspiring place where they feel at home. A place where they can live and cycle safely, work and stay comfortably. As a university, you must create a beautiful campus and that starts with the awareness that the competition in the knowledge economy is global.”
Mecanoo previously designed TU Delft's library. The firm also did the building of the Dutch Bank in Amsterdam, which underwent a similar renovation as the Van Unnik building, both in terms of scale and sustainability.
No demolition
In 2019, the university gave up demolishing the building, which was in poor condition. Instead, Van Unnik would become a striking landmark in the heart of the campus, said UU President Pijpers at the time.
The Van Unnik building has been shrouded in green nets for years due to crumbling concrete. The asbestos has been completely removed from the building. The final work to make the building suitable for renovation will be carried out this year. The accompanying low-rise buildings and walkways have already been dismantled. UU Vice-President Margot van der Starre said in a committee meeting of the University Council on Monday that the building should be ready in 2029.