UU wants to sell Bijlhouwerstraat; USG to move to international campus

The cuts in Utrecht University's accommodation budget, prompted by substantial reductions in government funding, inflation and rising costs, are taking shape. In total, Utrecht University wants to dispose of 15 per cent of its teaching, research and office space. Buildings that are retained will be used more intensively.

It was previously announced that the university will retain its three campuses but will dispose of some buildings. The buildings used for education and research will be spared as much as possible. Construction plans that are not part of the primary process, such as the circular pavilion for the Botanical Gardens, will be postponed. All this must be completed in the coming years.

Munststraat 2a and Kromme Nieuwegracht 20-22, photo UU

The city centre and ICU
Utrecht University has now announced what it considers to be the best scenario for the faculties of Law, Economics & Governance (LEG) and Humanities. The plans are subject to change after consultation with the faculties en councils.

This “preferred scenario” includes the university's intention to sell the building on Bijlhouwerstraat. The Utrecht University School of Governance currently housed there would then move to the International Campus Utrecht in 2030. Bijlhouwerstraat will therefore no longer be renovated. The Philosophy, Politics & Economics programme will have to leave the Descartes Building and move to the city centre.

It is not yet clear what the accommodation for both programmes will look like. Both programmes have the Special Characteristic Small-scale and Intensive Education (BKKI). This requires, among other things, “own infrastructure” where staff and students can form a close-knit community. In the past, the university explained this as having a space reserved specifically for the programme.

University College Utrecht and the Utrecht School of Economics will be allowed to remain on the International Campus. The intention is that all buildings will be used more intensively.

The Media & Culture Studies of the Faculty of Humanities must prepare for a move. The department may move to Trans 10. After the move, the connected buildings at Muntstaat 2a and Kromme Nieuwegracht 20-22 will be sold. This was actually already planned.

Divesting educational space
The university also wants to dispose of buildings it currently rents. When a lease expires, it may not be renewed. For example, the university is looking into whether Israëllaan, Janskerkhof 15a, Drift 13 and Daltonlaan are still really needed for teaching purposes. In the city centre, construction of the Anna Maria van Schurman building (premises on Achter de Dom and Achter Sint Pieter) is continuing. Completion is now scheduled for mid-2028. The idea is that this will house some of the teaching currently provided at Israëllaan.

The idea, as became clear during the meeting of the Employees’ consultative body from the University Corporate Offices (UBD), is to reduce the amount of educational space at the entire university back to the volume it had before 2021. In that year, the number of educational spaces was expanded due to an increase in the number of students. However, the UU believes that many teaching spaces are not being used optimally and has therefore been working for some time on a plan to make better use of teaching spaces. This plan includes spreading lectures more evenly across the days of the week and offering students more lectures after 5 p.m. However, this project is not progressing very smoothly and has been met with a lot of criticism.

The office building of Law at Achter de Sint Pieter 200, photo DUB

Less office space
The UU wants to achieve the greatest gains from savings on office space. In this way, as much space as possible will be saved for teaching and research. Because employees are allowed to work from home and the introduction of activity-based working means that having your “own” desk is becoming a thing of the past, less space is needed, especially if this space is also used more efficiently during the week.

For the city centre, this means that the LEG and Humanities will share buildings. For example, other Utrecht University employees will also work in the recently renovated LEG office building, the Johanna Hudig building at Achter de Sint Pieter 200. ‘There will therefore be a reduction in space,’ according to a message on the intranet, but exactly how much is not yet clear.

The plans are still being developed and were discussed with the faculties in the city centre this week. The total changes to accommodation for the entire university will be clear at the beginning of June. The official decision will be made this autumn.