Amsterdam University College Building, Watergraafsmeer Architecture, Dutch Further Edcuation Design
Amsterdam University College Building
Higher Education Development in The Netherlands design by Mecanoo architecten
21 Sep 2012
Amsterdam University College
New home for students of Amsterdam University College
Design: Mecanoo architecten
Delft, 21 September 2012 – On Friday 21 September 2012 the Amsterdam councillor Lodewijk Asscher officially opened Amsterdam University College. The new and striking 6,000 m² educational building was designed by Mecanoo architecten in Delft. The prestigious Amsterdam University College accommodates the joint liberal arts and sciences programme of the University of Amsterdam and the VU University Amsterdam. The educational institute forms the entrance to Science Park, the international knowledge centre in the Watergraafsmeer neighbourhood close to Amsterdam’s historic seventeenth-century city centre.
photo : Christian Richters
Amsterdam University College combines an intensive programme of studies with the cultural and social life of a campus. Francine Houben explains: “Amsterdam University College was designed as an inspiring home for the community of international students and their professors. It’s a friendly but robust home with a spacious loft on top.”
By positioning the tilting roofs diagonally, in a north-south direction, the sense of being in a loft is strengthened. Large voids form the heart of the building and create a visual relationship between the different floors. A staircase winds through the voids, symbolising a sense of community for its users. Distinguished spaces such as the restaurant, the common room and the study hall have two-storey facades with a beautiful view to the Science Park.
pictures : Christian Richters
The striking façade is made of corten steel and furnishes the building with a warm yet formal presence which resonates with the architecture of the Science Park. Amsterdam University College is a sustainable building applying, amongst other things, thermal energy storage and concrete core activation. The moss sedum roof covering not only provides insulation but also serves as water storage.
23 Sep 2011
Amsterdam University College Construction
Amsterdam University College construction reaches highest point
Delft, 23 September 2011
Wednesday, September 21st, the construction of the new academic building for the Amsterdam University College reached its highest point. Mecanoo architecten, based in Delft, designed the 6,000 m² faculty for the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. The new Liberal Arts and Science building will be located in Science Park Amsterdam, the international science and research center in the area referred to as Watergraafsmeer, and will be realised in 2012.
Amsterdam University College design:
image from architect
Amsterdam University College is designed as an inspiring home for a community of international students and their professors. It is an inviting building with a spacious attic on top.
The attic was created by placing the roof diagonally north-south. A large void forms the heart of the building and creates a visual relationship between the different floors. A staircase winds through the void, symbolising a sense of community for its users. Special spaces such as the restaurant, common room and study hall are two storeys high.
Double-height windows in these rooms offer beautiful views of the surroundings. The striking façade is made of corten steel and furnishes the building with a warm yet formal presence which contrasts with the more business like architecture of the Science Park. Amsterdam University College is a sustainable building, which uses ground source heat-cold storage and concrete core activation. A sedum roof cover provides not only insulation, but also mitigates storm water runoff.
Amsterdam University College construction:
photos from Mecanoo architecten
Amsterdam University College images / information from Mecanoo architecten
Amsterdam University College Building design : Mecanoo architecten
Location: Science Park Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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photo © Jannes Linders
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Comments / photos for the Amsterdam University College Building page welcome
Website: www.auc.nl
