Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects Wins Competition in Utrecht

The new 22,310 m2 building will house seven institutes as well as university facilities, providing space for over 6,500 students, staff and visitors. It will contain two large auditoriums, two small auditoriums, TV/radio studios, a knowledge center, classrooms, dining facilities, and parking for more than 1,200 bicycles. The building completes the "Kasbah" master plan of the university, whose campus is adorned with buildings designed by Wiel Arets, Mecanoo, OMA, and UNStudio.

Kristian Ahlmark, Senior Partner at Schmidt Hammer Lassen, said in a statement: "We have created a strong and clear gable motif that forms the final end of the Kasbah masterplan. The building yields to the adjacent buildings with a series of green terraces and roof gardens. Coherence with the surrounding campus is achieved by the use of a similar floor-tiling outside and inside on the building's ground floor, which acts as a large open piazza with cafes, conference center, amphitheater and lecture halls."

The statement further indicates: "With all general functions situated on the ground floor, the seven different institutes are spread over the other seven floors, most with direct access to outdoor spaces, which will be used for learning and interaction. The institutes connects via a spectacular atrium which forms the heart of the plan." With the atrium, Kristian Ahlmark explains, "We've tried to create a place that encourages the chance encounter. By activating the heart of the building, the atrium becomes the primary function of logistics where the school’s flow distributes via kaleidoscopic stairs, bridges and escalators. Thus, the atrium becomes the building’s meeting place where paths cross, experiences are shared and insight into other institutes is gained."

The project, which targets the BREEAM Exellent sustainability standard, is planned to open in December 2017. With the competition win, the SPARK consortium is designing the project but also responsible for its construction and maintenance for a period of 15 years.