Aleida Nijland on Track: Preliminary Design Approved
With the approval of the preliminary design (PD), an important milestone has been reached in the design process for the Aleida Nijland building. This means that the key functional and spatial decisions have now been finalised. The future users of the building – LUCL, part of LUCAS, lab users, LAK, ATC, and UFB – have shared their needs and wishes during various user consultations.
In an earlier interview with the architect, we already offered a first glimpse of the new building through artist impressions. In this update, we provide an overview of the decisions made so far and offer a preview of the next steps in the planning process.
Looking Back: Key Design Decisions
The Aleida Nijland building will undergo a shell renovation, meaning the existing structure of the current building will be retained. However, the façades will be renewed, while still preserving the structuralist architecture of the original architect, Joop van Stigt. Unlike the Herta Mohr building, the characteristic ‘houses’ – four in the case of Aleida Nijland – will remain recognisably present after the renovation. By covering the courtyard with a glass roof, the building will become a single cohesive structure with one central main entrance. A spacious and more accessible bicycle basement will be created, and the green outdoor area – preserving the existing trees as much as possible with – will remain a distinctive feature of the building.
Larger Teaching Rooms
Two key principles guided the design of the teaching spaces: good interaction with students and rooms suited to group size. To accommodate courses with larger student numbers, the lecture halls have been expanded from rooms with a capacity of 70 to two halls for 80 students and one for 100. The layout will be designed to promote transparency and interaction. Smaller teaching rooms will accommodate 30 students (instead of the current 24), reflecting the growing demand for spaces for groups of 25–35 students. We also anticipate further increases in group sizes in the future. Additionally, several small seminar rooms for 10–12 people will be available, which can be booked for meetings or self-study when not in use for teaching.
Evening Opening Hours
Several users of the Aleida Nijland building organise evening activities, such as language classes or courses in music, theatre, and painting. Research is also conducted in the labs that requires participants to visit the building outside regular working hours. The Aleida Nijland will also be open in the evenings after completion to take this into account. The self-study spaces in the building will also remain accessible to students during these hours.
Planning: From Design to Construction Start
The next step in the design process is the development of the final design, in which the choices for the building will be worked out in greater detail. According to the current schedule, the final design will be completed in December of this year. The technical design will follow in April 2026, after which the contractor agreement can be drawn up in May 2026. Demolition of the building is set to begin in October 2026, during which materials and components suitable for reuse will be harvested. Construction of the new Aleida Nijland is expected to commence in April 2027.
Staff will be kept informed about the progress of the final design in the new academic year.