Designed by JHK Architecten + Inbo the construction of the first phase of the new science campus of the University of Leiden officially started last Thursday, February 28th. The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Leiden will at completion of the building project present itself in one building, promoting the cooperation between the different institutions housed within. Leiden University will have a modern, open and communicative building in which the various research institutes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences will be interconnected better than ever. More images and architects' description after the break.
The new facilities will bring Leiden up to par with the leading research institutes around the world. The design reflects this in the central axis housing all the specific and shared facilities, as well as functioning as an inspiring and expressive environment where different users come together. The generic layout of the attached research wings offers maximum flexibility of use for the institutes.
The first phase of this new faculty measures at approximately 44.000m2 GFA. According to the construction schedule, contractors Heijmans and Cofely GDF Suez will finish the first phase of construction in the second half of 2015. The new campus will be realized in three phases, resulting in a total GFA of approximately 100.000m2. The completion of the entire science faculty is planned for the end of 2022.
From the very beginning the design team has been working integrally across all disciplines to reach the BREEAM Very Good sustainability ambition established by the University of Leiden. Since there is no assessment method for laboratories yet, the design was developed together with the Dutch Green Building Council according to the BREEAM ‘bespoke’ method. The Leiden science campus is the first laboratory building in the Netherlands to achieve this sustainability certificate.
