benthem crouwel expands radboud university campus in the netherlands

benthem crouwel expands radboud university campus in the netherlands
photo by jannes linders
all images courtesy of benthem crouwel architects

dutch practice benthem crouwel architects has completed ‘the grotiusgebouw’, an educational building that forms part of the radboud university nijmegen campus in the netherlands. forging a close relationship with its surroundings, the compact design contains five storeys within its relatively small footprint, featuring a sunken lower ground level and a recessed penthouse floor. the structure will be primarily used by the school’s faculty of law.

the compact design contains five storeys within its relatively small footprint
photo by jannes linders

students entering the building through the main entrance are led into a bright central atrium, with the library and lecture hall grouped around this internal courtyard. provision for car and bike parking is found underground, connected via a wide stairway.

entrance to the underground level containing car and bicycle parking
photo by jannes linders

study areas within the design are a mix of single rooms and communal areas, while offices are spread across the higher two layers of the plan. at the uppermost level, expansive views across the campus are provided, with transparent walls ensuring an open and transparent learning environment.

expansive views across the school’s campus are provided at the uppermost level
photo by jannes linders

externally, cantilevered canopies unify the structure’s appearance with glazing reflecting the school’s wooded surroundings. the upside of the white glossy awnings bring daylight into the building, simultaneously diverting glare.

transparent walls ensure an open and transparent learning environment
photo by jannes linders

students entering the building through the main entrance are led into a bright central atrium
photo by jannes linders

both the library and lecture hall are grouped around the internal courtyard
photos by jannes linders

photos by jannes linders

the large lecture hall can accommodate up to 500 students
photo by jannes linders

façade detailing
photo by jannes linders

the upside of the white glossy awnings bring daylight into the building
photo by jannes linders

1/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

client: radboud universiteit nijmegen
architect: benthem crouwel architects
gross floor area: faculty building: 16,300 sqm, car and bike parking: 10,000 sqm
location: montessorilaan 10, 6525 hr nijmegen, the netherlands
lead architects: mels crouwel, joost vos
project team: mels crouwel, joost vos, joost van noort, okke van den broek, moon brader, frank deltrap, marcel wassenaar, nico de waard, cees zuidervaart, amir farokhian
contractor: bouwbedrijf berghege, oss and heerkens van bavel bouw, tilburg
structural engineering: bouwadviesbureau strackee
mechanical services / building physics: nelissen ingenieursbureau
interior architects: benthem crouwel architects and studio groen + schild
landscape architects: karres en brands landschapsarchitecten
composite façade: supplier: utec composites, alkmaar, anchoring awnings: schöck nederland bv, apeldoorn
project dates: start design: 2010, start construction: 2012, completed: 2014
photography: jannes linders