Dutch architectural studio KAAN Architecten recently completed the Education Centre University of Groningen. The new Education Centre is the main entrance building to the Healthy Ageing Campus. The centre is designed to support learning, promote health, and foster social interaction — embracing these principles, its architecture prioritizes the well-being of more than 2,000 students and faculty members. The use of sustainable materials with a timeless quality enhances the centre’s healthy appeal.
Groningen is a city in the northern Netherlands with a large student population. The Healthy Ageing Campus is located on the east side of the city’s historic centre, adjacent to the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). The campus is an ecosystem of researchers, entrepreneurs, and healthcare providers with a focus on exploring new technologies and methods to help support healthy ageing. In pursuit of this goal, KAAN Architecten designed the first Education Centre in a planned series of shared facilities across the campus. The centre is officially named the Anda Kerkhoven Centre: Anda Kerkhoven (1919-1945) was a Dutch resistance fighter and medical student at the University of Groningen.
The Education Centre sits on a plot that was made available after removing an existing road extending from the city centre. “Positioned centrally on this axis, the building serves as a recognizable landmark, reinforcing the connection between the campus and the city,” says KAAN Architecten. “The new Education Centre links various UMCG facilities. It also enriches the northern entrance of the campus by extending the outdoor public space into the interior, enhancing the direct connection and fluid circulation throughout the buildings.” The centre incorporates a series of patio gardens at different levels as well as high-quality public spaces designed by Felixx Landscape Architects.
An environment that promotes physical, mental, and social well-being was a key aspect of the project. KAAN Architecten’s design places an emphasis on comfort, natural light, and ventilation. Knowledge sharing between faculty, students, and visitors is encouraged: the building provides opportunities for collaboration and group work, alongside relaxation and individual study.
The Education Centre’s design comprises five connected volumes that increase accessibility through horizontal and vertical foyers. The volumes are positioned in response to key sight lines and desired spatial qualities — their arrangement facilitates a cohesive flow between spaces throughout the building.
The horizontal foyer is framed by a transparent facade that opens onto a public square and several green patios. These patios mark the transition to existing buildings at different levels as well as introducing natural light into the lower floors. The foyer is "organized within and around brick volumes,” says KAAN Architecten. It contains seminar halls, lecture spaces, meeting rooms, a food court, and an independent commercial area.
The vertical foyer connects the seminar halls with the “learning tower” — this houses classrooms, IT rooms, and a skills lab.
A wide staircase encourages movement, in line with healthy ageing, and is combined with study areas.
A flexible design approach will facilitate future changes to the building program. For example, two of the three lecture halls feature movable platforms as opposed to fixed seating — this allows for a range of teaching scenarios. Additionally, the tower’s standardized grid system and larger structural span make varied spatial arrangements possible.
The Education Centre was constructed using a number of sustainable materials with a low environmental impact and timeless quality. Regionally sourced bricks cover both the exterior and interior walls — the light, sandy brick color is warm and welcoming. A large openwork brick motif is especially noteworthy and captivates the eye. On the tower, the brickwork facade is characterized by the use of large, deep windows.
Interior doors and window frames are made of regionally sourced massive oak. Foyer floors and walls are made of concrete, while teaching spaces are clad in wood.
The combination of materials — brick, wood, and concrete — imbue the centre’s spaces with an appealingly tactile yet robust urban air. This is particularly significant in the horizontal foyer, with its high ceiling and roof construction partly visible through a metal mesh.
An accessible green roof terrace further integrates nature into the campus environment. The Education Centre utilizes optimal insulation, rainwater harvesting, and includes 194 solar panels; moreover, the building is prepared with a readiness to harness geothermal energy.
The Anda Kerkhoven Centre opened its doors to students and faculty members on 2 September 2024.
Gross floor area: 12,246 square meters (131,815 square feet)
Educational facilities include:
Three large lecture halls for 250, 200, and 80 people respectively
Fifty-six project and computer rooms for 12 – 50 people
A total of 230 study and “landing places”
