Sustainable and dynamic Student Pavilion
In January,the design team De Zwarte Hond / Powerhouse company was selected for the architectural work on the Student Pavilion. In between then and now, a lot of work has been done determining the functions of Woudestein’s new figurehead. One thing is certain: the Student Pavilion will become a transparent, contemporary and quite sensational building.
In the sustainable Student Pavilion, happening heart of the new campus, students, university staff and visitors can meet in a relaxed manner, without thresholds. Both during daytime and the evening, you can work and lounge there, or go to cultural events.
Frederieke Hoitink of Erasmus Cultuur and her user group have drawn up a preliminary programme serving as a test case for the building’s multifunctionality. The participants of the user group – staff and students of EUR – are happy with the present lay-out. In the heart of the building, there is a multifunctional hall with a slide-away grandstand, which offers seating to 200 spectators. With the grandstand slid away, there is space for double that amount. The flexible stage, slide-away grandstand and mobile bars result in a very multifunctional space. There will be something to everyone’s liking, ranging from debates, film and concerts, to dance parties, comedy or plays.
The ring running around the building’s core consists of 4 spaces, which gradually merge into each other: the foyer, grand café, coffee corner and work area, the latter with seats and digital information screens. There is Wifi in the entire building, which has excellent acoustics. You have a view of the surroundings wherever you find yourself in the ring, because of the glass façades. As there are several entrances, the pavilion forms a natural connection between the two campus halves with their different levels.
Right now, the lay-out of kitchen and multifunctional hall are being thought out. The Student Pavilion is to have an intelligent and sustainable climatization, in both a passive and dynamic sense. The building’s energy use will be low because of the high performance insulated glass in the transparent façade, its compact construction and because the mass will be right in the centre. When determining the function of different spaces, the changing position of the sun was taken into account. Also, the building is to have solar panels on the roof to generate its own energy, natural ventilation and intelligent installations reacting to the number of visitors and the amount of daylight.
The spacious terraced café surrounding the pavilion will be a pleasure to visit, especially the part on the water. Here, you may come to watch outdoor performances or to enjoy the grand café’s excellent kitchen or good coffee. The Student Pavilion will add flavour to Woudestein campus!
Before the summer holidays, a selection of 5 building contractors will be made. The building contractor to actually build the Student Pavilion will be selected on the basis of the most economical bid. The construction of the pavilion is to start in March 2012.
