Rotterdam Business School

Connected to the world

The new 15,300 m² building is home to all the economics programs offered by the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences Business School. The building connects to the existing educational complex, which totals 35,000 m² and accommodates no fewer than 10,000 students. The new building, a significant part of which was designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects in 2018, has added more study areas and a new main entrance. The transparent plinth, which houses the media library, the incubator zone with a business lobby, and a grand café, has become the vibrant heart of the campus. Openness and connection are central to the design. The building is characterized by a large, stepped glass atrium with a robust timber frame on the north facade and the monumental main entrance. The wooden stairs are located directly adjacent to the atrium's glass facade and connect the building's various floors and study areas. The wall of the atrium is formed by several transparent project spaces which, like the stairs, offer a view of the campus. Conversely, the transparent facade provides an unobstructed view from the campus of the movement and diverse activities taking place within the building. The building's transparent character draws the outside world in and brings the inside world out.

Student needs as the foundation for the ideal educational building

Students are the building's largest user group. Therefore, we organized a workshop with university students, where they could explain their vision for the ideal educational environment. Because they spend a significant amount of time at school, students expressed a particular need for a diverse range of spaces within a single building: for studying in silence or with others, but also for relaxation. This need is reflected in the diversity of flexible workspaces and public spaces that resemble those in a large public library. The meeting areas resemble work cafés or hotel lobby spaces, while the relaxation areas feel like a living room. There's ample space for informal knowledge sharing, interaction, and relaxation, as well as secluded, quiet study areas for focused work.

A future-proof foundation for flexible use

Education has changed significantly over the past twenty years, and if one thing is certain, it's that it will continue to change significantly in the next twenty years. Think of new technologies, developments in educational concepts, and changes in student numbers in various programs. To accommodate these changes, we designed the highly sustainable education building so that the various spaces within the building can be flexibly configured. Furthermore, the floors of the new building are connected to all floors of the other buildings on campus via walkways. In the coming decades, there will be ample opportunities within the building to respond to changes in education.

Sustainable and healthy

The inflexible components, such as the load-bearing structure and the facade, are made of circular, robust, and maintenance-free materials. The new Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences building is also energy-neutral. The compact design, high-quality insulation, and occupancy-controlled systems reduce energy loss. The necessary energy is generated by, among other things, solar panels on the roof. To promote well-being and health, significant attention was paid to the supply of fresh air, pleasant room acoustics, and well-monitored and controlled temperature conditions. A maximum amount of daylight is also important for a healthy indoor climate. For example, daylight can be controlled through the atrium roof and the glass facade.