Langeveld Building

Studying in the Green

Students played a key role in the design process of the Langeveld Building and, during mood board sessions, expressed their desire for a homely building with abundant greenery. The central atrium, affectionately known as the "treehouse," features real, untreated tree trunks that bring nature indoors. Multiple study platforms and a central staircase encourage physical activity and create a dynamic, open environment that caters to diverse study preferences. Whether collaborating, relaxing, or concentrating, the platforms offer wide tables overlooking lush greenery for individual work, larger tables for group work, and more inviting seating areas. The transparent facade allows ample natural light to enter, creating a bright and inspiring space where greenery can flourish.

Flexible for the future

The flexible layout facilitates various hybrid working and teaching formats, allowing the building to adapt to changing needs. Lecture halls offer space for teaching, collaboration, and quiet time. The atrium visually connects the interior with the lively outdoor square. Planters also extend from the interior to the exterior, providing a habitat for native plants and nesting opportunities for birds and insects. This thoughtful integration of greenery not only enhances the building's ecological value but also creates a calming environment for its occupants. With a BREEAM Outstanding rating of 91.5% and an energy-positive performance, the Langeveld Building sets a new standard for sustainable learning environments. Construction followed circular principles, using recycled, biobased, and reused materials from demolition projects within the university. The wood was responsibly sourced from a protected Dutch production forest, minimizing the building's ecological footprint.

Powered by nature

A major sustainability challenge for educational buildings is reducing energy consumption while still providing sufficient fresh air for a pleasant and healthy study environment. The Langeveld Building offers a groundbreaking answer with its innovative "Powered by Nature" EWF ventilation system. This system, based on PhD research by Delft University of Technology on the natural ventilation principles of termite mounds, intelligently utilizes sun and wind to naturally ventilate the building. This reduces energy consumption by as much as 85% while simultaneously allowing significantly more fresh air in, promoting both productivity and well-being. This is the world's first for this revolutionary system and sets a new architectural standard. The new university building has been constructed according to a circular design principle. This means that recycled materials are used as much as possible. Demolition materials from other buildings, including EUR buildings, have been reused, and the materials used in the new educational building have also been documented in a dedicated materials passport.