Characteristic school building gets second life as future-oriented learning environment

Despite this major intervention, the character of the more than 50-year-old building is still visible and tangible. 

Commissioned by the Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal, HEVO took care of the project management of the new building with reuse. Architectural firm NOAHH created the design and, together with interior design firm EX Interiors, designed the interior. Burgland Bouw, commissioned by HEVO, carried out the construction work. "From our experience in school construction, we helped think through the implementation of the specifications," says project coordinator Bertus van Dam of Burgland Bouw. "Among other things, it stated that the existing shell had to be preserved as much as possible. From a technical and financial perspective, it was decided to replace the middle section of the school building with a new, three-story building volume. The side wings were left in place for 44%, completely stripped bare and incorporated into the new building. The right wing was given an additional floor. Of the left wing, we demolished the upper floors and the rear half."

Old building lives on

Circularity, reuse of materials and identity were central to the design and implementation of the Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal. "We gave substance to this in the first place by retaining part of the shell," says Van Dam. "Of the demolished part, as much as possible was reused. For example, the rubble was incorporated as granulate under the pavement and used as site additions. The paneled walls, steel edge beams, lamps and many other products and materials were given a second life elsewhere. Even hammocks and bags were made from the curtains." Aesthetically, too, the old building lives on in the new. For example, the recognizable rigid concrete structure has remained intact and is still visible in the side facades. The stone mosaic that formed the wall next to the old rector's office has been preserved and placed in the visitors' entrance. One of the more than two hundred concrete columns is deliberately not plastered as a visible reminder of the incorporated old structure. The shed roofs of the new building refer to the former Veenendaal industry.

Atrium as beating heart

For the design of the interior NOAHH and EX Interiors joined forces. Inspired by the educational vision of the Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal, they created an open and dynamic learning environment, with the atrium as its beating heart. Van Dam: "The atrium functions as a meeting place from where the students fan out to the rest of the building, but also as an inspiring learning landscape with various work and learning areas. Characteristic are the imposing staircases, which also serve as informal learning spaces or as grandstands for parent evenings or performances, for example."

Concrete shell, wooden interior finish

Burgland Bouw started construction in September 2019. Van Dam explains the work: "We made the shell with in-situ poured foundation beams, hollow-core slabs, precast concrete walls and precast concrete columns with steel girders over them. We used precast concrete for the elevator shaft and hollow-core slabs for the floors and roof. We realized the skylights with eighty Velux windows. We sealed the facade with HSB elements, with rockpanel as cladding." Burgland Bouw applied the same cladding to the existing building parts to create a unified image. On the inside of both the new building and the existing sections, trowel floors, metal stud walls and suspended ceilings were installed. Van Dam: "Some of the walls and ceilings in the atrium are finished with wood. That gives the building a warm look and pleasant atmosphere."

Going well

On November 12, 2020, Burgland Bouw delivered the new school building. Van Dam looks back on a smooth construction process: "The cooperation with HEVO and the Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal was pleasant. The same goes for the coordination with the installer and other parties. Nice that we contributed to ensuring that this building, which is over fifty years old, can last another fifty years while retaining its character."  

Construction Info

Client
Christian Lyceum Veenendaal

Architect
NOAHH, Amsterdam

Construction contractor
Burgland Construction, Dodewaard