NHL University

The brief was to leave intact the existing building by the architect Abe Bonnema, dating from 1984 which forms an amorphous whole with its smallscale combination of building masses and to expand it by adding a new building of the same size. Rather than adding one or more blocks, it seemed preferable to surround the entire building by a new structure to which the existing building would be linked on all sides and which would furnish a cohesive framework, like a pictureframe. At the same time, the existing structure would remain visible and continuity would be preserved in the outside areas, which would be left intact beneath the new building. Of the fairly labyrinthine system of corridors in the existing building, two perpendicular axes that constitute the link with the new building were upgraded to arterial streets by widening them where possible and adding doubleheight spaces with upward views. These main streets cross in the central area, the spatial quality of which was improved appreciably, most notably by the addition of a large skylight. The new building consists primarily of an expanse of columnless floors with free floor spans of 11.7 metres, made possible by shifting the loadbearing structure entirely to the façades. New partitions can constantly be made within this outer shell, a prerequisite for all modern educational establishments. Our objective has been to create space which may incite communication, collaboration, take notice of each other's activities and consequently generate ideas. The building and its architecture may initiate intellectual exchange by offering the right conditions which are inviting and offer reasons for crossing each other's paths and provide places to meet. This asks for an emphasis on space outside all closedoff rooms that can be used by individuals or groups and thus what you may see as a public realm: this zone must be designed as social space.