Renewed Minnaert building open again

On Tuesday 5 December, the renovated Minnaert building opened its doors again for students, staff and visitors. After a renovation of 18 months the Minnaert building is lighter, more functional and sustainable, with among other things, new lecture rooms, more seating in the central hall and a spacious entrance.

Education center Northwest corner USP De Uithof

The completion of the renovation in the Minnaert building is the final step in the realisation of the education centre at the Northwest corner of Utrecht Science Park De Uithof. The education centre is composed of the Minnaert, Buys Ballot and Victor J. Koningsberger buildings. All three buildings are connected via a walkway on the first floor and a spacious central atrium in the Minnaert building, which will serve as the ‘heart’ of the education centre.The ideal study and work environment for students and staff of the faculties of Science, Geosciences and Social Science.The Minnaert building, by Neutelings Riedijk Architects, dates from 1997. Ector Hoogstad Architects designed the drawings of the renovation.

Services

In the Minnaert building there are two lecture rooms, eleven work group rooms, six practical rooms, nine project group rooms and a computer learning room. Many study spaces have been set up in the central hall and the restaurant. The offices for the staff of the Faculty of Science are located on the first, third and fourth floor. The study point of the Faculty of Science is located directly at the hall. On the ground floor, at the entrance hall, you will find as of February 2018 an espresso bar with terrace. On the first floor you find the renewed restaurant for the entire education center. The mezzanine on the second floor is multifunctional and provides access to the roof terrace.

Lighter, meeting & connecting

The central hall will serve as the the connecting link of the education centre. Here, students, employees and visitors come together from the buildings Buys Ballot, Koningsberger and Minnaert. It is a multifunctional room with nice seats for group work, to lounge or to enjoy the view. Events can also take place at the hall, such as open days, debates, lectures. The special thing about the hall is experiencing nature. Here you can hear the rainwater flowing. Rainwater is collected and discharged via grids that have been incorporated into the floor.

The spacious and bright entrance forms one line with the MINNAERT letter and is in open connection with the hallway to the practical and workgroup rooms. The space behind the MINNAERT letters has become a light inner space, this will be the location of the espresso bar where you can go for a nice coffee and small bite. The offices, practical and workgroup rooms, and the restaurant have been completely renewed. The routing has been simplified and the roof terrace has been restored.

Three stars for sustainability

The renovated Minnaert building has earned a BREAAM classification of ‘very good’, thanks in part to the new climate control installation with heat recovery, connection to the thermal storage system (WKO) and the use of LED lighting.

New working environment in use

On 5 and 6 December, the staff of the Faculty of Science took their new workplaces into operation. The restaurant on the first floor is also open. In February 2018, with the start of the second semester, students from the Faculty of Science, Geosciences and Social Sciences will follow education in the Minnaert building. Then the espresso bar opens its doors on the ground floor. From February 2018 everyone has found their place in the renovated Minnaert building.