Utrecht University builds Circular Pavilion
The catalyst of the sustainable transition
Together, we want to improve the world sustainably. This is why Utrecht University is creating a meeting spot in the heart of the campus, where our contribution to the transition towards a sustainable society will become visible and tangible. That will be the ‘Circular Pavilion’.
We will build our sustainable living room at the greenest place in Utrecht Science Park: the entrance to Utrecht Botanic Gardens. The building will be developed fully future proof. This means that besides circular, it will ALSO be energy positive, healthy, functional and climate adaptive.
Sustainable meeting spot for public and science
The university makes an impact by broadly sharing knowledge, connection and innovation on the theme of sustainability. The Circular Pavilion will become THE sustainable living room where our connection is made. A place where we will meet, both in an organised fashion and spontaneously. A place for inspiration and collaboration beyond boundaries. There will be room for lectures, workshops, discussion panels and much more.
Accelerating sustainable transition
Utrecht University wants to contribute to the sustainable transition of society. The Circular Pavilion is an example for this transition; the building, the surroundings, the location, operations, the people who work and meet there, the knowledge that is shared there, the activities taking place there; all of it contributes to this sustainable transition.
A new entrance building
The Utrecht Botanic Gardens have an important meeting function in Utrecht Science Park and are the greenest place of Utrecht University. That is why it is logical that our sustainable living room will become the new entrance of Utrecht Botanic Gardens.
Would you like to be kept informed?
Within and outside Utrecht University, many people are enthusiastic about the Circular Pavilion. And that is good, because we can only work on a better world together. Do you support the Circular Pavilion too? If you do, please complete the form so we can inform you about milestones and activities.
Future-proof buildings and sustainable operations
The university not only contributes to the sustainable transition of society via education and research. Also in operations (construction up to and including catering) the university wants to be an inspiring example. The Circular Pavilion will be built in line with the five ambitions described in the ambition document Future-Proof Buildings.
- Functional building
The building will be designed, built and managed with a highly adaptive capability, so it will meet current and future wishes. - Healthy building
The building will be designed, built and managed in such a way that the users' well-being, comfort and performances will be central. - Energy generating building
The building will be designed, built and managed in such a way that it will generate more energy than it uses after a year. On top of that, the necessary energy will be generated locally and sustainably. - Circular building
The building will be designed, built and managed in a removable way, in which materials and resources will be highly reusable in the future. - Climate adaptive building
The building will be designed, built and managed in such a way that it will withstand the extreme weather conditions caused by the changing climate, and will also contribute to the enhancing of the biodiversity around the building and in the surroundings.
Project planning
Until mid-2024, the university will work on the spatial and functional wishes and requirements for the building. An initial (sketch) design will also be made in 2024.
Want more information?
Want to know more about our ambitions for the Circular Pavilion? You can download our ambition paper (in Dutch) here. You can contact us at circulairpaviljoen@uu.nl.