In the middle of campus Woudestein stands the Tinbergen Building. It is a municipal monument that has been in use since 1968. Now that most of Tinbergen Building's technical installations are past their useful life and no longer comply with current legislation, for example in terms of working conditions and energy consumption, it is time to renovate this striking building.
News
Focus on sustainability
Erasmus University Rotterdam aims to be one of the most sustainable universities in The Netherlands. The renovation of Tinbergen Building is an important part of improving the sustainability of campus Woudestein.
Every renovation is an opportunity to become more sustainable. The renovation of Tinbergen Building seizes this opportunity with both hands: the renovation ensures a more efficient use of energy through the use of double glazing, solar panels, energy-efficient installations, natural ventilation and sustainable materials.
BREEAM design certificate
The Tinbergen project has achieved the BREEAM design certificate 'Outstanding'. This certificate represents our commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly construction and is an internationally recognized rating. It assesses how environmentally friendly and energy efficient a building design is, based on criteria such as: energy consumption, water management, materials and health. The certificate has several levels. From 'Pass' to 'Outstanding,' with the latter also being the highest rating. With the Tinbergen project, we are taking an important step towards a sustainable and future-proof university.
Study areas, workplaces and catering from mid-2027
With the new design by architectural firm Cepezed from Delft, the building will house modern office and education facilities, plenty of good study places and catering facilities. It will be a pleasant place for students and staff as well as guests of Erasmus University Rotterdam.
In mid-2027, Tinbergen will (re)open its doors. Then students and staff can again make the best use of the facilities in teaching and doing research.
Impressions
Ellen van Schoten
"Step by step, our campus is becoming more sustainable and future-proof. When renovating Tinbergen Building, we will switch to insulated glazing, install solar panels and use sustainable materials. This will allow us to save a lot of energy in this building too."
College van Bestuur
Frequently asked questions
General
Tinbergen Building is about 55 years old. Most technical installations, such as the climate, evacuation and fire alarm systems, are past their useful life and no longer comply with current legislation, for example in terms of working conditions and energy consumption. Furthermore, the building no longer meets today's educational demands and requirements. The current building consists largely of smaller office spaces, whereas there is a need for flexible spaces. A renovation is therefore necessary.
As Erasmus University Rotterdam, we also have an ambitious sustainability programme. The renovation of Tinbergen Building also contributes to this. The new building, for instance, will have better roof and floor insulation, energy-efficient lift installations and solar panels on the roof.
Tinbergen Building, inaugurated in 1968, is a unique building that is part of the identity of both Erasmus University and the city of Rotterdam. The building was designed by architect Cornelis Elffers and dates from the last phase of the so-called Rotterdam Reconstruction. It still exudes the atmosphere of brutalist functionalism, a movement in architecture known for its rawness: something that suits Rotterdam very well. Not for nothing has the building been labelled a municipal monument.
Tinbergen Building, named after the visionary Nobel Prize winner Jan Tinbergen, was one of the university's first buildings and stands at the heart the campus. As such, the building has a rich history, evoking memories for generations of students, staff and scientists.
In the building we are creating a pleasant and stimulating environment in which to work and study. There will be modern classrooms with the latest audiovisual equipment and more and better study areas in the building. In addition, there will be many plants and trees both inside and outside for a healthy and pleasant working environment.
We try to limit the inconvenience to students and staff as much as possible, but it is possible that some work may cause some noise or vibration nuisance.
We try to announce nuisance-causing work in time via MyEUR and to schedule it as much as possible at times when no lectures or exams are taking place. We have a nuisance planning with the contractor, indicating at what times during the renovation nuisance may occur. On the basis of this planning, we examine which additional measures are needed to reduce the nuisance in each case. This could include, for example, moving lectures or exams to other buildings on the campus.
The lower six floors will house teaching rooms and study areas. The remaining floors will have offices with different users. Erasmus School of Economics, as the main user - as before the building was closed - will have access to several floors. On the top two floors there will be teaching rooms and a restaurant with a view of all of Rotterdam.
Curious about the new interior? Watch the photo album with impressions above.
The renovated Tinbergen Building is scheduled to open its doors in 2027.
Erasmus University Rotterdam has the ambition to become one of the most sustainable universities in the Netherlands. Sustainability is therefore also an important aspect during construction. For example, the amount of waste is limited and separated as much as possible, and energy-efficient lighting is used during construction.
The climate crisis and ecological emergency make sustainable practices more important than ever. Erasmus University therefore wants to be one of the most sustainable universities in the Netherlands. The renovation of Tinbergen Building is an important part of making campus Woudestein more sustainable. For example, the renovated building will soon have energy-efficient elevators, solar panels on the roof and water-saving toilets. The facade, floor and roof insulation will also be improved and sustainable materials such as FSC wood will be used.
Erasmus University Rotterdam finds it important that students, staff and visitors with a mobility impairment - think of someone with a visual impairment or in a wheelchair, but also someone who has just had knee surgery - have good access to the campus and buildings, just like everyone else. Therefore, the necessary attention will also be paid to this during the renovation of Tinbergen Building. Among other things, a ramp will be built at the entrance on the K.P. van der Mandeleplein side to replace the wheelchair plate lifts.
Award
Berghege Heerkens bouwgroep will handle the renovation of Tinbergen Building.
Price and quality are the most important criteria when awarding the contract to a contractor. Quality includes aspects such as plan of action, sustainability and risk analysis.
Building plans
In 2024, after a careful tender process, the renovation has started. The following steps have since been taken:
- Preparatory work has been carried out, including setting up the construction site, installing information boards and fencing and creating (temporary and final) construction routes.
- Asbestos removal and façade cleaning have been started. Asbestos in the building is removed or contained and the facades and window frames are cleaned and renovated where necessary.
There may be noise and vibration nuisance during construction. We try to keep this nuisance to a minimum by scheduling the work that causes nuisance as much as possible at times when no lectures are being held.
We will soon receive a nuisance plan from the contractor, indicating the times during the renovation that could cause nuisance. As soon as we receive this schedule, we will see what additional measures are needed to reduce the inconvenience. These might include, for example, timely warnings to work at home or moving lectures or exams to other buildings on campus.
The current planning is that the new Tinbergen Building will open its doors in 2027.
Questions?
- Email address
- tomorrowscampus@eur.nl
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