City Centre Campus
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City Centre Campus ISSUE 1 | FEBRUARY 2016 Laboratory Students and Student association for Theatre Studies back in the BG premises p. 2 listed buildings p. 4 are important to the city p. 3 City Centre Campus vital to the UvA’s image also wishes to contribute to this. Oudemanhuispoort, It is a rustic recreational area, in the historic heart of the UvA contrast to the busy Rokin and Red Light District. I’d like to see plenty of courtyards.’ The university will be prominently represented in the area by all of the students and employees, and of course, the residents will also be part of the local ambience. It will not be an area with a lot of tourists. Gerard describes it as ‘a haven where you can catch your breath after the hectic pace of Dam Square and the Red Light District.’ According to Cees, the decisions regarding the detailed make-up of the campus should be based on the vision of the City Centre Campus as a showpiece for the UvA. Decisions at the area level If it was up to the three direc- tors, the choice facing the The decision has been made: the City Centre Campus is coming. The Faculty of Heart of the UvA academic community would be Humanities (FGw) and the University Library (UB) will be located there, possibly Cees sees the City Centre between two detailed scenarios alongside the executive staff. In this item, Maria Heijne (UvA/AUAS Library), Campus as the crowning glory including extra UvA-wide func- of all the campuses. ‘This tions, including solid financial Gerard Nijsten (Director of Operational Management at FGw) and Cees van der campus can become the central underpinning. ‘In our opinion, Wolf (Director of UvA Real Estate Development) explain what is going on. location for UvA-wide events, it’s a decision that should be as the Oudemanshuispoort is made at the area level’, says The main occupants of the ‘The City Centre Campus Potential traditionally viewed as the heart Maria. Key issues regarding campus will be Humanities The development of a second of the UvA. It’s a real gem. The the decision include (amongst and the University Library. adds value to the scenario is due in part to the UvA is already in discussion with others): Are we prepared to Furthermore, a number of other entire UvA.’ events of 2015 (occupation of parties who wish to establish make investments in quality? functions may well be added the Maagdenhuis, ed.). Maria themselves in or around this to the campus’s programme, Maria Heijne and Gerard describe the addi- ‘University District’.’ He explains such as an area for the Board, a tion of extra functions within that in recent years, the UvA Further conference room, more space both scenarios as ‘evolving has worked towards the realisa- information for events and an Aula for the programme, two scenarios have insight’. ‘All developments in tion of four open city campuses. conferral of doctorates. ‘The been elaborated into a prelimi- 2015 have resulted in a broader The City Centre Campus is the The University of Amsterdam vibe of the City Centre Campus nary design. One scenario is the perspective’, says Maria. After fourth and last of these. ‘This is building its City Centre will be much more UvA than current situation, in which the all, the City Centre Campus assumes financial, intrinsic and Campus in and around the just FGw or UB’, says Gerard. University Library is located on is the most vital campus with moral solidarity between all Binnengasthuis premises, And according to Maria, this the Binnengasthuis premises, regard to the UvA’s image. faculties, as was the case with the one of the UvA’s four open will ensure that the campus adds while in the other, the UB is sit- Gerard: ‘Universities are often other campuses that have already city campuses. By clustering value to the UvA as a whole. In uated in the Oudemanhuispoort visually represented by a num- been built: the Amsterdam related academic disciplines, addition to the expansion of the premises. ber of historic buildings linked Science Park and Roeterseiland the UvA hopes to streng- to the university’s history. complex.’ then ties within the universi- For the UvA, that means the ty and encourage collabora- Oudemanhuispoort, amongst Energy neutral tion both within the institu- other buildings. Up to now, ‘What is the goal? In a num- tion and beyond with com- the City Centre Campus may ber of years, the City Centre panies, authorities and civil well have been viewed as the Campus will be the place to be society organisations. The location for FGw and the UB, for students’, says Cees. ‘It cov- City Centre Campus will be but it has greater potential: it ers an area that is greater than the home base of the Faculty represents the UvA as a whole.’ those around the Oudeman- of Humanities and the Cees: ‘We are examining how huis poort and Binnengasthuis University Library. we can optimally use the City premises. We are also striving Centre Campus location. And to achieve energy neutrality, for www.campus.uva.nl the rethink means we now have example, by using geothermal The Faculty of Humanities: The main Follow us on Twitter occupant of the City Centre Campus the opportunity to incorporate heating, which will significantly @UVABinnenstad (photo: conservation and restoration) the lessons learned from other reduce accommodation costs. campuses.’ The Municipality of Amsterdam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Are the accommodation costs in proportion to the effective facilita- Henk Danner, lecturer of professional practice, tion of education, research and Theatre Studies valorisation? In short, the main question is ‘what would be the most effective and future-proof campus design?’ Delay The scenarios must be formulated into a preliminary design to enable the academic community to make the right choice. Therefore, the start of construction – which was previously scheduled for 2016 – will be delayed. However, according to Cees, the UvA can still achieve the original prognosis (completion of the entire City Centre Campus by 2023/25, ed.) ‘We are currently investing extra time in solid prepa- ration together with the academic community, local residents and the municipality. Proper preparation includes matters such as setting up a programme of requirements and applying for permits, in order to enable construction to begin in 2018. We are striving to ensure efficient execution for all parties Laboratory for Theatre Studies concerned throughout the entire area, taking care of everything in ‘The American Professor Benjamin ‘Our doors are open to all.’ learning the theatrical process. For this one go.’ Hunningher believed that students reason, we do not advertise the perfor- of Theatre Studies should develop Henk Danner mances.’ Once the FGw is located on the Vacant buildings ‘dramatic imagination’. For this rea- City Centre Campus, Henk believes that The region needn’t fear a huge son, upon his appointment to the UvA more cross-pollination will take place. number of vacant buildings. in the 1960s, he demanded a theatre ‘We will collaborate and exchange much Gerard: ‘We are doing everything to enable students to experience the students, then it is used for other purposes more because everyone will be close by. we can to prevent this. We owe this theatre process in practice. And he got such as conferences and lectures provided We already have a close connection with not only to the residents, but also to his way’, says Henk Danner, lecturer by the Faculty of Humanities (FGw) Special Collections since they acquired the employees that are already there, of professional practice in Theatre or other sections of the UvA. At the the collection of the TIN (Netherlands such as Art History, Cultural Studies and stage manager of the moment, the Amsterdam-based theatre Theatre Institute). Our students make Studies, Special Collections and the University Theatre. group De Toneelmakerij are rehearsing intensive use of this collection.’ Allard Pierson Museum. And this is here for a youth-theatre production that not to mention the employees that Theatre Studies at the UvA is the only will later be performed at the Bellevue Freek de Jonge will be moving to the Bushuis and full-time programme in the Netherlands Theatre on the Leidseplein. Our students Theatre is connected with society. For this the Oost-Indisch Huis in the next with its own theatre. The theatre on the are attending the rehearsals to learn from reason, Henk is extremely happy with the few months. For example, on the Nieuwe Doelenstraat is the students’ the- them.’ idea of an open city campus, which ground floor of the former Service atrical home. ‘Here, we study the theory intermingles the university with the city. and Information Centre, ‘Vox-pop’ and practice of theatre performance.’ Cross pollination ‘For example, cabaret performer Freek de will soon be set up, featuring ‘Although it is primarily a classroom, Jonge has been appointed an Honorary ‘pop-up’ initiatives such as exhibi- Laboratory our doors are open to all. Our students’ Fellow of our faculty. He gives classes and tions and lectures organised by The theatre is primarily intended as a productions always play to a packed lectures and we discuss his work. Many of students, employees and local lecture room and laboratory for Theatre house of family and friends. It’s not the issues he writes about directly relate to residents. Studies. ‘If it is not being used by our about the final product, it’s all about themes within Humanities.’ ‘It’s especially nice to see colleagues more often as it facilitates collaboration’ Alice Taatgen (right) and ‘It’s pleasant, fresh and clean but it hadn’t been renovated for each other’, says Alice, who now her colleague Sanne Frequin here and the facilities are 30 years.