Alexandra den Heijer
Assistant Professor TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture

1    Building level

Trends from research (literature, case studies), policy documents:

1. Focus on ‘the place to meet’: the campus becomes a meeting place for a university community
2. Limited public resources for higher education: tight budget, need to explore other options
3. Increased attention from policy makers – executive board, deans – for campus and university buildings, in terms of both costs and benefits
4. Campus and university buildings serve as marketing tools to attract students and knowledge workers in highly competitive knowledge economy
5. Accommodating the network university: more attention to interaction, public space, connecting different groups, faculties, departments and related external partners
6. The building is a laboratory for the Faculty of Architecture: practice what you preach
7. Reconsidering territory: from accommodating individuals or specific groups to optimally accommodating activities
8. Sustainability trends and policy: reduce the ecological footprint
9. More quality, less quantity (more quality per m², less m²)
10. Exclusive use or facility sharing: avoid low occupancy rates of expensive facilities or consider the costs of (or reconsider) exclusive use

The campus strategy of TU Delft distinguishes three zones on campus (see campus map):

• TU North
• TU Centre – “Mekelpark”
• TU South – “Technopolis”

Information is based on the preliminary campus strategy 2008-2020 (July 2008).

 The campus is also available for download in PDF format:    TU Campus..

2    Campus level Strategic priorities 

1. For campus development

• Ongoing focus on building density/concentration in the Middle Area (sharing, sustainable use of space, increase liveliness of area). New TUD buildings constructed as far as possible in the Middle Area.
• Organisation of the social network/park management (conferences/events, etc.), social interaction, encounters, relaxation, knowledge exchange.
• Also utilise TUD knowledge and expertise in the development of the real estate and make it visible (showcase) in the buildings/park.

2. Improving efficiency and expanding the campus

• Efficiency improvement office workplaces (minimise exclusive relation between workplaces and individuals / spaces and faculties)
• Efficiency improvement teaching halls (organisational changes for the benefit of hall use - centralisation and tighter regulation)
• New construction of educational buildings as central TUD facility
• Parking/mobility policy focused on discouraging car use and promoting alternative modes of transport

3. Development Technopolis (zone TU South)

• Attract R&D companies
• New construction of start-ups building

Optimisation measures
Primarily focused on combating (hidden) low occupancy and frequency rates:

• Utilisation of teaching areas
• Utilisation of office workplaces
• Utilisation of parking spaces

Strengthening image

• Visible international character, hospitable
• Relation with Technopolis, Rotterdam Airport, (international) Railway networks
• Visible student projects & start-ups

Quality

• Vibrant, attractive campus; high-quality structuring of public space; varied range of facilities
• Building interiors arranged for facilitating encounters, communication, exchange of knowledge
• Campus buildings have to fulfil basic requirements with regard to health and security. Focused quality investments in buildings/spaces with public or meeting function. A number of buildings/spaces that have a highly representative character must be developed at a high quality level
• Strategic state-of-the-art laboratories
• Architecture in the public zone, functionality in the private zone
• Showcase for technology, utilise available TUD know-how

Flexibility

• Interior allows repeated rearrangement
• Joint use as basic principle
• Peaks or incidents with temporary facilities
• Minimisation of mono-functionality
• Exchangeability of office workplaces
• Exchangeability of office and educational functions
• Extension of operational period
• Halls with modular units

Sustainability

• Sustainable and efficient location use (transport on foot, by bike, public transport, ratio of built-up/open area, ecological water management, healthy air, many m² of GFA/m² land)
• Sustainable buildings (strong shell, easily restructured, low energy consumption, heat recovery, easily revised zoning, healthy climate, accessible for semi-invalid visitors)
• Sustainable materials (ecologically responsible, recyclable, low maintenance costs)
• Sustainable workplaces (responsible in terms of occupational health and safety, adjustable inventory)
• Sustainable operation

Efficient use of space

• Centralisation of multi-user facilities (reduce ‘own’ territory)
•  Multifunctional areas
• “24-7” – extend opening hours (experiment with “7 days a week, 
  24 hours a day”)

 Links:

  www.mekelpark.tudelft.nl (also in English) 

  www.technopolispark.nl