University of Amsterdam appoints West 8 as Strategic Master Planner for City Centre Campus

West 8 has been appointed Strategic Master Planner and future Supervisor for the University of Amsterdams’ City Centre Campus.

Between now and 2025, the University will develop the City Centre Campus in the heart of Amsterdam, in the vicinity of the Binnengasthuis grounds, Oude Turfmarkt, Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Kloveniersburgwal.

This university quarter will soon be home to the Faculty of Humanities (FGw), the University Library, the university’s administration offices, representative functions such as museums and associated knowledge institutions

Masterplan
The strategic master plan for the area must describe the ideal scenario: sufficient space for education and research and UvA-related functions, with a focus on liveability and sustainability. One of the starting points in this context is the construction of the new University Library, which will open its doors on the Binnengasthuis grounds in 2021.

West 8 will work on the strategic master plan for the campus until the end of June 2018. Over that time, broad support for the project will be sought by consulting UvA users, local residents and the council, with a view to defining the basic principles that will apply to the area. Adriaan Geuze of West 8 will then be appointed as supervisor, and will ensure that the basic principles of the master plan are applied to any future developments in the area.

Adriaan Geuze: ‘In this historic, layered area you can create a unique identity with a typical Amsterdam mix of academia, residential and business functions. It’s important to establish the big picture first before you start to work on the individual components.’