Design plan for Aleida Nijland building presented during user meeting
Future users of the Aleida Nijland building were recently the first to have the opportunity to admire the design plan for the new building. During a user meeting, architectural firm De Zwarte Hond presented the design, and future users of the building were able to share their wishes and ideas for further development.
Modern building, but retaining character
Aleida Nijland (formerly Matthias de Vrieshof) will undergo a shell renovation. This means that the main structure will be preserved: the columns, floors and basement will be retained in the new building. The four 'houses', which were characteristic of Matthias de Vrieshof, will also return in the final design. The courtyard between the houses will be covered, creating a cohesive building that respects the original architecture.
The entrance will be renewed, and the building will be better connected and made more comfortable overall. Larger windows will provide more daylight, and a new rooftop terrace and the preservation of the garden – with as many existing trees as possible retained – will contribute to a pleasant outdoor space. A dynamic mix of functions will be created inside Aleida Nijland. Educational and lab spaces will be on the ground floor and first floor. Quieter workspaces will be higher in the building and on the sides, with common rooms offering space for meeting and collaboration. The basement will accommodate 400 bicycles, so no bicycles will be parked in front of the building. At the entrance, a front garden with plenty of greenery and seating areas will be created.
Users contribute: insights from the design session
The delegation of future users of Aleida Nijland – LUCL, ATC, INT, UFB, LUCDH, SSH Labs, and various student associations – were enthusiastic about the design. They provided points of attention for further development from their user perspective.
Among the themes mentioned were orientation and logical walking routes in the building, the acoustics in group rooms and quiet spaces, and the availability of sufficient toilet facilities near the lecture halls. Other requirements users considered important were that the atrium should be a lively space with green elements and that there should be ample power outlets. For informal meetings, users value informal seating areas in the garden and on the forecourt.
Specifically for students, there is a desire to create sufficient ad hoc workplaces where they can spend time between lectures and sufficient co-working spaces to work on group assignments. To avoid congestion in the hall during peak times, good flow to and from lecture halls must be considered.
Planning
De Zwarte Hond will work with these inputs. At the end of May, all employees of the LUCL institute will be invited to contribute their thoughts on the design. At the end of June, a new user meeting will take place where users can again contribute their ideas on the revised design. According to the current schedule, the final design for Aleida Nijland will be ready in December 2025. Demolition will start in the autumn of 2026, followed by the construction phase in 2027. The building will be ready for its new users by the end of 2028.
If you would like to know more about developments on the Humanities Campus, please visit [Project Humanities Campus - Leiden University].