Restoring glory: Sustainable renovation of an old school building
We renovated and expanded this independent, relatively small-scale school in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Smart adjustments in the existing buildings have re-established a clear structure, making learning easier once again. A strong emphasis was placed on sustainability, which resulted in the school becoming the first ‘Bijna Energie Neutraal’ (Nearly Energy Neutral) school building in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. It was a challenging project in a beautiful location!
New in an old shell
All interventions in the school's existing structure were aimed at restoring it to its original glory. The main building from 1958 has been completely renovated and prepared for the future again! New additions are modern but detailed in such a way that they blend with the existing structure. This way, the school has been transformed into a harmonious whole, where past and present come together.
Reuse
The existing structure of the school was clear: a corridor and classrooms. This structure has been maintained, but multifunctional learning centers have been added. Instead of removing or concealing all the old glory, original materials were (re)used and made visible wherever possible. For instance, the existing frames have been made visible across the newly utilized attic.
Bright gymnasium
The new gymnasium is the most visible part of the school from the square. The façade features masonry that harmonizes with the adjacent school building. What makes the gym truly unique are the large windows (almost 6x4 meters), equipped with special ‘ball-proof’ glass. This creates a connection between the square and the gymnasium.
The original exterior facades have now been used inside as they have been restored and have found a place in the interior environment. The old corridor on the street side has been added to the classrooms, creating beautiful bright classrooms suitable for the vocational education of the Sancta Maria Mavo. Thus, the numerous alterations to the existing structure also make room for the new, modern teaching system.
“The transformation is unbelievable; the school is ready for the future!”
Client Sancta Maria
In collaboration with the school, we managed to convince the municipality to make the building maximally sustainable. This led to the realization of the first BENG (Nearly Energy Neutral Building) school in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The more than sixty-year-old building is again fully ready for the future. And we are proud to be able to say that!
The entire building envelope has been (re-)insulated to meet new construction standards, threefold glass has been applied and the building is off gas. Finally, the new installations are very energy efficient and largely self-sufficient, thanks to the PV panels on the roofs.
Students and teachers were the focus throughout, with the goal of creating an optimal learning environment. Thanks to the installation of modern ventilation systems, the climate is healthy and well-regulated. In addition, the spaces are bright thanks to the use of a lot of glass, with sufficient automatic blinds where needed. The colors and materials used are mostly muted in tone, but they provide character and tranquility to the school.
“It was a challenging task to make this building completely sustainable while maintaining its character.”
Adriaan Verheij - Voss Architecture
