The auditoria and other high-density spaces are centralised in the new-build construction. The smaller classrooms and Executive Program rooms are located in the historic buildings. The new building is characterised by its flexible layout and structure, while the historic buildings’ specific room sequence, circulation and saloons have been meticulously preserved. Both the new and historic buildings are connected via a central foyer and generously dimensioned multifunctional space. The latter opens onto an inner courtyard and roofgarden.

The inner courtyard represents an important spatial element in the design, providing significant surrounding space for the historic rear facades of the monument in Lange Gasthuisstraat while also furnishing the multifunctional space and auditoria with daylight and a sense of exterior space and centrality. The historic facade of the building on Mechelse Plein is restored according to the original design, while the layout and dimensions of the new-build facade are a contemporary reference to the significant historic public buildings in the immediate vicinity. The new building’s street-side facades are constructed by the very precise stacking of prefabricated concrete elements, which simultaneously provide structure, insulation and a finishing layer for the facade. The garden-facing facades comprise a more subtle concrete structure contrasted by gate structures in solid wood.

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