Campus Spoor Noord: Noorderplaats / Ellermanstraat

POLO architecten / Stramien

Antwerp, Noorderplaats / Ellermanstraat 33

2011 – 2015 / 2011 – 2014

Gate of the city

Park Spoor Noord is located in the north of Antwerp. The former railway site has been transformed into a green domain with different buildings at the west. The park is connected to district ‘Het Eilandje’ via the Parkbrug, which also functions as the city’s gate. The building next to the Park Bridge: the transition between the busy Leien and the park is the new Campus of the AP Hogeschool.

Two buildings

The AP University of Applied Sciences consists of two buildings. Each building has been designed by a different architectural firm. They offer space for a total of 5000 students who can choose from 14 Bachelor’s programs. Both buildings also have a green link to the park, each with a courtyard and ecological roofs. Further up in Park Spoor Noord is the Sporthal Parkloods where the students of Physical Education attend classes and exercise.

Campus Noorderplaats

The building at Noorderplaats was designed by Poponcini & Lootens. It accommodates around 3500 students from the Bachelor’s degree programs of the Departments of Health & Welfare and Education & Training. The facade consists of a kind of honeycomb structure in concrete. This has both a constructive function and a sun protection effect. The Park Bridge was also integrated into this building via the large overhang on the Noorderlaan.

Facade

The large overhang of 27 meters above the entrance to the Parkbrug is nowhere supported by columns. This is possible because the facades are suspended from floor-to-ceiling beams in the roof. Consoles were placed on the façade elements to catch the floors. The upper floors consist of a structure of concrete walls that form a unity with an 80 cm thick, heavy roof plate. This whole forms the supporting structure on which the facade and floors are hung. The façade elements on the overhanging corner are post-tensioned on the site.

Campus Ellermanstraat

This building, designed by Stramien architectural office, houses the Bachelor’s degree programs of the Science & Technology department. About 1500 students take lessons here. The labs are located on the first floors. All rooms are grouped around the central patio. Inside, the pipes are not hidden in the walls, but they are clearly visible. It also acts as didactic material for the students.

Underground connection

Why two buildings? The decision to build both projects dates back to the period that Artesis and Plantijn were two independent colleges. Today we are talking about AP Hogeschool Antwerp. The buildings could only be connected underground, because the customs building is in between.