Forming a welcoming gateway to the Amstel campus, Jakoba Mulderhuis bridges the academic world of the Amsterdam University for Applied Sciences and the city of Amsterdam. It embraces the past through a dynamic relationship with its surroundings, while its flexible interior leaves space to accommodate future educational requirements and even change of function.

Jakoba Mulderhuis consists of three elements: a 13-story tower, a 6-story ‘urban block’, and a huge atrium that connects these volumes to the existing Theo Thijssenhuis building, a 1958 Friedhoff design. The newly placed volume interacts harmoniously with the Theo Thijssenhuis and its installations are consciously split, meaning the atrium roof can easily be removed, leaving two separate buildings. Every non-load-bearing structure, such as the terrace floors, can be disassembled. Jakoba Mulderhuis' ability to change is imperative, ensuring a long-lasting life of use.

The university center houses facilities for disciplines from building engineering to aviation. These are encouraged to mix by the soft edges of our light-filled atrium. Each department has its own floor, with a showcase terrace forming its lively public face. Jakoba Mulderhuis is all about inspiring cross-pollination of ideas in an open, creative environment. Project rooms are facilitated in the form of studios that offer all necessary equipment, methodologies, knowledge and expertise. These nine studios, which focus on areas such as sensor technology, BIM, virtual reality and the energy transition, are spread throughout the building. Thus giving rise to surprising innovations, by means of which Amsterdam UAS will be able to contribute to solving the issues of the future. By slicing into the space to create the layered effect of the atrium, we ensured that every department would be visible from the ground floor. Through this intervention, the building encourages the exchange of knowledge through human interaction; a theater for learning. The atrium’s soft edges ensure a balance with the existing buildings next door, while the off-center landmark tower and lower-level block together make a friendly gesture to its surrounding context.