Metaforum, Transformation of a University Library

The 10.000 m2 ‘W-Hal’ was built in 1958, as a large, flexible space for machinery and experiments. More than fifty years later, Ector Hoogstad Architecten transformed the iconic building into the new central library for the Eindhoven University of Technology. The front of the W-Hal, located at the heart of the campus, became a covered square. It is used throughout the year for social events. Adding the faculty of Mathematics and Computer Sciences on top of the existing building introduced a technical challenge; the slender steel structure of the extension pierces the original construction while the new basement acts as a counterweight for the new faculty building. Footbridges connect the building on the first floor to the adjacent buildings, providing a spatial environment in the library itself.

Project information
Country: The Netherlands
Location: Campus Eindhoven University of Technology
Client: Eindhoven University of Technology
Status: Realized
Program: University Library, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Photo's: Joep Jacobs, Petra Appelhof