From department store to university campus

A remarkable project in the heart of The Hague has officially opened: Universiteitscampus Spui. Over recent years, the former V&D department store from 1930 has been transformed into a modern university campus where teaching, research and meeting come together.

And this is not just any building for us. By now we know it exceptionally well.

Back in the V&D era we were already working on the interior here. When the department store made way for Hudson’s Bay, we were involved again and helped build the interior for the September 2017 opening. And now we are back for the next chapter: the transformation into Universiteitscampus Spui.

For the new campus we delivered all the bespoke interior work. From teaching and working environments to shared spaces: a substantial project bringing many different bespoke elements together within one building.

The campus accommodates around 4,000 students, researchers, lecturers and professionals every day. Leiden University shares the building with TU Delft, the LUMC, the Open University and Universities of the Netherlands.

After a long period of engineering, production and installation, it is good to see the building come to life again. A building we have come to know in a different form each time over the years, and in which we now recognise our craftsmanship once more.

From V&D to Hudson’s Bay and now Universiteitscampus Spui. Some buildings keep coming back in remarkable ways.

More about the transformation and opening: Universiteitscampus Spui counts down to the opening and The puzzle is complete: Universiteitscampus Spui officially opened (both in Dutch).