Pioneering mass-timber lecture hall completed at Tilburg University

The 5,000 sq m lecture hall was designed by Dutch architect Powerhouse Company, and drew inspiration for its style from the existing modernist structures on the campus, as well as the wooded landscape around it.

The hall was built on a former parking lot. It has a 33m by 33m base, and contains 14 lecture rooms, study areas, a cafe and a foyer.

The building has a 9m-long wooden rib floor, 4.6km of demountable timber beams and hanging limestone façade panels, which are not glued in place to facilitate reuse.

Janneke van der Velden, an architect with the Powerhouse Company, said: “Together with our client, we upped our ambition during the design process resulting in a carbon neutral, completely circular and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ design.”