Construction of Aletta Jacobshal extension started

The new Aletta Jacobshal extension will double the capacity of the University’s examination hall. The building site was prepared by temporarily filling in the pond next to the building so that contractor BAM could start construction. As of Monday 3 December BAM will begin installing the concrete screw piles for the foundations. The new wing is expected to be completed by early 2020.

The piles are constructed by boring holes in the ground, installing rebar, and then pouring concrete into them. This method of installing piling is much less noisy than with conventional piles. The same screw-piling technique was used earlier for the construction of the Energy Academy Europe.

Construction traffic

Heavy construction traffic will be travelling to and from the site until the summer of 2019, including concrete mixers and trucks carrying the steel framework, concrete floor sections and roofing and walling materials. The contractor will use the route that approaches the site from the Reitdiep district to avoid congestion at the southern entrance to Zernike Campus. The major construction work will be completed by September 2019, after which there will be much less construction traffic.

A new wing and a sustainable building

The extension to the Aletta Jacobshal is necessary to meet the increasing demand for examination facilities by the faculties and lecturers. In addition to lecture and examination rooms, the new wing will also have an extra foyer/reception area, study facilities and more bicycle racks. The building will also become more sustainable thanks to the installation of a geothermal energy system and 576 solar panels on the roof.

Construction nuisance

The Aletta Jacobshal will remain open throughout the construction work. Various measures have been taken to limit the inconvenience caused by the construction work as much as possible, such as the aforementioned screw piles. Heavy transports will be carried out as much as possible before 8 a.m., and natural clay dams will be used instead of sheet piling. No noisy construction work will be carried out during exam weeks. There is a complaints line for students or staff members who want to report nuisance.

www.rug.nl/groundbreakingWork