A.A. Hijmans van den Berg Building 

2005

The building was commissioned as the new faculty building for the Academic Biomedical Cluster (ABC) at Utrecht University.  The University sought a modest, intelligent and sustainable building to make optimal use of a deep, south-facing site. The building is jointly owned by the University and the UMC Utrecht. The building forms the corner of the existing academic hospital. It strengthens the existing entrance of the hospital, yet establishing an independent identity within the complex and the campus. Background picture is taken in 2016 when some of the glass paneling had to be replaced.

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Facts and Figures

Universiteitsweg 98, 3584 CG Utrecht

Erick van Egeraat (EEA)
Contactor: Boele Van Eesteren / Wessels Zeist

Design: 2003
Start of construction works: Feb 3, 2004
Completed: 2005
Nov. 21st 2005 officially opened by Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Education.

14.500 sqm.

Winner of Rietveld Award 2007.

In restaurant 'Kroonluchter' an impressive work of art can be found that was created by the Welsh-born London conceptual artist Cerith Wyn Evans (1958). The chandelier was brought into the building on Oct. 28th 2005. The light pulsates with various intensities. The chandelier is part of a series of three works of conceptual art. The other two are less prominent: one is a neon sign attached to the wall of the adjacent building saying 'In which something happens all over again for the very first time' and the other is a work of sound, a digital composition by Florian Hecker (1975, Augsburg). The work of sound can be heard on the third floor of the building where it repeats itself in long intervals. The works of art are meant to be stimuli for the senses to arouse curiosity and food for thought.

It took until May 3rd 2007 before the works of art were officially presented.

The building has a square groundplan of 45 x 70 meters. The construction partly covers the original auditoria of the University Medical Centre. 
The building has three parts: offices, classrooms with individual workspaces (study landscapes) and a restaurant named 'De Kroonluchter' (chandelier). In both the office and education areas, flexible environments provide for different teaching scenarios including traditional lectures, group work and individual research. Three conical glass voids positioned in the centre of the building allow natural light deep into the building and connect the more public areas with the education floors. The cones integrate the load bearing structure and serve as ventilation shafts. Visible from all parts of the building, these crystal glass shapes function both as the technical backbone and the atmospheric heart of the building. 430 unique glass plates weighing between 300 and 500 kg were needed to realize these shapes. Two staircases protrude through the largest light court. Predominant colours in the interior are red and yellow.

The name of the building:
Abraham Albert Hijmans van den Bergh (1869 - 1943) was born in Rotterdam. After graduating at Leiden University, he wrote his dissertation at the same university on the toxic nature of urine and the theory of auto-intoxication. After his Ph.D he became assistant to prof. Nolen who held the chair for internal medicine at Leiden. After returning to Rotterdam, Hijmans van den Bergh became director of the 'Coolsingel' Hospital. From 1912 - 1918 he held a medical chair at Groningen University. From there he moved to Utrecht where he was appointed to the chair of internal medicine which he occupied for twenty years.
Hijmans van den Bergh was the first to publish a textbook on internal medicine in the Netherlands. He pioneered in the area of haemoglobin derivatives: porphyryn and bilirubin. The reaction needed for the establishment of the bilirubin content of blood still bears the name of Hijmans van den Bergh. Hijmans van den Bergh is considered to be an outstanding example of a scientist who was able to apply the findings of fundamental research in clinical practice.

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Facts and Figures

Universiteitsweg 98, 3584 CG Utrecht

Erick van Egeraat (EEA)
Contactor: Boele Van Eesteren / Wessels Zeist

Design: 2003
Start of construction works: Feb 3, 2004
Completed: 2005
Nov. 21st 2005 officially opened by Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Education.

14.500 sqm.

Winner of Rietveld Award 2007.

In restaurant 'Kroonluchter' an impressive work of art can be found that was created by the Welsh-born London conceptual artist Cerith Wyn Evans (1958). The chandelier was brought into the building on Oct. 28th 2005. The light pulsates with various intensities. The chandelier is part of a series of three works of conceptual art. The other two are less prominent: one is a neon sign attached to the wall of the adjacent building saying 'In which something happens all over again for the very first time' and the other is a work of sound, a digital composition by Florian Hecker (1975, Augsburg). The work of sound can be heard on the third floor of the building where it repeats itself in long intervals. The works of art are meant to be stimuli for the senses to arouse curiosity and food for thought.

It took until May 3rd 2007 before the works of art were officially presented.

The building has a square groundplan of 45 x 70 meters. The construction partly covers the original auditoria of the University Medical Centre. 
The building has three parts: offices, classrooms with individual workspaces (study landscapes) and a restaurant named 'De Kroonluchter' (chandelier). In both the office and education areas, flexible environments provide for different teaching scenarios including traditional lectures, group work and individual research. Three conical glass voids positioned in the centre of the building allow natural light deep into the building and connect the more public areas with the education floors. The cones integrate the load bearing structure and serve as ventilation shafts. Visible from all parts of the building, these crystal glass shapes function both as the technical backbone and the atmospheric heart of the building. 430 unique glass plates weighing between 300 and 500 kg were needed to realize these shapes. Two staircases protrude through the largest light court. Predominant colours in the interior are red and yellow.

The name of the building:
Abraham Albert Hijmans van den Bergh (1869 - 1943) was born in Rotterdam. After graduating at Leiden University, he wrote his dissertation at the same university on the toxic nature of urine and the theory of auto-intoxication. After his Ph.D he became assistant to prof. Nolen who held the chair for internal medicine at Leiden. After returning to Rotterdam, Hijmans van den Bergh became director of the 'Coolsingel' Hospital. From 1912 - 1918 he held a medical chair at Groningen University. From there he moved to Utrecht where he was appointed to the chair of internal medicine which he occupied for twenty years.
Hijmans van den Bergh was the first to publish a textbook on internal medicine in the Netherlands. He pioneered in the area of haemoglobin derivatives: porphyryn and bilirubin. The reaction needed for the establishment of the bilirubin content of blood still bears the name of Hijmans van den Bergh. Hijmans van den Bergh is considered to be an outstanding example of a scientist who was able to apply the findings of fundamental research in clinical practice.

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