A future orientated college utilizes daylight through the roof as part of sustainable design
At Dr. Knippenbergcollege in the Netherlands, School Director, and architects RoosRos Architecten set out to build a future orientated educational facility to inspire learning for over 1,750 students.
Modern design fills a college with daylight
A design goal was to create open space classrooms, a sports hall and canteen with optimal daylight exposure throughout an interconnected college. Students move from breakout rooms, leisure spaces and workshops to meeting and studying environments in a comfortable environment complimented by serene wooden interiors.
Throughout Dr. Knippenbergcollege sightlines are created to connect students and teachers to the surrounding nature via façade windows and rooflights. A sense of transparency and connection helps to create a harmonious learning environment where student well-being is at the forefront of design.
A flexible daylight solution supports sustainable design
Energy neutral building requirements meant that Dr. Knippenbergcollege would need to comply with national BENG regulations. The introduction of solar panels on the roof is further complimented by the addition of rooflights. A stick glazing system with aluminium profiles was chosen for its ability to be customized to suit the needs of a modern college that has made daylight central to design plans. The rooflight installation comprised one single unit with 54 glass modules that was craned onto the roof during construction.
The college is further complimented by enhanced insulation and acoustics. The success of this new building project is seen through the implementation of sustainable design features that help minimize a reliance on artificial lighting with the optimization of daylight.