The Hogekamp square has been sustainably renovated. The landscape has been redesigned, matching the new function of the Hogekamp building. This new landscape also suits the requirements of the students and the university: the campus should be a place to study and meet.
Several new highlights can be found here. An axis running diagonally across the square connects Hogekampplein with the campus across Oude Drienerloweg. The paving of this axis consists of durable cementless concrete tiles. In addition, the axis is equipped with movable concrete blocks intended for sitting, moving and learning.
The plaza and axis are at the center of a series of richly planted gardens intended for quiet sitting. The gardens are organized in a grid and feature informal paths, ponds and benches. The gardens also serve as habitat for insects, so they are richly planted with 8,850 m2 of perennials and 130 new trees. The new vegetation is good for biodiversity; bees in particular thrive here.
One highlight stands out the most: the transparently designed water purification lab, or Waterlab. This lab is used by researchers from the Faculty of Science and Technology, who are researching water purification using membranes, to test various membrane techniques in practice. The Hogekampplein is a suitable place for the Waterlab because of the collection of rainwater from the Hogekamp, the High Tech Factory and the Hogekampplein, which is drained into the adjacent Vrijhof pond.
A purifying reedbed filter has been installed in this pond. This filter purifies the rainwater. The water is then pumped to the clean water cellar under the Hogekamp in which approximately 1,000 m3 of water can be stored.
There is a rainwater sewer system and a wastewater sewer system in the subsoil of the Hogekamp square. By connecting the lab to this system, it will be possible to conduct research into the purification of various water streams. This will contribute substantially to the quality and impact of membrane research.
After purification, the water has almost the same quality as drinking water and is suitable for watering the sports fields on campus during the summer months. The purification technique used here is a sustainable membrane purification system developed by the university.
