Renovation

With great pride and admiration, on January 7th, students moved into the 100-year-old building where past, present, and future seamlessly intertwine.

The monumental elements of yesteryear form the basis of a modern, bright, and spacious learning environment with study nooks for independent or collaborative work.

• The art wing features large classrooms, surprising workspaces (also for digital creations), and a studio that can be set up as an exhibition space.
• The music wing has its own stage and three studios, one of which is for recording podcasts.
• The UNESCO classroom is equipped with the most modern recording and communication tools, including a green screen studio.
• The Aula is furnished with small seating areas, spacious tables, and generous seating edges, and is equipped with all the necessary light and sound equipment to put students in the spotlight.
• Upon entering, visitors are welcomed in the central hall by Olphaert den Otter's artwork, "an unforgettable day." This piece was created especially for the school in consultation with students and staff.

Meanwhile, the renovation of Building A has already begun, where the beta wing will open its doors in a year and a half.

The Berlage Lyceum is a beautiful 100-year-old national monument. Architect A.J. Westerman was the main architect involved in the design of our school buildings. The school is located in a neighborhood built in the Amsterdam School style, part of H.P. Berlage's Plan Zuid. The exterior was renovated some time ago, and now it's the interior's turn.

Suitable for Education Now and in the Future

Insights into education have changed over the past 100 years. With this renovation, we aim for a building that will be suitable for modern education for at least the next 50 years. Parts of the building will be restored to their former glory, while other parts will be adapted, such as the installations and ceilings, to improve acoustics. The reception will have a clear place at the entrance, the number of classrooms will be increased, and study nooks will be added for students.

The 100-year-old idea that a beautiful building elevates students still holds true today. A beautiful building makes students feel important, that they matter, that they are invested in so that they can contribute to a better world later on.

Architectural firm Atelier Pro understands the value of this national monument better than anyone and how to adapt it to modern times, and they have created a beautiful design for the renovation.
 

Sustainable

Today, a hundred years later, ideas about sustainability go further than they did back then. This demands a lot from the choices we make. Current technology offers opportunities for this. UNESCO is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This involves sustainable development in the broadest sense of the word, from poverty reduction to environmental protection and from better education and healthcare to a strong economy and an inclusive society.

After the renovation, the building will be equipped with solar panels, better insulated, and have improved air quality. We will use sustainable and environmentally friendly materials as much as possible. For this reason, we will also have as much furniture as possible "refurbished" by Eromes Marko. This company specializes in this and prioritizes material recycling. The bases of the tables will be repaired where necessary and repainted, and the tabletops and chair seats will be "renewed."

Art in the Building

In the 1920s, the buildings received two artworks: one by Peter Alma (Building A) and one by Joop Sjollema (Building B). The renovated building also deserves a new artwork. We commissioned artist Olphaert den Otter to create a new painting for Building B, fitting the school's vision and mission, the building itself, and the times we live in. With his design for "an unforgettable day," he fulfills this wish.

Jeanne van der Horst has made a film about the creation of the work.

The main schedule of the work is as follows:

• Relocation of some students to a temporary location from March 2023
• Renovation of Building B (no. 34) finished December 2024
• Relocation swap December 2024
• Renovation of Building A (no. 33) January 2025 to 2026
• Berlage back at its own location 2026

Temporary Accommodation

The buildings are being renovated one after the other. This means that half of the students are at a temporary location. We are very happy with the location in Martin Luther King Park, where we are already experiencing the positive effect that more light, air, and better acoustics have on learning and working.

Article about the first phase of the transformation of Building B where past, present, and future seamlessly intertwine.