Utrecht University faces a major real estate challenge: reducing costs, shrinking our square metre footprint, and using our spaces more efficiently. This is the only way to preserve enough financial capacity for what truly matters — education and research. Some initial decisions have already been made, and explorations into potential measures are underway. The aim is to create a real estate portfolio that matches our financial capacity and actual usage: more compact, efficient, and future-proof.
What are the challenges?
The need to cut back on real estate costs applies university-wide and affects all faculties and departments, directly or indirectly. In short, we aim for:
- Structural reduction of square metres, particularly office space.
- More intensive use of facilities, for example, through smarter timetabling and shared spaces.
- Actively reducing vacancy rates and accelerating the disposal of buildings.
- Only invest in buildings when strictly necessary for education or research.
- Critically reviewing whether planned projects can be postponed or scaled down.
These challenges have been translated into a scenario with tailored measures for each faculty or location.
Which plans are moving forward?
Some choices have already been made. Below are examples of projects that are continuing due to strategic importance or direct sustainability gains:
These choices contribute to making our university housing future-proof.
What is under review?
Together with Campus & Facilities, faculties and departments are exploring the feasibility of the proposed measures. This includes relocations, more efficient use of buildings, and the accelerated disposal of properties. These explorations are not optional but are a serious preparation for necessary decisions.
The framework is fixed, but within those boundaries, there is room to refine the scenario based on new insights. Details such as planning and implementation may still change. That’s why it is important to stay flexible and continue assessing what is truly needed in the long term.
Examples of ongoing assessments include:
- For the Kruyt building, we are examining whether the planned investment in redevelopment can be reduced. Scenarios range from adjusted forms of redevelopment to the possibility that the building may no longer be used by or for UU in the long run. The impact of these scenarios on education, research, and housing is being carefully mapped in cooperation with the Faculty of Science.
- The disposal of various city centre buildings, such as Muntstraat 2a, Kromme Nieuwegracht 20/22, Bijlhouwerstraat, and Kruisstraat 201. No formal decision has been made yet. At the same time, the retention of the Kromhout site is a strategic move that supports the potential disposal of Bijlhouwerstraat, for example. In that case, the USBO department would need a new location. The preferred scenario is relocation to the Kromhout site. This exploration fits within the broader ambition to make optimal use of campus facilities.
- Temporary buildings — such as Israëlslaan, Newtonlaan, and Daltonlaan — will be released as soon as their temporary function ends and alternative housing becomes available.
What’s next?
In the coming weeks, Campus & Facilities will consult with directors and housing managers to discuss the research assignments for each location or project. The goal is to support faculties and departments, who own the challenge themselves, in jointly exploring feasible measures. The outcomes will form the basis for the next steps.
The Real Estate Board, which includes faculty representatives, advises on strategy and reviews proposed approaches for financial viability, practical implementation, and impact on education and research. The formal decision on the revised SHP programme is expected this autumn. Once final decisions have been made, all relevant parties will be informed in a timely and targeted manner.