The University of Groningen (UG) and the municipality of Groningen are joining forces to transform the current Harmonie building into an accessible and future-proof educational facility.
The Faculty of Arts has been considering renovations to the Harmonie building for some time, but on Tuesday, the collaboration between the UG and the municipality was officially signed. Over the next year and a half, they will work together to develop plans for a renewed city-centre faculty.
Studies about people
‘We are due for an upgrade of the Harmonie complex’, said UG board member Hans Biemans during a meeting on Monday afternoon at the Harmonie square. ‘The humanities and social sciences come together here, and what could be better than sharing these studies—focused on people—with the people of the city centre?’
What the renovated educational facility will look like hasn’t been determined yet. However, it’s clear that the UG and the municipality want to improve the integration between the university and the city centre. This could be achieved by making spaces available, increasing collaboration with businesses, and improving public access to outdoor areas.
A cup of coffee
‘How great would it be if city residents and students could meet here at the Harmonie square over a cup of coffee?’ mused Spatial Planning and Housing alderman Rik van Niejenhuis.
‘It’s clear that they don’t really know each other, even though they have opinions about one another. If they had more opportunities to meet, a stronger connection could develop.’
Since the plans are still in development, it is difficult to determine the total cost of the project. ‘That will, of course, depend on the plans we finalise’, Biemans said. ‘But we must renovate the building and make it more sustainable anyway. That will require an investment.’