Leuven University gearing up for celebrations marking its 600th anniversary
The facade of Leuven University Hall on the Naamsestraat in Leuven (Flemish Brabant) is being renovated to get the building ready for the celebrations marking the Flemish university’s sixth centenary. The Rector's Office too is also being thoroughly renovated. The work should protect this iconic building from the ravages of time and update it to current sustainability standards. Work should be completed by 2025, the year Leuven University celebrates its 600th anniversary.
Work in Leuven is in full swing to renovate the exterior facade of the University Hall, an iconic Leuven University building on the Naamsestraat. "Every student and every Leuvener knows this building. I myself still vividly remember how in 1998 I came to register here as a student," says Flemish heritage minister Matthias Diependaele (Flemish nationalist/N-VA).
The renovation is happening on the occasion of the university’s 600th anniversary that will be celebrated next year. "We want to be able to show the building in its full glory during celebration year 2025," says Rector Luc Sels, the university's head. "The festive year officially starts on 2 February 2025."
Besides the renovation of the facade, Leuven University’s Rectorate is also undergoing renovation to make it sustainable. "We are trying to ensure fossil fuels are no longer used in the Rectorate. It means we have to modify the way the building is heated and ventilated. Especially in such an old 14th-century building, this is necessary. The original Gothic section of this building dates back to 1317," explains Rector Sels.
The complete renovation of the exterior facade will cost around 1.6 million euros. The Flemish government is investing 378,000 euros on this phase. "That investment is very important," says Minister Diependaele. "These buildings not only tell the story of the university, but also of who we as Flemings or Leuveners are. If we take care of this heritage, we are also taking care of our society. That's why we are making a financial contribution, to be able to pass on these buildings to the next generations."
