Nijenoord is a residential conversion in Utrecht’s Ondiep district, on the edge of the city centre. The former Hogeschool Utrecht building was converted into 195 private-sector rental apartments, with 132 parking spaces, in a project completed around 15 months after work began.2
The building dates from 1959 and was originally designed by architect Dirk Roosenburg as offices for Detam. After the university’s teaching and research activities moved to De Uithof, the Nijenoord site was sold and the building stood empty from 2016.2 The conversion retained and emphasised features of the original architecture, including its entrance, large bay windows, projecting balconies and main staircase.2
OPL Architecten designed the conversion. Amvest commissioned the work, which was carried out by TBI-Koopmans Bouwgroep, based in Enschede.2 The completed apartments range from 47 to 153 m² and have two, three or four rooms. The building’s energy rating improved from D to A.2
The homes were intended principally for starters, single people and young households. Amvest Residential Core Fund portfolio manager Dennis Wedding described the project as a way to add a new housing type to Ondiep, a neighbourhood with many housing-association homes and relatively few private rentals and owner-occupied homes.2 The project source reported that all apartments had been let; about 80% of tenants were under 35, and more than half came from outside Utrecht.2