Ghent University’s technology campus in Zwijnaarde is the ideal setting for an inspiring example of holistic sustainability. And evr-Architecten proved to be the right firm for the job: they delivered an ecological tour de force without any unnecessary frills.

In 2016, work was completed on the building for the Information Technology (intec) and Electronics and Information Systems (elis) departments of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. The building was commissioned by Ghent University and designed by the Ghent-based firm evr Architects, known for its broad vision of sustainability. The university proved to be an enthusiastic client, willing to think outside the box of a standard building contract. For a year, evr Architecten worked with the consultancy firm Arcadis and the university to refine the programme of requirements – a design phase that was also contractually agreed. The result is a building that goes beyond architectural formalism and gimmicks. It is a puzzle of complex pieces that have been assembled into a logical whole, making the result almost self-evident.