Maastricht University acquires a new building

Press release 19 December 2011

Maastricht University has purchased a listed building on Grote Gracht 76 from the Maastricht municipal authorities. UM had already been renting part of the premises (the rear of the building) for teaching and office purposes for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, though the allocation of the newly acquired metres is not yet certain.

Maastricht University had been renting the back part of the building on Grote Gracht 76 from the Maastricht municipal authorities for some time, but because the municipal authorities wanted to sell the whole block, including the rear, UM was forced to look for an alternative for the 850 m2 of office space and class rooms that it rented at the back of the premises. One option examined by the UM was to purchase the whole building.

The purchase of the premises, which are currently partly vacant, is in keeping with the university’s vision to continue to accommodate the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on Grote Gracht. At present, the faculty is housed in the premises on Grote Gracht 90-92 (Hof van Tilly), 86, 80-82 (Kanunnikenhuis) and can now continue to use the rear of number 76. There are a number of options for putting the rest of the building (about 1200 m2) to good use, but it will probably be used to accommodate the faculty, as it is expected to expand, while another part of the building may be converted into student housing.

Grote Gracht 76 is a listed building, just like most of the other premises used by UM in the centre of Maastricht, and the university has already demonstrated its respect and understanding of the location and the surroundings of its cultural heritage. The city of Maastricht also considers it important that these historic buildings are looked after and used, as it enhances the city’s attractiveness and intimacy, while the UM is satisfied as this move is in keeping with its vision to accommodate its Arts and Social Science faculties in an “Urban Campus” in Maastricht’s city centre.

Note for the press
For more information on the content of this press release, please contact Flore Clerkx on +31 43 3885230 or email flore.clerkx@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

The UM Marketing & Communications Department can be contacted on +31 43 388 5222 or at pers@maastrichtuniversity.nl. For urgent matters outside office hours, please call +31 6 4602 4992. 

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