Fontys School of Sport Studies in Eindhoven (the Netherlands), designed by Mecanoo, won the World Architecture Festival Award in the Schools category yesterday in Singapore.
The jury complimented the original layout of the school with its sports facilities on the first floor. This means the activities on the transparent ground floor are connected to the surrounding sports fields and other facilities in a natural way.
The judges were also impressed with the use of light, especially in the sport halls. Mezzanines, glass and interior vistas ensure views on sports throughout the building: “A conventional solution would have resulted in closed boxes”, they noted. The 16.500 m2 sports complex opened in 2012 and is a recognizable and lively meeting place at Genneper Parks Campus in Eindhoven.
Architect Ellen van der Wal was in Singapore to present the project: "The quality of the entries for the World Architecture Festival Awards was high. We are very honored that Fontys was chosen by this jury of renowned architects as best school building of the year."