Where in Zuidas
Old School is in the Kop Zuidas district, between Europaboulevard, the A10, Zorgvlied cemetery and the Zuidelijke Wandelweg. Located in Gaasterlandstraat, the building dates back to 1973, when the catholic school Katholieke Nijverheidsschool Gaasterland moved into it. After the school vacated the building in 2013, it changed both its function and name, becoming the: Old School Incubator (broedplaats Old School). In 2018, the Heemschut heritage association attempted to have the Old School building declared a municipal monument. However, the application was rejected by the court on the grounds that its architectural value did not outweigh the importance of building housing on the site. One year later, the Old School’s green ‘polder roof’ was given a new life in De Pijp, foreshadowing the building’s demolition. A wooden artwork was also salvaged.
Tree felling
The Old School building is now making way for housing and a small park. Before that, 108 trees need to be felled. This will start on 10 October 2022. Most of them (95) are young field maple that were cut down previously, but re-sprouted because the demolition work was delayed. The girth of the trees is minimal (10-12 cm), but thick enough to require a felling permit. This was granted in August 2022. The other 13 trees are on or around the old foundations of the former Orion College and on the little square in front of the Old School building. We will offset the felled trees.
Bats
Any cracks in the Old School building have now been filled in order to prevent bats establishing new nests or hibernating in it. The roof of the neighbouring synagogue of the Liberal Jewish Community has been fitted with bat boxes, providing an attractive alternative for the bats.
Asbestos
The next step will be asbestos removal, around the end of October. We have carefully identified where the asbestos is located, but will be conducting a final survey. Demolition work can then go ahead. It is expected to take around five months.
Housing and a small park
One part of the Old School plot will be used for housing and another for a small park adjoining Kleine Wetering. On plot L2 (see the map below), there will be 300 homes. There is some time to wait, because the plot alongside the A10 (plot K, next to Crossover) needs to be developed first. It will serve as a noise buffer.
Give your opinion