Schoolvoorbeeld [School Lessons], an initiative of Groningen municipality in collaboration with KAW and De Zwarte Hond, brings together architects, urban planners, school boards, teachers, students and residents to explore how the school building of the future will look. After all, a school is much more than just a place of learning – it is also a neighbourhood meeting place, offering space for development, movement and connection. The initiative has resulted in a book containing 35 recommendations for future-proof school construction in Groningen.

A new generation of schools for Groningen
Over the next few years, the municipality of Groningen will invest heavily in renovating and renewing its school buildings. To provide direction for this task, the municipality launched the Schoolvoorbeeld initiative: a comprehensive investigation into what makes a good school building, the best locations for schools, and their role in the neighbourhood and the city. These results will inform the Gro Up school plan.

From classroom to lively learning environment
Education is changing. New teaching methods and greater attention to movement, inclusion and after-school care mean that buildings must meet different demands. Schools are no longer closed learning factories; they have become places where children grow up, parents come together and the neighbourhood meets up. Schools are places for social encounters, offering space for development, movement and connection. However, many school buildings are outdated and no longer meet today’s needs, let alone those of tomorrow.

So, what makes a location suitable for a future new school? And how do we build schools that inspire, connect and contribute to a strong, inclusive city?

35 Recommendations on Three Scales
To find answers to these questions, a series of activities was organized. Children designed their ideal school, students from the Academy of Architecture contributed ideas about design and the future, and within the municipality, new forms of collaboration were tested.

Civil servants from different departments started discussions with each other at an early stage. In later phases, school boards, principals, urban planners, and architects also joined in. Through conversations, debates, site visits, and design studies, they explored how school buildings can contribute to equal opportunities, livability, and quality of education. The outcomes have been compiled into 35 recommendations on three scales: building level, neighborhood level, and city level. Additionally, the book includes recommendations on collaboration: how municipalities, school boards, and other parties can work together effectively.

Recommendation 6. Give a school its own building:
An important recommendation at the building level is not to combine too many different users in one large building. This complicates management, hinders collaboration (who answers the phone?), and takes away the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Recommendation 26. Ensure reciprocity with the neighborhood:
At the neighborhood level, it is essential to seek not only strong spatial relationships but also programmatic connections — the so-called “linkage opportunities.” These opportunities contribute to better education and greater vibrancy by creating facilities that benefit local residents and provide spaces where they can meet one another.

Location studies
Six architectural firms conducted location studies for new schools or renovations in the municipality of Groningen. BDG Architecten focused on Gomarus College, and the potential merger of all the locations on the Vondellaan in De Wijert. Studio Nuy van Noort explored the idea of merging the NoorderBasis schools. BRIQUE Architects studied the Erasmus school in the Zeeheldenbuurt, while SVP considered the best location for the neighbours of CSG Augustinus. Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architects conducted research into the Parcival College in the Rivierenbuurt, and finally Frencken Scholl Architecten investigated potential sites for schools in Beijum.

These studies provided valuable insights for both the municipality and the school boards involved, which gained a new perspective on their current locations and the pros and cons of staying or moving. The full results of the studies can be found in the Schoolvoorbeeld book.