The W-hal, built in the period 1957-1960 to accommodate the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has since 2013 enjoyed a ‘predestined status’. This means that the object is treated as if it already possesses a nationally protected status. The Council of Culture, which has an advisory role, last year advised against granting this official status to the W-hal. The argument: ‘An undamaged condition has always been an important criterion in the assessment by the council. As the Council is of opinion that this building does not satisfy that at a national level it recommends that this building not be designated a nationally listed building.’

The Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) can propose buildings and the Minister of OCW has a decisive vote. An RCE spokesperson informs us about the motivation yet to designate the W-hal a nationally listed building: 'For us the transformation was no impediment. As a result, the W-hal has lost its undamaged condition, but the main, valuable characteristics are still clearly recognizable. These mostly concern the then innovative construction, the modular composition, the roof with the characteristic checkerboard pattern and the original color scheme. The rarity, another important criterion, has increased because the comparable hall block on the campus of Twente University in Enschede has been largely demolished.'

Extra protection

As an object carrying the designation of nationally listed building, it enjoys extra protection. This means that if drastic alterations in the premises are considered a license must be applied for from the municipality, whereby the RCE advises – and that there are possibilities for subsidy being granted for maintenance and restoration.

In 2007 TU/e applied for a demolition permit for the W-hal, but it was not granted because several parties found that the building was eligible for being granted listed-building status. In the book published on the occasion of the opening of MetaForum, Jo van Ham, vice-President of the Executive Board, wrote: ‘When in 2006 the Foundation for the Reconstruction of Eindhoven Heritage wanted to apply for the listed-building status for that W-hal by way of a birthday present for the 50^th anniversary of the university, the university was, to put it euphemistically, not really pleased. In the building world a listed-building status is regarded more as an expensive tie than as the wind at one’s back.’

Recognition

However, now he is particularly pleased with the recognition. “The renovation of the W-Hal marks a change in our thinking about the cultural-historical value of our real estate. Since then, this has been a constant principle in our housing policy. We are now building on the strong ensemble of buildings that has been present here for decades,” says Van Ham. “This can be seen in later projects. For example, in the renovation of the former Ketel building (boilerhouse) into the Ceres building, for which we were awarded the BNA architecture prize. And even more so in Atlas, where the renovation of the former main building is nearing completion.”

Today’s decision forms part of the Reconstruction (1940-1965) designation program. The Netherlands counts 63,000 nationally listed buildings and Eindhoven has 150. At 16.20 hours this afternoon, Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven will hand over the listed-building sign and the documents to Jo van Ham, vice-President of the Executive Board, at the stairs at MetaForum. According to the RCE spokesperson it is exceptional for the Minister to show up in person – ‘usually a regional head of our agency does so, sometimes one of our two directors’. Where the sign will be put up exactly is not known, for this remains to be decided by Real Estate Management. The Minister will this afternoon also visit the Photonicalab in Flux and at ICMS she will be brought up to date about Strategy 2030, the long-term vision of TU/e.

Picture: The W-hal in 2007, before the transformation into MetaForum.