The area on the other side of the UT, from the Auke Vleerstraat-Hengelosestraat intersection to Hotel-Restaurant De Broeierd, is currently still a bare grassy plain. But not for long, if it is up to the Kennispark area organisation, not for long. A multi-tenant building is planned to arise on the strip of about 18 thousand square meters, with office and lab spaces for various innovative companies. Next door, housing association Bundle is plotting a complex of 185 homes. These will be available for master's graduates, PhD candidates, and knowledge workers. For accessibility, a parking building with a 'commercial plinth' has also been designed.
Continuum
The currently traditional business park will be completely transformed in the coming years, to stimulate knowledge and innovation exchange. Bertyl Lankhaar, director of Kennispark, explains: 'The UT Campus, Twente Village and also the football stadium, Go Planet and the ice rink are all part of the Kennispark. But you can’t really tell, quite yet. Due to various area adjustments, it will soon form one continuum. You could call it a mini-city.'
Meetings
Lankhaar’s prime concern is bringing parties from education, entrepreneurs, and government together. 'The intention is that it will soon be a place where entrepreneurs, young professionals, and scientists meet, exchange ideas and inspiration, and work together on innovative projects for our region, the Netherlands, and the world.' So far, that has worked out quite well. Lankhaar: ‘We want to include a total of sixty real estate entrepreneurs in these developments, and that is going pretty well so far.'
Knowledge community
Lankhaar: 'The idea is to create a knowledge community. Through an application process, candidates who want to live there must be able to motivate why they would be addition to the community. They must be willing to contribute something. Residents can meet each other by, for example, cooking together or organising events. That may lead to inspiration and new ideas. Leading high-tech companies will literally be close by.'
Although the UT is not financially involved, Lankhaar hopes that this new innovation campus will provide an impulse for international students. 'For students, it can only be an attractive idea to start a career in such an innovation-driven environment.'
Artist impression by SeARCH.
Parking building
The third building is designed as a parking complex, close to Hotel-Restaurant De Broeierd. There will soon be room for 325 parking spaces, which are mainly intended for those who live and work in the Bundle or lab building. The building also has a so-called commercial plinth, with room for small to-go catering and retail.
At least, if it all goes ahead, Lankhaar describes: 'The mayor and aldermen council has already decided that they want to commit to the development of the area into a residential and work location. For that, parking is simply essential. But the city council has yet to give their blessing.'
First steps
The council’s verdict will follow in March. If it is positive, the construction of the Bundle building can start after the summer holidays. The parking building will follow shortly afterwards. 'We hope it will be ready by the end of 2026 or early 2027.'
In any case, Lankhaar is looking forward to it with confidence. The first steps towards the plans have already been taken, she describes: 'The Institutenweg has already been narrowed and greened to make it suitable as a walking and cycling area. The first meeting units are almost ready for use.'
