University Installs Safety Nets in Koopmans Building Stairwells

In the coming weeks, safety nets will be installed in the stairwells of the Koopmans Building. This is a precautionary measure to prevent parts of the wall from falling onto the stairs.

Hollow areas have appeared behind the natural stone walls of the stairwells in the Koopmans Building. It’s unclear whether this is due to temperature fluctuations, an improperly applied intermediate layer, or another cause. What is clear, however, is that stone strips may come loose and fall onto the stairs.

‘We obviously want to prevent that from happening,’ says Marcel van Ast from Facility Services. That’s why in the coming weeks nets will be installed, which will be stretched across wooden beams.

Complex Operation

The installation of the nets will take about a month in total. To minimize inconvenience, a test setup was created in advance to determine the best way to carry out the work.

The nets will remain in place until a definitive restoration plan has been developed and executed. According to Van Ast, this will be a complex operation, as the stairwells must remain in use during the work.

Monumental Value

There is already a clear vision for the final restoration. The Koopmans Building is a municipal monument, and the stairwells have significant historical value. The new walls will be identical to the current ones—only without any damage or risk of falling debris.

In the meantime, the nets are intended to ensure that staff, students, and visitors can continue to use the stairwells safely.