AP University of Applied Sciences opens new technical campus with 21,000m2 of classrooms and labs

With 16,000 students, AP is the largest University of Applied Sciences in Antwerp. The school is growing rapidly and additional space was needed. From 1 September 2024, the engineering faculty with 2,000 students is housed in a brand new building.  In Antwerp’s Den Dam district, a historic 21,000 m2 building was transformed into a modern campus with classrooms and labs. CN Rood was involved by supplying the cabinets for the labs.

Hands-on learning in modern labs

The Department of Industry & Environment has 5 bachelors and 3 graduates (= associate degree). After several years of a decrease, enrolment in engineering courses is growing again. A major reason for this growth is the hands-on teaching in modern labs. With the opening of the new building at Den Dam, with 27 labs, the facilities are perfect and there is enough room to grow further. Some of the labs there are: smart factory lab, mechatronics lab, smart energy lab, process chemistry lab and instrumental analysis lab.

Intensive cooperation with industry

The industry is looking for well-trained technical students. So it is also very important for the future of technical companies that enough students choose a technical study. For this reason there was a lot of enthusiasm from the industry to help to set up the labs. For instance, a smart factory lab was built in cooperation with BASF and Bayer, and Total Energies installed valves for the pump stand.

CN Rood supplies cabinets for the new labs

A comprehensive plan was drawn up for the layout of the new campus. The Elabo cabinets supplied by CN Rood were also included. Robustness in particular was an important reason, as heavy materials are stored in the cabinets. AP University of Applied Sciences is very satisfied with the cooperation.

Geert Gooskens (head of department): “We have been working with CN Rood for several years now and are satisfied with the equipment and service.”