LAB42 is the new, multifunctional university building slated to house the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science (FNWI) that no longer fits in the main building as enrollment, employment and new collaborations with science & industry partners continue to rise. The new building will be home to two research institutes: a large part of the Information Sciences program and the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center. Drees & Sommer (formerly BOAG) has been appointed to provide additional managerial and supervisory support and will help the university with continuous monitoring and advising on quality, planning and budget during the development and execution of the project.

LAB42 will offer facilities for academic instruction, study, research, administration and collaboration with other UvA faculties and external parties working in Artificial Intelligence (AI). LAB42 is destined to be an international hub for the development of digital innovation and AI talent. The building is the result of collaborative efforts between the UvA, the municipality of Amsterdam and the business community. The ultimate goal is to leverage the creative design of these inviting, innovative facilities as a stimulus for meetings, knowledge sharing and collaborative interactions between scientists, students, the business community and society to help solve the IT and AI problems of tomorrow.  

One of the special features of this project is the UvA's aim for top quality and environmental performance; the ambition is to achieve BREEAM Excellent level. Benthem Crouwel Architects has designed LAB42 as a net zero energy building: it is highly sustainable, through minimal use of materials, reuse of materials and the use of materials with a low CO2 footprint, among other measures. The building’s framework is modular and composed mainly of recycled and recyclable materials. The structure is easy to dismantle, making the building very flexible for everyday use. It is also future proof, as it is easy to adapt to changing requirements and developments. The LAB42 building offers an abundance of greenery and natural ventilation and thus, is both sustainable and promotes well-being with a comfortable indoor climate. The sustainability ambitions of the UvA were important criteria in the selection of contractors. Throughout the project, bidders were evaluated against the university’s quality and sustainability requirements. 

This “building of the future” will be inaugurated for the 2022-2023 academic year.