Aside from the ongoing reorganisation, another major question continues to hang over DesignLab: where will the facility move to? Although relocation plans were announced in mid-2025, no decision has yet been made on a new location. Meanwhile, DesignLab must vacate The Gallery by the end of next year.
The uncertainty is causing concern among the students who work at DesignLab, says operational coordinator Stella Tzertzeveli. ‘We’re worried about continuity. A huge number of students rely on our space and facilities. We have to leave after this academic year, but there’s still no suitable alternative.’
Search
The search for a new location is under way. ‘As student coordinators, we’re involved in the process. But none of the options that have been put forward so far are feasible,’ says Tzertzeveli. ‘One location didn’t even exist yet, another was off campus, and there was also a proposal to spread us across multiple sites. All of those options create problems, for instance for safety coordination. Ultimately, we need to be in one central location, well connected to the educational buildings. Students need to be able to find us easily.’
Tzertzeveli understands that a decision is expected in January 2027. That is very late, she says. ‘I’ve heard that the Faculty of BMS spent a year preparing for its temporary move to Capitool, and that mainly involved office furniture and equipment. We need to relocate 2,500 square metres of student project space, including all sorts of machinery and equipment. How are we supposed to do that? Besides that, at some point teachers will be orienting to book spaces for the next academic year, so we need some clarity as soon as possible.’
Making the most of it
There is another complication. While DesignLab staff and students are consulted during the process, they are not involved in the final decision-making. That responsibility rests with a project team led by the Faculty of EEMCS. For now, Tzertzeveli is trying to make the most of the current location. ‘This place is perfect. Students love it. I can’t imagine the same buzz existing somewhere else. There’s always something interesting happening here. Ideally, we would have stayed, but unfortunately that isn’t up to us.’
‘Closely linked to future plans’
Mirije van Dijk, vice-dean for operations at the Faculty of EEMCS, is part of the project team overseeing the reorganisation and relocation of DesignLab. Asked about the process, she says that ‘an exploration of a suitable new location is currently underway’, adding that the process has not yet been completed. ‘This is closely linked to the future plans for DesignLab. The strategic direction and the location need to be well aligned.’
Van Dijk says the project team is aware of the tight timeline. ‘That is why we are paying particular attention to ensuring a smooth transition and continuity, so that activities that continue at a new location are not unnecessarily disrupted by the move.’
