Minkema College

Linking green and stone, the Minkema College is located at the edge of the town of Woerden. The building accommodates a lower secondary vocational school and the municipal sports centre. It is part of the Snel and Polanen Master Plan. The main building rises parallel to the railroad like a wave from the polder. Wooden trusses support the shiny green steel roof that blends in with the surrounding greenery. This building includes the central auditorium, practical instruction rooms and sport facilities. The complex's auditorium is the place to meet, the 'beehive' that students leave in swarms. Symbolizing a warm welcome, two raised building sections are set square to the main building. Students can 'hang out' in the public space beneath: a sunny spot facing the south and the large schoolyard. As the structure is in full view everywhere, the building itself is an object of study. Minkema College offers a fully-fledged teaching environment for lower secondary vocational education: one that students can be proud of.