It was an interesting process to play with the interlayers and achieve the colour schemes the architect had in mind while also defining the building's character.
The new Lyceum, along with the previously completed Topmavo building and the new sports building, together form a colourful educational complex – an ambiance created in part by the coloured pointing and the coloured glazing specially created for this project. We talked with Joost Plompen, Director of Lieftink Geveltechniek, the company that built the facade, and Alexander Postma from AGC.
The new school is light, colourful and spacious. "It has been so thoroughly renovated that the old building is no longer recognisable. In addition, a new wing has been added," explains Joost Plompen. The old and the new part are connected by an impressive skylight with a beautiful open staircase. The open style lets light in from outdoors on all sides. The variety of Stratobel Colour glazings gives the beautiful complex a unique appearance.
"The Lyceum owes its playful and fresh character to all the coloured glazing," says Plompen. "Getting the colours just right was quite a challenge – especially finding a connection between what was technically possible and the architect's vision. Many samples were produced." Alexander Postma confirms: "Achieving the desired look proved to be quite a quest. The colour scheme was ultimately achieved by applying a combination of Vanceva coloured interlayers to the glass. The process involved combining, laminating and experimenting – rinse, wash, repeat. In some cases as many as six different interlayers were stacked on top of each other! Some colours absorb so much heat that tempered glass had to be used."
"By using Vanceva interlayers, we can basically make the glass any colour of the rainbow," says Postma. "We loved the challenge of coming up with the right colours for each application. In total, some 350 m2 of Stratobel Colour was processed for the Lyceum, some of which was non-transparent. Achieving the exact same shade of colour for both non-transparent and transparent panels presented an additional challenge and Lieftink Geveltechniek was tasked with putting the right glass in the right place." Plompen continues: "It was an interesting process to play with the interlayers and achieve the colour schemes the architect had in mind while also defining the building's character. In order to emphasise the 'connection' between the Lyceum and the Topmavo building, which has normal glazing, we applied coloured aluminium sheet to the pointing on the Topmavo."
Lieftink Geveltechniek started with the first building in 2018 and the Lyceum was completed in mid-2020. "All in all, it took us about two and a half years from engineering to completion. The results are impressive. The town of Alphen aan den Rijn has gained a colourful school campus," Plompen concludes.
