Redevelopment of Schouwburg Ogterop
| In collaboration with | krft, Paul de Ruijter architects, BBN, DGMR, Nelissen theateradvies, Ogterop |
| Location | Meppel |
| Expertises | |
Circular puzzle in the heart of Meppel
The new Ogterop will become a showcase of circularity and multifunctionality. The small auditorium is being relocated to the ground floor to improve logistical efficiency and enable flexible use, while the monumental bonbonnière is preserved. The existing building, an organically grown ensemble of extensions added over the years, has become outdated and energy‑inefficient, calling for a radical sustainability upgrade.
Designing based on what already exists
The design follows the principle of reverse engineering: designing with the existing building components as the point of departure. After an in‑depth analysis of archival drawings, structural surveys, and dimensional measurements, it has been determined which elements will be preserved — including the foundations, concrete rings, ground-floor slab, the residential section, and the historic auditorium. In addition, the project focuses on reusing materials such as timber, steel, brick, and concrete, supplemented with donor materials including reclaimed steel and surplus components from the automotive industry used as façade cladding.
A distinctive feature is the front of house, which is designed entirely in a timber structure. As a renewable material, timber not only reduces environmental impact but also contributes to the warm, inviting atmosphere of the foyer: a welcoming space that immediately conveys the building’s sustainable character.
The suitability of materials is assessed with great care, particularly because a theatre imposes high demands regarding spatial quality, acoustics, and fire safety. Circular design requires a different mindset, and a different way of collaborating. Through early and integrated coordination between architecture, structural engineering, and building services, the project achieves maximum sustainability gains.
Collaboration as the key to success
The design team worked closely with bbn advisors on selecting a circular demolition contractor and a steel construction company with expertise in reuse. This selection process has now been successfully completed. During the Technical Design (TO) phase, the harvesting specialists from the Scheffer Groep and steel construction company Nagelhout will join the design team to further shape the project’s circular ambitions. By involving these parties at an early stage, the design can already be aligned with the materials that will become available, allowing them to be integrated directly into the new structure. For example, the circular steel contractor will begin the search for donor steel profiles, while the harvesting specialists will look for components such as donor hollow-core slabs. Quality assurance for these elements must be carried out carefully, based on the guidelines provided.
Once the TO phase is completed, the tendering process for the main contractor will follow.
A sustainable layer of time for the future
Thanks to the dedication of the design team, the circular ambition remains firmly embedded in the project. The result is a theatre that is not only functional and future‑proof, but also adds a new sustainable layer of time to the building. Following approval by the municipality, the technical design phase will begin in May. Construction is scheduled to start in early 2026, with a festive reopening planned for 2028.
Steelmatch as a circular design tool
The reuse of steel is made possible through innovative digitalization. With the internally developed Steelmatch tool, reclaimed steel profiles from the existing theatre — as well as profiles harvested from other projects — are efficiently matched to the new steel structure. This digital tool functions like an intelligent puzzle: based on available profiles, dimensions, and material properties, it calculates the optimal opportunities for reuse.
The outcome is impressive: more than 70% of the new steel structure consists of reused steel elements. Through this digital approach, circular construction becomes not only more sustainable, but also more precise and efficient. The tool supports the design team in making data‑driven decisions and significantly reduces the risk of errors during execution — a concrete example of applying computational design within circular construction projects.
