The Ursulinen school in Mechelen (Belgium) chose RubberGard EPDM for the roof of two new buildings to house more classrooms, a gym and a large sports hall.

The historical Ursulinen school in the center of Mechelen (Belgium) consists of a series of buildings that differ both in style and dimensions. The construction of two new buildings to house more classrooms, a gym and a large sports hall, designed by Label architecture, aimed to provide structure and cohesion to the whole site. A series of courtyards provide breathing spaces in the middle of the building block, connecting the different volumes.

The prefab concrete structures of the new buildings were cladded in typical Flemish brick. In order to better integrate the new buildings with the existing ones, the architects decided to use different types of brickwork and mortar joints to give the illusion that they were old industrial buildings that would have undergone a few renovations, such as elevations and the closing of window openings.

All materials for the new buildings were chosen for their robustness and sobriety. On top of the flat roofs, Label architecture wanted a durable and eco-friendly waterproofing solution. Holcim Building Envelope’ RubberGard EPDM single-ply roofing membrane was chosen for this project due to its proven performance and outstanding durability.

The Ursulinen school has been nominated for the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2022.