The circular pavilion ROAM, located on the Zernike Campus and built by students from the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Alfa-college, has been named the winner of the EDA Circular Economy in Construction Award. Stan Herder and George Maxi accepted the award on behalf of the entire student team. The jury praised ROAM for its strong collaboration between vocational (MBO) and higher professional education (HBO), as well as for demonstrating how circular demolition can directly result in a new and practical application.
With this victory, Stan Herder and George Maxi will represent the Netherlands at the European final of the award, which will take place during the EDA Convention from 10–12 June 2026 in Dublin.
ROAM is a fully circular pavilion located on the Zernike Campus in Groningen and serves as a showcase for circular construction in practice. The project stands out because approximately 90% of the pavilion consists of reused materials sourced from a local donor building.
What makes ROAM unique is its integrated approach: from digitally inventorying materials (urban mining), through careful dismantling and reuse, to design and engineering focused on disassembly (design for disassembly). The project was also realized through a unique collaboration between vocational and higher education students, working closely with companies and knowledge institutions.
All submissions were evaluated by an expert and multidisciplinary jury consisting of representatives from the demolition and construction sectors, academia, education, and journalism. Entries were assessed based on four criteria: impact on circularity, innovation, sector relevance, and practical applicability.
The jury was highly positive about ROAM. According to the jury, the project demonstrates an integrated value-chain approach, is practical and scalable, has a significant impact on circularity, and is directly relevant to both the construction and demolition sectors. In particular, the collaboration between different educational levels and the connection between theory and practice were seen as innovative and forward-looking.
The European Circular Economy in Construction Award is an initiative of the European Demolition Association (EDA). Its aim is to highlight the role of the demolition sector in the circular construction economy and to encourage young talent. In the Netherlands, the competition is organized by VERAS, which nominates the national winner to the European jury.
With the winning entry by Stan Herder and George Maxi, the Netherlands will be represented by a strong candidate in the European competition. During the EDA Convention in Dublin, the team will have the opportunity to present the project to an international audience and compete for the European title. VERAS wishes Stan Herder and George Maxi the best of luck in Dublin.
Source of text and image: sloopaannemers.nl
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
A much-loved tradition The Campus Trail has become a much-loved tradition on campus. Students, employees and professionals from companies and organisations across the campus ecosystem lace up their running shoes for a sporty 6.4-kilometre route through buildings and past some of the campus’s unique labs. The rapid growth in registrations shows just how much the Campus Trail has become part of the campus community. The combination of sport, meeting others and the unique campus setting makes the run a great opportunity to connect with people outside the usual work and study environment. And there’s no need to head home as soon as you cross the finish line. During the after-party, hosted by Contini Catering, participants can relax together, enjoy a drink and celebrate the afternoon. There’s still time to join: those who want to take part can register online until 3 September, or sign up on the day itself using the PIN Campus Trail 2026 | Campus Groningen.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
