Area vision Campus South

Over the coming years, Campus South will develop into a vibrant and innovative urban district where education, research and entrepreneurship come together with housing, amenities and nature. The area vision sets out the direction for the spatial development of this southern part of the campus over a period of approximately ten years. Campus South is located between the A13, Kruithuisweg, Rotterdamseweg and the Ackerdijkse Bos. The area forms the transition from city to landscape and is an important hub for high-tech research and collaboration with businesses. Here, Delft’s innovation ecosystem will continue to grow as part of the Delft Innovation District.

From ‘Greenfield’ to a vibrant campus neighbourhood

For many years, Campus South was largely undeveloped. It is now evolving into a fully-fledged part of the campus. The area already accommodates education and research buildings, field labs, start-ups, scale-ups and other technology companies. The ambition is for Campus South to be not only a place to work and study, but also a place to stay, meet and live. By carefully distributing and combining functions, greater vibrancy will be created throughout the day and across the week.

Towards 2040: an integral part of the city

The area vision builds on the Campus Vision 2040. A key ambition is to strengthen the campus’s connection with Delft and the wider region. Campus South will develop into an accessible, urban and sustainable area with:
• space for education, research and knowledge valorisation
• housing for approximately 2,000 new residents
• amenities such as cafés, sports facilities and other meeting places
• high-quality public spaces and green areas
In this way, Campus South will become a place for students, staff, entrepreneurs and residents of Delft alike.

Four guiding principles

The development of Campus South is based on four interconnected principles:

Vibrant & attractive
A greater mix of functions, additional amenities and inviting public spaces will encourage interaction and enhance social safety. Squares, parks and active ground floors will make the campus an attractive place to spend time.

Accessible & connected
The campus will become more accessible by bicycle and public transport. New and improved cycle routes, comfortable pedestrian paths and reduced ground-level parking will prioritise sustainable modes of transport. This will strengthen connections between Campus South, Campus Central, Delft Campus railway station and the city.

Smart & adaptive
Available space will be used efficiently. Compact and flexible buildings will enable more intensive use while leaving room for future developments and testing environments. Campus South will thus remain a strategic growth location for TU Delft.

Green & natural
The landscape forms the backbone of the area. The green-blue framework – waterways, green structures and nature zones – will enhance biodiversity, water retention and cooling. Innovative solutions for climate adaptation and sustainability will be visibly integrated, in keeping with the campus’s role as a living lab.

A living lab for innovation

Campus South provides space to test new technologies and sustainable solutions in practice. Examples include field labs, water retention systems, energy networks and circular construction. In this way, the area functions as a testing ground for innovations that address societal challenges such as climate adaptation, the energy transition and healthy urban living.

Step-by-step development

The area vision outlines the direction for spatial development over the next decade. It also serves as a framework for assessing future projects and investments in buildings and public space. Developments will be realised in phases, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Delft and partners within the Delft Innovation District. Current projects include the Chemicals & Gases facility (completed), the new Physics building (currently under construction) and the new QuTech building (in preparation). Step by step, Campus South will grow into a sustainable, accessible and vibrant campus neighbourhood: a place where knowledge, innovation, city and landscape come together.