The Dutch government purchased a plot of land of approximately 300 hectares for Utrecht University in 1958.[3] The area was named "De Uithof", after a local farm. The first building, currently known as the Marinus Ruppert Building, opened in 1961.
The city council decided to officially rename De Uithof to "Utrecht Science Park" in 2018.[4][5]
On 14 December 2019, the Uithoflijn line 22 of the Utrecht sneltram (light rail) system opened, connecting Utrecht Centraal railway station to De Uithof. It replaced bus line 12 which used bi-articulated buses.[6] The Uithoflijn has 5 tram stops in De Uithof: Padualaan, Heidelberglaan, UMC, WKZ / Máxima and the tram terminal P+R Science Park.[7]
The tram stop P+R Science Park has a large park-and-ride facility, designed by KCAP, construction of which began in August 2011.[8]
Some of the buildings on De Uithof have an unusual architecture, and some have won prizes for their architecture. The Educatorium, designed by Rem Koolhaas (1997), contains a glass-bottomed walking bridge and circular walls. The Minnaertgebouw used to contain a large basin that was used to collect rain water, and its outer wall is supported by large characters, M, I, N, N, A, E, R, T. The Universiteitsbibliotheek (University Library), designed by Wiel Arets (2004), is known for its spacious interior and black exterior. All three of these buildings are featured in the book 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die.[1]
This is a partial list of buildings at the Utrecht Science Park. The official names of all of the buildings are found here.[9] Many of the buildings are named after scientists that worked in a field which is similar to the specialization of the occupants of the building. The Dutch word "gebouw" means "building".
Kruytgebouw (formerly known as Trans-3), named after chemist Hugo R. Kruyt - chemistry, business startups
Leonard S. Ornsteinlaboratorium, named after physicist Leonard Ornstein - experimental physics
Marinus Ruppertgebouw (formerly known as Trans-1), named after pedagogue Marinus Ruppert, who started the development of buildings on De Uithof - lecture and workshop halls, computer hall
Martinus J. Langeveldgebouw (formerly known as Centrumgebouw Zuid), named after Martinus J. Langeveld, Faculty of Social Sciences founder - social science
Minnaertgebouw, named after astronomer Marcel Minnaert - physics, geoscience, student services
Nicolaas Bloembergengebouw, named after physicist Nicolaas Bloembergen – science, NMR spectroscopy
Robert J. Van de Graafflaboratorium, named after physicist and instrument maker Robert J. Van de Graaff - particle accelerator for physics
Sjoerd Groenmangebouw (formerly known as Centrumgebouw Noord), named after sociologist Sjoerd Groenman - social science, student services
Stratenum, named after physician W. van Straaten – medical education
Universiteitsbibliotheek Uithof - Main library
Victor J. Koningsbergergebouw, named after biologist Victor Jacob Koningsberger - medicine, geoscience, other science
Willem C. van Unnikgebouw (formerly known as Trans-2), named after bible scholar Willem C. van Unnik - social science
