Maggie goes to Leuven
Program: Kindergarten
Blueprint: Rent, donate, connect
Location: Sint-Norbertus School, Leuven, Belgium
Budget: € 185 000
Timeline: 2020
Project description
In the summer of 2020, we rolled out our first ‘rent, donate, connect,…’ -pilot project at the Sint-Norbertus school in Heverlee. The school will soon be renovating and therefore needs temporary classes. Containers were initially considered, but that turned out to be unfeasible at this location.
So, with the help of volunteers, we built 4 low-energy Maggies consisting of 6 classes and a teacher's room. Within 3 years we will dismantle the school and rebuild it in Congo for underprivileged children.
Partners
Day 1
Day 1 was an incredible day! We achieved way more than we expected to thanks to our 15 hardworking volunteers.
Day 2
We’re going ridiculously fast: the structures of all 4 of the Maggie’s are raised and secured. Thanks to our handy volunteers we’re two days ahead of schedule by now.
Day 3
A rainy day couldn’t keep us from progressing as planned. A new group of volunteers joined us today. Great vibes that’s for sure.
Day 4
The roofs are in place! Still 3 days ahead of schedule.
Day 5
We finished placing the last roof tarpaulins today. Subsequently we’ve started constructing the walls. Furthermore, our favorite contractors VDL & VDM and Tim Arnoys started with the electricity and heating system today. We’re so grateful for them volunteering their services for this wonderful project.
Day 6
We’ve begun putting in the finishes: eaves and skylights are being installed. Additionally, the interior is starting to take shape. We’ve already put in some inside walls and ceilings.
We ended the day with some tasty pizza’s, live music, and a fresh beer.
Day 7
We’ve finished early today. Everything is set to blow the expanded clay pebbles into the floors and walls tomorrow. Our structure consists out of two layers of fabric which can be filled with local materials such as sand, trash, insulation, … In this case we decided to use Argex expanded clay pebbles. Find out more about the construction of the Maggie Shelter right here.
Tonight we’re going to bed early: exhausted from the previous week but excited for the next one!
Day 8
What a day! Pumping Argex clay pebbles in the floor and walls we ended up with some very raunchy looking volunteers. After cleaning up somewhat, (thank god for showers), we went on installing steel deck plates and flooring as well as the last wall tarpaulins. Our progress is swift and smooth thanks to all our volunteer.
To end the day we had some stand up comedy by our very own Laura and Karolien along with a delicious home cooked meal.
Day 9
Today is doors and insulation-day! Admittedly, not the most fun part of this process…but a lot of helping hands make it better.
Day 10
For the interior divisions we used the circular and ‘red dot award’-winning JuuNoo walls. We think this is such a cool innovation! (Learn more right here) We employed them to make the different classes inside the Maggie’s. Furthermore we would like to give a special thanks to Unilin for sponsoring the finishing boards for the walls.
Moreover we had a very special volunteer today: Koen Breakman, CEO of Veronapro, lend us a hand finishing the entrance doors.
And last but not least: insulation, insulation and more insulation! We can almost smell the finish line…
Day 11
Insulation: check!
Argex wall fillings: check!
Delicious meal prepared by our awesome volunteers: check!
Heating and cooling: check!
Exhausted: check!
Tomorrow we will put in the last finishes.
Preparation
In preparation of our ‘Maggie goes to Leuven’-project there are a lot of meetings, production and other work that must happen.
‘Vermako cover solutions’ produces the notable aluminum Maggie frames designed by DMOA architects. These have to be ready and on location before we can start.
Next to that we’re planning how to manage our 20+(!) team of volunteers: who will do what, and when?
Additionally, we have our first meetings on the site together with the Sint Norbertus school and Campo Jacoby (landscaper) and Bert Van Looveren (landscape architect). The ground works have started.
Beginning of July 2020 we will build 4 Maggie’s as a pop-up kindergarten in Heverlee for the next two years. Afterwards we will dismantle and rebuild them in the south for disadvantaged children.
