KUL University Hall - Cloth Hall - Leuven

The Lakenhal or University Hall is a historic building in Leuven, located between Naamsestraat and Oude Markt. The building from 1317 is the seat of the Catholic University of Leuven.

The current ground floor corresponds to that of the Cloth Hall built in Gothic style by the architects Jan Stevens, Arnold Hore and Godfried Raes. It was an urban building in which members of the cloth weavers' guild sold their wares. Shortly after the foundation of the old university of Leuven (in 1425), the wing of the building adjacent to the Krakenstraat was made available by the city of Leuven in 1432 as a classroom for lectures.

In 1679, the entire hall was leased throughout the city to this university. The first floor in Baroque style on top of the original cloth hall also dates from that time. In 1723 a classicist wing was added on the side of the Oude Markt. Named after Professor Henri-Joseph Rega, this Rega Wing originally housed the university library.

When the German occupier set the Leuven city center on fire on August 25, 1914, the university hall, except for the front facade, was almost completely destroyed. 300,000 books and manuscripts were also lost in the fire, including the foundation certificate Sapientie immarcescibilis from the old university of Leuven. The reconstruction would not be completed until 1922.

In 2007 a modern glass staircase was added on the side of the Zeelstraat, to a design by VBM architects.

Today, the Lakenhal serves as the policy center of KU Leuven, including the offices of the rector and staff at the rectorate. In addition, the Cloth Hall on the ground floor also serves as a central registration area at the beginning of the academic year in August and September, and the Gothic anniversary hall on the first floor is used for receptions and parties. Many PhDs are still publicly defended in the promotion room. In the Rega Wing, the rectoral salons are used for all kinds of smaller events and receptions: the faculty room (with yellow shades), the senate room (green) and the rector's room (pink shades).

Willem Vandenameele