Renovation of the Kurth and Wilmotte amphitheatres on the 20-Août site

Two amphitheatres well known to students at the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts are getting a facelift at the start of 2025. The renovation project is supported by the NextGeneration EU Recovery plan, for its energy component.

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ooking at the before-and-after photos of the renovation of the Godefroid Kurth and Maurice Wilmotte amphitheatres, you'll no doubt be overcome with nostalgia. These two emblematic amphitheatres, located in the A2 wing of the 20-Août site, have left their mark on generations of students.

Inaugurated for the first time in 1959 and now seating 310 students each, these two lecture halls deserved to be brought up to date. For the comfort of its occupants on the one hand, but above all to considerably improve their energy performance. The work carried out should result in primary energy savings of 35.8%, thanks to the replacement of window frames, the installation of high-performance thermal and acoustic elements (triple glazing, interior walls and floor slabs) and a ventilation system with thermal and hygienic properties.

Launched in autumn 2023, the work, directed by the ULiège Property Resources Administration, also included the complete replacement of furniture, easy accessibility for people with disabilities and the renewal of audiovisual installations. Students will certainly be delighted to discover sufficient electrical outlets and state-of-the-art LED lighting.

A budget of 2.7 million euros has been earmarked for the renovation, including 1,350,000 euros from the NextGeneration EU Recovery plan.

First step towards the "Learning Center

The renovation of the two lecture theatres is the first step towards the creation of a "Learning Center" on the 20-Août site.

These lecture theaters will eventually be linked to the A3 wing (Alpha library) and the A2 wing to create a complex dedicated to students. A "Learning Center" comprising study and collaborative work areas, documentation centers and access to bibliographic resources. The work, costing around €20 million, will be spread over the next eight years. Ultimately, the new space will accommodate up to 1,000 students from all ULiège faculties.

This energy-efficient renovation of the Godefroid Kurth and Maurice Wilmotte amphitheatres is part of a wider project to renovate five ULiège buildings, at a total cost of 11 million euros. The work should generate at least 30% primary energy savings for each site.

The buildings, which are part of the NextGeneration EU Recovery plan, are representative of the modernist architecture of the 1960s-1970s.

Institutions benefiting from this funding must commit to working with subcontractors that respect anti-dumping social and DNSH (Do Not Significant Harm) criteria, in particular by promoting the use of sustainable materials in short circuits, wherever possible.

The five projects covered by the NextGeneration EU Recovery plan:

• Energy renovation of the Kurth and Wilmotte amphitheaters - A2 (Liège city center);
• Book store - B24 (Sart Tilman Campus);
• Library and Science Faculty Office - B6b (Sart Tilman)
• Office part of the nuclear physics building - B15 (Sart Tilman);
• Experimental farm - B39f (Sart Tilman).

Find out more about the NextGeneration EU recovery plan