Jacking and new foundation for the Leiden Observatory
The Leiden Observatory and ‘WLS De Oude Sterrewacht‘ are built on one of the former bastions of the city of Leiden, the Netherlands. Their characteristic domes form the iconic silhouette of this national monument, which holds great cultural and historical value and is prominently located at the edge of the Hortus Botanicus. The complex is a symbol of the rise and flourishing of Dutch astronomy.
To secure the future of this exceptional heritage site, the Real Estate Office of Leiden University initiated an extensive restoration of the main building and the two freestanding domes. The dome on the canal side posed a particular challenge: due to a decayed foundation, the structure had subsided and was leaning. Bresser jacked the building and provided it with a new foundation.
