Architecture students at KU Leuven in Brussels invest years in an intense and demanding education shaped by long studio hours, constant experimentation, and the continuous production of work. Yet when this journey reaches its final moment, it is currently concluded at LUCA School of Arts, in a setting that does not fully reflect the value of what has been achieved. After years spent in a rather uninspiring environment, it is disheartening that graduation feels like a continuation of it rather than a celebration. More importantly, this experience does not align with the level, reputation, and identity associated with KU Leuven. We, and the work we have produced, deserve more.

Architecture is inseparable from space, atmosphere, and experience. The environment in which we graduate should embody these principles, not contradict them. This moment carries weight not only for students, but also for the many international families and friends who come to Brussels to mark this milestone. It represents years of dedication, sacrifice, and support. Graduation should therefore feel meaningful, memorable, and reflective of both the discipline and the city in which we studied. 

We call on KU Leuven to rethink how graduation ceremonies for architecture students in Brussels are organized, and to provide an experience that matches the quality and intensity of our education. As a concrete proposal, we ask for the ceremony to be moved from LUCA School of Arts to a more inspiring and meaningful venue within the city—ideally in a central and symbolic location such as Grand Place, or any space that reflects the architectural and cultural richness of Brussels. By choosing a setting of this kind, strengthening the sense of occasion, and giving greater recognition to student work, this moment can become what it should be: a true celebration. After everything we have created, explored, and endured, we are not asking for excess—we are asking for the recognition we deserve, and for a graduation that truly reflects the name we graduate under.

Signed

KU Leuven - Architecture Faculty Brussels