Construction officially begins on circular Construction Campus in Diepenbeek

New knowledge centre to be a model of sustainable and innovative construction

DIEPENBEEK – The symbolic foundation stone for the Construction Campus was laid today at the Limburg DC campus in Diepenbeek. The new knowledge centre for the construction sector will feature an innovative climate control system that is being used in Belgium for the first time. The 5,500 m² building also goes a step further in terms of circular construction, featuring, amongst other things, a reusable timber support structure. POM Limburg is leading the project, in which 27.2 million euros is being invested. The opening is scheduled for spring 2028.

Bouwcampus Limburg DC is a joint project between the Province of Limburg, POM Limburg, Hasselt University and Embuild Limburg. The building brings together companies, researchers and construction professionals to exchange knowledge and to develop and test new construction techniques and circular building materials. Work began in April.

Belgian first for climate control system
Bouwcampus Limburg DC will be the first building in Belgium to feature the so-called Earth, Wind & Fire system. This system uses natural forces to ventilate and cool the building, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving the indoor climate. It is also the first time this technology has been applied in a building with a cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural framework.

With solar panels on the façade and canopies, the Bouwcampus aims to generate more energy annually than it consumes. Water is also reused: rainwater is collected and waste water from washbasins, amongst other sources, is treated via a reed bed.

Tom Vandeput, Provincial Executive Member for the Economy and Chair of POM Limburg: “The construction sector faces an enormous challenge to build in a more sustainable and smarter way. With the Bouwcampus, we are demonstrating that this transition is already possible today. We are not only investing in a new building, but also in a place where knowledge and innovation come together and where Limburg-based construction companies can discover and apply the technologies of tomorrow.”

Built to be reused
The design is also geared towards reuse. The timber load-bearing structure can be dismantled, so that the building can easily be adapted or extended at a later date. The intended lifespan is at least 100 years. At least 55 per cent of the materials used in the structural work and building services must be bio-based, reused or recycled. For the finishing works, this proportion rises to 70 per cent. Even the existing car park will be given a new lease of life. The removed paving stones will be reused in the landscaping and on the ground floor. The concrete also contains additional recycled aggregates.

The design is by the Dutch firm Broekbakema and Hasselt-based a2o architects. Construction is being carried out by Vanhout of Geel and Dethier of Alken. Via the digital platform Bimefy, the progress of the site is linked to a three-dimensional building model, so that errors and delays are identified more quickly.

Bert Lenaerts, managing director of Vanhout: “With this building, almost every stage of its construction is an innovation in its own right. It is exceptional for so many different innovations to come together in a single building, whilst maintaining such a consistent focus on circularity. This makes the construction process more complex and challenging than with other special projects we have already completed. It is precisely in this complexity that the strength of Vanhout and Dethier lies: together with the entire construction team, we seek solutions and ensure they are actually feasible.”

Research and businesses under one roof
The Bouwcampus will house offices for organisations including Embuild Limburg, Inter and DUBO, flexible workspaces, multi-purpose meeting rooms, an auditorium and a central meeting area. The office units are available in various sizes and can be flexibly configured to suit future needs. Rapid expansion of the building is also possible. A canopy connects the Bouwcampus to the nearby car park.

UHasselt is expanding its construction application centre there with a 1,100 m² laboratory. In specialised climate-controlled chambers, researchers and companies can develop and rapidly test new circular construction solutions. This will enable new materials to make their way from the laboratory to the building site more quickly.

Bernard Vanheusden, Vice-Chancellor of UHasselt: “The Construction Campus literally bridges the gap between construction practice and the wide-ranging construction research carried out at UHasselt. The new building will house exceptional infrastructure for world-class European research. At the same time, it will be a unique place where engineers, architects, environmental economists, IT specialists and other researchers can work together with the construction sector in an interdisciplinary manner.”

For Embuild Limburg, Bouwcampus Limburg DC will be a meeting place where construction companies can exchange knowledge and discover new techniques, products and processes.

Chris Slaets, managing director of Embuild Limburg: “Circular, modular, multifunctional and digital construction are gaining ground. The innovative design of the new Bouwcampus demonstrates how these developments can be put into practice. Moreover, the research infrastructure offers a wealth of opportunities to further develop new construction techniques and accelerate their adoption within the construction sector. In this way, the Construction Campus can make a significant contribution to the future of Limburg’s construction sector.”