First car enters the new parking building at the Construction Campus

DIEPENBEEK – POM Limburg and the province of Limburg have opened the parking building they jointly developed at Construction Campus 2.0. In the presence of Deputy Tom Vandeput and Mayor Rik Kriekels, the first car entered the brand-new parking facility, ensuring free parking for campus visitors and students before the start of the academic year. The garage offers space for 350 cars, with the potential to expand to 500 spaces. The development was built vertically, largely on the existing parking lot, minimizing the impact on green areas. The project was commissioned by the Limburg provincial government and Limburg DC and executed by POM Limburg.

Construction Campus 2.0, a joint project by POM Limburg, Embuild Limburg, and UHasselt, is a platform for bold experiments and groundbreaking ideas. “The new parking building embodies this forward-thinking approach,” says Tom Vandeput, Deputy for Economy and Chairman of POM Limburg. “The building is modular and can adapt to evolving needs in the future. Remarkably, it was constructed in less than six months, with a total project timeline of just 10 months.” This achievement was made possible by the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), a digital 3D model of the building, and the prefabrication of concrete elements. The realization of the parking garage was supported by provincial funding of €6.8 million.

Circular future
The design of the parking structure is the result of collaboration between Democo, Debuild, and Jaspers-Eyers Architects. Tom Vandeput: “Currently, the garage accommodates 350 cars, but with the possibility of adding another floor, that capacity can be significantly expanded.” The building features higher ceilings than standard parking garages and a central ramp that can be removed if necessary. “This helps retain its real estate value over time. The structure won’t need to be demolished but can be repurposed,” says Vandeput. By integrating solar panels and charging stations with a smart energy management system, the building is self-sufficient and designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Car-free campus core
The new parking facility is a key part of the strategy to create a car-free campus core. Tom Vandeput: “We encourage students and campus residents to park at the edge of the campus and continue on foot or by bicycle.” New walking paths will connect the parking building to other parts of the campus, including car-free routes to the Health Campus and the new Spartacus bus stop at the campus center.

Diepenbeek Mayor Rik Kriekels expressed his enthusiasm for the new parking facility: “It addresses the longstanding parking pressure on our campus. By parking cars at the perimeter, the site can be made more pleasant and greener. It’s a major added value.”

Hub of innovation
“The Limburg construction sector is ambitious,” says Chris Slaets, CEO of Embuild Limburg. “With the opening of this parking building, the Construction Campus will become even more future-proof, sustainable, and accessible for all stakeholders. It allows us to accelerate our efforts to make Construction Campus 2.0 a hub of innovation. A place that builds bridges locally, across Flanders, and internationally—a true home for the construction sector.”