New Gateway Building Marks Completion of Ford Site Redevelopment in Genk
GENK – The redevelopment of the former Ford site in Genk reaches a symbolic milestone with the construction of an iconic gateway building at the Logistics Campus Limburg. The building is being developed by Group Machiels and Essers Family Office on land previously owned by POM Limburg and the City of Genk.
The gateway building will be located in Zone A, a 4.5-hectare area acquired in 2022 by POM Limburg (80%) and the City of Genk (20%), and will be taken over by Gateway Genk, a joint venture between Group Machiels and Essers Family Office. This zone forms the central part of the Logistics Campus Limburg, situated among earlier developments such as Genk Green Logistics, H.Essers Dry Port, and Port of Limburg.
Architecture Reflects Past and Future
Designed by Binst Architects, the building’s form refers both to the coal from the industrial past and to a black diamond, symbolizing future value creation. The façade will be clad in black charred wood, a sustainable and visually striking material, in collaboration with Machiels Building Solutions.
“We are pleased to play a key role in the construction and development of this sustainable and innovative final piece, featuring a unique wooden façade and serving as the eye-catcher of this important site redevelopment,” says Louis Machiels, Chairman of the Board at Group Machiels.
Sustainable Design with Mixed Functions
The building will achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, an internationally recognized sustainability label, meaning it meets strict standards for energy use, material selection, water management, and mobility.
There will be space for offices, training centers, logistics services, as well as hospitality venues or satellite branches of companies.
“With this building, we establish the physical and conceptual heart of the Logistics Campus Limburg,” says Tom Vandeput, Provincial Deputy for Economy and Chairman of POM Limburg. “It will be a location where businesses, governments, and knowledge institutions can collaborate on logistics, innovation, and training.”
Public and Private Partnership
The collaboration brings together two companies rooted in the region with public partners.
Hilde Essers, Chair of the Board of Essers Family Office: “As a pioneer in the redevelopment of this site, we are proud to realize the final piece together with our partners: a gateway building that not only symbolizes but embodies innovation and sustainability. It is not only a landmark in time, marking the redevelopment of the site, but also in space, serving as a gateway to the European hinterland. Through the use of high-quality, circular materials, we are setting a new standard in future-oriented construction. The building will become a dynamic hub for collaboration and growth within the logistics sector.”
A Landmark at the Gateway to Genk
For the city of Genk, the gateway building is more than just the final piece: it also symbolizes the way the city and its partners are giving new meaning to the former Ford site.
Mayor of Genk Wim Dries: “At the place where so many Genk residents once built cars, a whole new dynamic has emerged in recent years—thanks to so many partners—within Logistics Valley Flanders. Now, supporting functions in logistics and the manufacturing economy will also have a place in an iconic gateway building. This means that 95% of the site will soon be developed, and we can be nothing but proud of that.”
