VDAB Career Campus becomes inspiring top-tier example
In Roeselare, construction has begun on a brand-new VDAB Career Campus, a first of its kind. VDAB will offer its full range of services there, alongside various partner organizations. The DBFM project will be a CO₂-neutral landmark in terms of sustainability. Sweco is proud to lend its expertise as an engineering partner for this realization, made possible in part by support from the European Regional Development Fund. The campus is expected to be operational by early 2027.
Along the E403 highway, the Build To Learn construction team, with Team V Architecture, bildt.architecten, Alheembouw, Cordeel Belgium, and Sweco as the multidisciplinary engineering partner, will realize a beacon for lifelong learning in the coming years. The campus is situated in a landscape setting that combines a stimulating environment with ecological values such as biodiversity and water buffering.
The greenery of the exterior continues into the main building, creating a green vein that cuts through the ground floor. An atrium in the heart of the building bundles various social spaces where citizens and employers can share their experiences. Stairs lead from the ground floor to the four upper floors. The green vein extends through the atrium to the top floor. On all floors, double-height spaces for large workshops and the entrance alternate with mezzanines for meeting rooms, instruction rooms, and offices.
The four learning hubs in the Career Campus will focus on future-oriented development and technology, including Smart Houses/Cities and New Materials. It is fitting that the campus itself becomes an inspiring showcase of the circular economy.
Sustainability starts with flexibility
A modular shell system with large spans creates a skeletal structure with great adaptability for the future, for VDAB and any future users. Our structural engineers design 80% of the walls to be non-load-bearing and removable. Double-height spaces can be split to create additional floor space. At the same time, the shell with prestressed hollow-core slabs allows for extreme standardization and rapid assembly, benefiting both budget and construction time.
This highly forward-looking approach also translates to the removable facade elements with movable sun shading. Additionally, our engineers have calculated a 25% buffer in the paths of technical routes in the shafts. The technical core is designed so that new technologies can be integrated into the system in the future.
Sustainability starts with flexibility
A modular shell system with large spans creates a skeletal structure with great adaptability for the future, for VDAB and any future users. Our structural engineers design 80% of the walls to be non-load-bearing and removable. Double-height spaces can be split to create additional floor space. At the same time, the shell with prestressed hollow-core slabs allows for extreme standardization and rapid assembly, benefiting both budget and construction time.
This highly forward-looking approach also translates to the removable facade elements with movable sun shading. Additionally, our engineers have calculated a 25% buffer in the paths of technical routes in the shafts. The technical core is designed so that new technologies can be integrated into the system in the future.
Fossil-free in operational carbon
By carefully selecting materials using TOTEM and OneClick LCA, 422 tons of embedded carbon is saved over 60 years. For example, the sustainable CEM III concrete used in the structure results in 32% less emissions. Carefully chosen materials for floors and ceilings further contribute to a reduced CO₂ impact. Additionally, for many spaces, the rough construction equals the final finish, meaning no additional finishing is needed, which again reduces the CO₂ impact.
It is well known that the biggest cost of a building, both in terms of budget and energy and ecology, accumulates during use. Through numerous measures, the construction team saves 14,820 tons of operational carbon over 60 years.
Some logical principles of penta energetica form a strong basis: minimize energy demand and maximize the efficiency of sustainable energy. For example, the workshop shed roofs are oriented as much as possible to the north, while the PV panels will be mainly on south-facing roofs.
The facade engineers at Sweco calculated the glazing ratio of the building envelope at 40%, optimal for daylight entry and heat gain, solar gains, and insulation value. Metal U-shaped facade elements with deep profiles are tuned for optimal shading. On the sunniest facades, external, movable sun shading is provided.
Renewable energy sources, optimized through monitoring
A geothermal field is the primary source for heating and cooling the campus. Our engineering techniques enhance a hybrid system with reversible water-to-water heat pumps and reversible air-to-water heat pumps, with night cooling, free cooling, and free chilling. Four-pipe heat pumps can transfer residual heat between spaces, making the renewable source even more efficient.
The design is also water-neutral, with maximum focus on recovery, buffering, and reuse for sanitary facilities, maintenance, and greenery. Green roofs and a semi-permeable parking lot support this water cycle. Buffering is managed through a water tank, pond, and infiltration basin.
A building management system (BMS) uses an extensive sensor network to measure energy flows, maintaining the CO₂-neutral status. After provisional delivery, the BMS will be closely monitored to optimally adjust the installations. We are also a CO₂-commissioning process in place, to monitor neutrality, allowing for easy control and adjustment of variable use.
The BIM model, with Sweco as an advisor in the design phase, will additionally help as an important control tool for operating costs.
The intention is to evaluate the TCO over the entire life span of the campus – CAPEX, OPEX, and CO₂ emissions.
Outstanding sustainability scores
The integrated design, with engineering and architecture as mutually reinforcing components, delivers strong scores. The main building achieves an E10 level, the annex E20.
At the same time, comfort and safety are important parameters, with integrated solutions from our acoustics and fire safety experts.
Thus, the first VDAB Career Campus becomes an inspiring and stimulating learning environment where sustainability, comfort, and safety go hand in hand.
