In 2012, The Flemish Community started with the unique ‘Schools of Tomorrow’ (Scholen van Morgen) programme, which is a big leap forward for Belgian school infrastructure.

This DBFM programme covers the design, build, finance and maintenance of around 200 schools over 30 years.

The public partner School Invest nv (AGION – Agency for Infrastructure in Education, and Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen) and the private partner FScholen nv (AG Real Estate and BNP Paribas Fortis) together form the DBFM company Scholen van Morgen nv. The framework contract with Sweco Belgium covers conducting all the required soil surveys in the DBFM programme for about 140 schools in Flanders and Brussels in the period 2012 to 2016.

Sweco is responsible for preparing the technical report in the context of excavations during construction and renovation, and for preparing preliminary soil surveys due to the establishment of in rem rights during activities covered by the VLAREBO implementing decision. When contaminants are identified, we draw up descriptive soil surveys to determine the need for remediation and propose, if necessary, soil remediation projects. Furthermore, if existing school buildings are demolished, an inventory of hazardous waste is drawn up.

Photo: © AG Real Estate