{"id":31289,"date":"2024-12-13T16:38:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T15:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/blog\/vdab-career-campus-becomes-inspiring-top-tier-example\/"},"modified":"2025-03-31T12:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T10:41:44","slug":"vdab-career-campus-becomes-inspiring-top-tier-example","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/vdab-career-campus-becomes-inspiring-top-tier-example\/","title":{"rendered":"VDAB Career Campus becomes inspiring top-tier example"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Construction has begun in Roeselare on a brand-new VDAB Career Campus, a pioneering project. VDAB will offer its full range of services here, alongside various partner organizations. The DBFM project will be a CO\u2082-neutral benchmark for sustainability<\/a>. Sweco is proud to contribute its expertise as an engineering partner for this realization, made possible with support from the European Regional Development Fund. The campus is set to open in early 2027.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Alongside the E403 highway, the Build To Learn construction team\u2014comprising Team V Architecture<\/a>, bildt.architecten, Alheembouw, Cordeel Belgium, and Sweco\u2014is developing a landmark for lifelong learning. The campus is designed within a landscape framework that combines a stimulating environment with ecological values, such as biodiversity<\/a> and water buffering.<\/p>\n

The greenery of the outdoor spaces extends into the main building, cutting through the ground floor like a green artery. At the heart of the campus, an atrium brings together various social spaces, where citizens and employers can share experiences. Stairs lead from the ground floor to four upper levels, with the green artery extending through the atrium to the top floor. Throughout the building, double-height spaces for large workshops and the entrance area alternate with mezzanines for meeting rooms, instruction areas, and offices.<\/p>\n

The four learning hubs within the Career Campus will focus on future-oriented development and technology, including Smart Houses\/Cities and New Materials. Appropriately, the campus itself will serve as an inspiring showcase for the circular economy.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Sustainability Begins with Flexibility<\/h2>\n

A modular core system with large spans creates a skeletal structure that allows for future adaptability\u2014both for VDAB and potential future users. Sweco\u2019s structural engineers have designed 80% of the walls to be non-load-bearing and demountable. Double-height spaces can be split into additional floor space if needed. At the same time, the precast floor slabs allow for extreme standardization and rapid assembly, reducing both construction time and budget costs.<\/p>\n

This forward-thinking approach extends to the demountable fa\u00e7ade elements with adjustable solar shading. Additionally, Sweco\u2019s engineers have included a 25% buffer in the technical shafts, ensuring that new technologies can be easily integrated in the future.<\/p>\n

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Sustainability Begins with Flexibility<\/h2>\n

A modular core system with large spans creates a skeletal structure that allows for future adaptability\u2014both for VDAB and potential future users. Sweco\u2019s structural engineers have designed 80% of the walls to be non-load-bearing and demountable. Double-height spaces can be split into additional floor space if needed. At the same time, the precast floor slabs allow for extreme standardization and rapid assembly, reducing both construction time and budget costs.<\/p>\n

This forward-thinking approach extends to the demountable fa\u00e7ade elements with adjustable solar shading. Additionally, Sweco\u2019s engineers have included a 25% buffer in the technical shafts, ensuring that new technologies can be easily integrated in the future.<\/p>\n

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Fossil-Free in Operational Carbon<\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Through a carefully selected material palette using TOTEM and OneClick LCA, the project saves 422 tons of embedded carbon over 60 years. The sustainable CEM III concrete used in the structure reduces emissions by 32%. Thoughtful material choices for floors and ceilings further lower the CO\u2082 impact. Additionally, many areas follow the \u201craw construction = finished construction\u201d principle\u2014eliminating the need for extra finishes, which further reduces CO\u2082 emissions. It is well known that the largest cost of a building\u2014both financially and environmentally\u2014occurs during its operational phase. Through a range of strategic measures, the construction team will save 14,820 tons of operational carbon over 60 years. Sweco\u2019s engineers and sustainability<\/a> experts apply core Penta Energetica principles, focusing on minimizing energy demand and maximizing efficient use of sustainable energy<\/a>. For instance, the shed roofs of the workshops are oriented north for optimal daylighting, while PV panels are concentrated on south-facing roofs. Sweco\u2019s fa\u00e7ade engineers optimized the building\u2019s glazing ratio at 40%, ensuring optimal daylight entry, thermal insulation, and solar heat gain. Deep-profiled, U-shaped metal fa\u00e7ade elements provide optimal shading, while the sunniest fa\u00e7ades feature external, adjustable sunshades.<\/p>\n

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Renewable Energy Sources Optimized Through Monitoring<\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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A Borehole Energy Storage<\/a> (BEO) field serves as the primary heating and cooling source for the campus. Sweco\u2019s engineers designed a hybrid system featuring reversible water-to-water and air-to-water heat pumps, along with night cooling, free cooling, and free chilling. The four-pipe heat pumps enable heat transfer between spaces, further improving the efficiency of renewable energy<\/a> use. The design also follows a water-neutral strategy, prioritizing rainwater recovery, buffering, and reuse for sanitation, maintenance, and landscaping. Green roofs and a semi-permeable parking area support this water cycle. Water storage is facilitated through a water tank, pond, and infiltration basin. A Building Management<\/a> System (BMS) uses a comprehensive sensor network to monitor energy flows and ensure the campus remains CO\u2082-neutral. After preliminary completion, the BMS will undergo detailed monitoring to fine-tune the system\u2019s performance. Additionally, a CO\u2082-commissioning process is planned to track neutrality over time, allowing for real-time adjustments based on variable usage patterns. \u00a0The BIM<\/a> model, with Sweco as a design-phase advisor, will serve as a key control tool to monitor operational costs. The goal is to evaluate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) across the entire lifecycle of the campus\u2014including CAPEX, OPEX, and CO\u2082 emissions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Outstanding Sustainability Scores<\/h2>\n

The integrated design approach\u2014where engineering and architecture<\/a> complement one another\u2014results in high sustainability<\/a> ratings. The main building will achieve an E-level of E10, while the secondary building will reach E20.<\/p>\n

At the same time, comfort and safety remain key priorities. Sweco\u2019s experts in acoustics<\/a> and fire safety have contributed integrated solutions<\/a> to enhance both.<\/p>\n

As a result, the first VDAB Career Campus will become an inspiring and stimulating learning environment, where sustainability<\/a>, comfort, and safety go hand in hand.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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