BESIX to realise new campus of Karel de Grote Hogeschool and retail space in famous shopping street Meir in Antwerp (Belgium)

Higher education organisation Karel de Grote Hogeschool and project developer Meir Corner have awarded BESIX and Wycor the contract for a new campus and retail space on the Meir in Antwerp. The project comprises of the transformation (combination new built and renovation) of a building complex including the former site of Belgian telecommunications company Belgacom (now: Proximus) and the two adjacent buildings.

Scope of works

Located in the commercial centre of Antwerp, the buildings - including the former Belgacom building - are getting a new, twofold destination after years of vacancy. The top floors will form a new 29,000 m² campus for Karel de Grote Hogeschool to accommodate about 6,000 students and 650 employees. On the ground floor, 10,000 m² of retail space is foreseen for developer Meir Corner.

The project is designed by renowned architectural firms Binst Architects and B-architecten, which are both from Antwerp. Together with partner Wycor, BESIX leads the general contracting activities for the new built and renovation, including the site installation, all technical installations, landscaping, site organisation and coordination, as well as the BIM coordination. Works are expected to start after this summer. Students of Karel de Grote Hogeschool should be able to move into their new campus in the autumn 2026.

Heritage, sustainability and mobility

The transformation of the buildings consists of a combination of renovation and new built. Whereas part of buildings will be taken down and re-built, the remaining part will be renovated and integrated in the rest of the project. Preserving heritage plays an important role in the renovation. Especially with regard to the façades, this is a complex job, as up to 90 different materials will be used.

In addition, sustainability has a central place. On the second floor of the campus, a courtyard is foreseen including a great amount of green elements. On the rooftop, there will be a big garden where students can meet and where small events can be organised. Furthermore, the Flemish government’s new sustainability index, called GRO, is used as a standard in the design, built, as well as for the use of the building afterwards. In this context, the campus part is aiming at a certificate ‘Better’ of the GRO. The retail part is designed to achieve a BREAAM certificate ‘Excellent’.

With Antwerp’s central station and various metro and bus stops within walking distance, the location of the new campus is a big asset. For retailers as well, the site is ideally located. Furthermore, a bicycle parking for students and staff will be foreseen, as well as a smaller one that is accessible to everyone.