ACV-CSC METEA

New ACV-CSC METEA campus: example of circular renovation

ACV-CSC METEA's old campus at Sint-Pieters Station in Ghent was in urgent need of renovation. The industrial union for the metal and textile sector had the buildings renovated and put architectural firm evr-architects to work. The result is impressive. The new campus is a textbook example of circular renovation.

Cluttered old campus
The campus is located between 2 streets and consisted of 5 buildings. Due to various interventions and renovations, it had become an untidy whole in which all structural, practical and architectural coherence was missing. For the new campus, evr-architects fully drew the card of circular (re)construction. 

Preservation and recuperation
evr-architecten put maximum effort into preserving the existing infrastructure. The old archive cellar is now a bicycle shed. 3 smaller buildings were gutted and completely renovated according to the principles of near-zero energy construction. As many building materials as possible were also recovered and reused. During demolition, an inventory was made of all loose and fixed infrastructure. Among other things, insulation, interior joinery and finishing materials were given a second life in other construction projects. In turn, cabinet doors, kitchen appliances and sliding acoustic walls are examples of materials that were reused in the renovated campus.

Wooden facade and wood massif construction
The 2 old main buildings? They no longer met modern comfort requirements. The supporting structures proved unsuitable for sustainable stripping and refurbishment of the buildings. Therefore, they were completely demolished and replaced by 1 new volume in wood massif construction. ACV-CSC METEA and evr architects made a very conscious choice to give the renewed campus the lowest possible carbon footprint. The characteristic awnings of the new facade are also made entirely of wood: thermally treated and FSC-certified pine. Vertical slats set at different angles keep out direct sunlight and flatten the strongest peaks of daylight. Soft white painted horizontal slats reflect diffused daylight deep into offices, meeting rooms and other spaces. The combination of the knots in the pine and the rhythm of the slats gives the building a distinctive look.

Adaptable layout and more greenery
evr architects designed the floors of the main building as open platforms and ensured that the techniques in the raised floor and climate ceiling are easily accessible. Thus, all spaces can be easily dismantled and rearranged and given a new purpose. Because the City of Ghent requested that the inner area be greened to the maximum extent, ACV-CSC METEA reduced the number of parking spaces to a minimum in consultation with the city. As a result, 2 green gardens now adorn the campus.