VDAB Career Campus
A New Home for VDAB
VDAB (Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training) is developing one of the largest training facilities in West Flanders: a new campus with a career development program. Centrally located in the province, along the Bruges-Kortrijk highway, it is the perfect base that clearly puts VDAB on the map. In addition to the existing outdoor training for construction equipment operators, the program includes new workshops for the learning hubs ‘Industry,’ ‘Materials,’ ‘Clean, Smart, and Connected Vehicles,’ and ‘Smart Houses/Cities.’ The project also focuses on central services, with reception areas, meeting facilities, and offices for VDAB and its partners.
A Robust Educational Machine
The site is located in a zone of industrial activities on one side and adjacent to the highway on the other. The concept visually connects these two conditions while introducing a clear structure. Two horizontal base volumes organize the large workshops. Above these, a central main volume rises five stories high. This design connects the ground-level workshops with a more compact main building that stands out as a landmark in the area.
Two axes structure the building. At the main building, where both axes intersect, a central atrium space brings together various educational functions. This concept builds on the vision that a training facility must prioritize communication between its users. The atrium serves as a meeting space, featuring a restaurant and lounge areas for instructors and students, as well as for nearby businesses. In this way, VDAB is directly connected to the business world.
A key feature of the design is the integration of nature. In the carefully designed but robust outdoor spaces, greenery takes center stage. Roof gardens and the atrium bring daylight deep into the building, creating a green and healthy learning environment.
Sustainable and CO2-Neutral
The design is built on structural logic with a repetitive structural grid, making the building adaptable to accommodate changing layouts in response to the evolving training market. The building could easily be repurposed for other programs, enhancing its long-term value and reusability. Also, the design incorporates demountable materials for both the facade and interior finishes. The building’s energy usage is entirely CO₂-neutral. Sustainability in this project is an integral concept. The approach goes beyond high-tech measures: sustainability is embedded throughout the design, from reusability and flexibility to appropriate material choices.