After a thorough tendering procedure, with close collaboration between Port of Antwerp-Bruges, MDK, Atelier Stadsbouwmeester and supervising partner Tractebel, the contract for the design, build and maintenance of a new port coordination centre at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, was awarded to a partnership between Group Van Roey, Van Roey Services, KAAN architects / SVR-ARCHITECTS and study firms Sweco / BLASCO. Current planning calls for the start of construction work in 2024, with an anticipated operational commissioning of the new ACC in 2026.
With a total floor space of 8,000 m², the state-of-the-art ACC will replace the current coordination centre at the Zandvliet-Berendrecht lock and will aim to promote collaboration between all actors within the nautical chain. The future-proof common work floor with a surface area of 1,000 m² will occupy an important position in this story.
The design of the building will stack functional elements on top of one another to create a compact volume with minimal impact on the surroundings. This will create a green, ecologically responsible meeting place with a surface area of about 10,000 m².
The new coordination centre will serve as a central place for collaboration among various executive and coordinating nautical partners. This includes, in addition to the nautical chain partners on the common work floor, the boatmen and operators of the lock complexes, among others, who will occupy new work spaces here. It will also house a training centre for VTS operators and integrate an external hub for the port experience centre Havenwereld, with a special focus on B2B tours. Safety and security are paramount at the ACC, with extra consideration for sustainability in the form of ergonomics, circularity and energy neutrality.
Annick De Ridder, vice-mayor of the city of Antwerp and president of the board of directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, says: ‘The renewed Antwerp Coordination Center (ACC) aims to make the services in our port even safer, more sustainable, and more efficient, thereby reinforcing Flanders as a leading maritime region. This state-of-the-art coordination centre will serve as a central hub for cooperation between all our nautical partners, and we aim to take maritime activities in the region to new heights.’
Nathalie Balcaen, MDK administrator-general, says: ‘I am very much looking forward to the final result. It is very important that we are under one roof with many partners in the nautical chain. It promotes collaboration and makes the lines of communication a good deal shorter. Moreover, this new building is particularly climate-friendly. This fits perfectly within our philosophy at MDK and the objectives of the Flemish government.’
Bram Vandenboom, general manager of Van Roey, says: ‘We are extremely proud to be responsible for the realisation of this unique building. For 20 years, Van Roey Services will also be responsible for all facility management, technical and structural maintenance. The passion of our team and that of our partners is for complex buildings with a challenging programme, such as the Antwerp Coordination Centre.’
Author: Cyann Fielding, AntwerpXL
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