Over the Backbone

Close smartly, connect strongly

Twenty years after the Spatial Structure Plan, the Strategic Spatial Plan Antwerp marks a new direction. For the first time, housing densification, economic space and green-blue networks are united in one ambitious urban vision. As urbanists and spatial planners, we collaborate closely with the city. The plan guides small-scale structures with de-paved inner areas and high-quality housing, as well as large structures with super parks and multimodal hubs such as Berchem, Zuid and Luchtbal stations.

Here, we are developing smart densification connected to tram, bicycle and shared mobility. Green squares, water features and strong neighbourhoods linked by the Ring Parks invite people to pause, relax and meet. The Canal Zone remains the economic backbone, while the inner city is the hub for living and working. Ambition meets innovation. Together with the building code, spatial implementation plans and the transformation guidelines, the so-called ‘koekenstad’ (Biscuit City) of tomorrow is taking concrete shape.

Smart fire safety on guard at the city hall

SMART FIRE SAFETY ON GUARD AT THE CITY HALL

Antwerp’s 16th-century city hall is undergoing an extensive renovation in which historical heritage and modern standards go hand in hand. Behind the grandeur lies a challenge: fire safety. How do you protect a building conceived in an era without contemporary fire regulations? Our feasibility study uncovers the vulnerabilities: centuries-old timber structures and charming but risky staircases.

The solution requires ingenuity. On the first floor, we will integrate a state-of-the-art smoke and heat extraction system. No intrusive interventions -just discreet ventilation openings connected to a mechanical system that reacts instantly upon smoke detection. This preserves the monument’s character. We have also carefully redesigned escape routes so heritage and safety reinforce each other rather than conflict.

Where is Batman hiding?

Bats have captured the imagination for centuries -and they are true biodiversity superheroes. Silent night fliers that keep insect populations in check. But where can ‘Batman’ hide in a city of stone and light? We find out through a bioblitz. Armed with bat detectors, moth traps and deep ecological expertise, we record for 24 hours everything that lives, flies or flutters in places like the Zoo, PAKT and various schools.

This new data complements existing knowledge with insights from more densely built-up areas. Bats, moths, birds and plants reveal their secrets, enriching Antwerp’s understanding of the effects of climate change and helping to fine-tune its 2030 climate plan.

Residual heat from industry, a bonus for society

Lamifil is a Belgian specialist in high-grade copper and aluminium alloys, which are critical for energy, mobility and medical technology. The company accelerates industrial transition by renewing processes with innovative solutions. We conduct studies with Total Cost of Ownership analyses to purify flue gases and recover residual heat, for example for heating buildings.

We also contribute to the decarbonisation roadmap and examine how this heat can fuel a local district heating network. Every step forward only matters if it improves the world. Therefore, we link technology to impact: lower emissions, more reuse and a liveable future for everyone.

Plastic purified: from waste to circular resource

At Indaver’s Antwerp site, end-of-life plastics get a second chance. Indaver converts plastics into raw materials by heating and breaking them down into pure chemical building blocks. Ready for reuse in the chemical industry. These new feedstocks are so pure that they can even be used again in demanding applications such as food packaging.

We are co-writing this circular story with engineering, construction management and safety coordination for a facility that processes 26,000 tons of waste each year. The new Plastics2Chemicals (P2C) plant also valorises the off-gas, turning this residual stream into steam and energy. The result is a closed loop that replaces fossil feedstocks and reduces carbon emissions. After a positive evaluation of the demo plant, Indaver plans to roll out the technology across other European sites. By extracting value from what used to be waste, we reduce oil dependence and tackle the global plastics mountain.

From residual gas to energy and clean air

In Willebroek, Imerys produces carbon black, a deep-black powder essential for lithium-ion batteries and polymers. The production process yields syngas -a blend of hydrogen and carbon monoxide- which used to be lost. Today, it powers a unique energy plant -enough to supply the entire Imerys site and provide electricity to 40,000 households.

And there’s more: flue gases are purified through advanced gas cleaning, noticeably improving Willebroek’s air quality. We have been involved from the start: from consultancy and concept study to detailed engineering. By valorising syngas, we avoid around 25,000 tons of CO₂ per year (from avoided conventional electricity generation). Proof that circular thinking pays off—for companies, communities and the planet.

Next-gen motors, next-level sustainability

At Brucargo North, an ultramodern maintenance hangar is taking shape for Safran Aircraft Engine Services Brussels. Here, the LEAP engines -the new generation of turbofan engines- receive the care they need to make aviation more efficient and cleaner. We are managing stability, building services, infrastructure, EPB, acoustics, fire safety and sustainability. The building will be energy-positive, pairing performance with ecology.

We are refining building physics, integrating smart water management and creating a green landscape anchoring the site in its surroundings. A ingenious lighting strategy and attention to active mobility significantly reduce the ecological footprint. This strengthens not only Safran’s global maintenance network but also their ambition to drastically cut carbon emissions. Here, innovation and sustainability are taking flight together.

Safety on the radar at Brussels Airport

At Brussels Airport, safety is a constant priority. Ceilings in terminals, piers and baggage halls are therefore often opened to install new cabling and test systems. Without disrupting operations, we contribute to a safer airport for millions of travellers and staff. Brussels Airport Company engaged us to create an innovative vision for detection, alarm and dynamic signage.

We are overseeing implementation by the Siemens-APK and Entelec joint venture and coordinating integrated testing throughout a five-year process leading to seamless certification. Our fire safety and electrotechnical teams ensure every detail is correct and complies with the highest standards and local regulations. We embrace digitalisation through a unique management system with visual interfaces and scenario-based dynamic signage. Future upgrades to the sprinkler system and fire compartmentation are also on our radar, with state-of-the-art techniques as the ambition.

Strategic heart of defence beats in Evere

We are engineering and co-designing the new headquarters in Evere, in the middle of a district undergoing profound transformation. In a Design, Build & Maintain setup, the NHQ consortium is responsible for the design, construction and technical maintenance for two decades.

Beyond ensuring structural stability, we study how the building can protect itself against extreme conditions. Together with our partners, we embed security from the outset (security by design), creating multiple protective layers. The goal is robust defence-in-depth through technical, physical and organisational measures.

The nearly energy-neutral building eliminates fossil fuels in normal operation and combines high-performance insulation with geothermal energy storage, heat pumps and solar panels. We maximise heat recovery from the building, especially from the data centre. The project also focuses on reusing demolition materials, harvesting rainwater and enhancing local biodiversity through clever landscape design. The result is a Defence headquarters that unites security, sustainability and innovation.