New campus for VLIZ and ILVO in Ostend
Under the name InnovOcean Campus, the VLIZ (Flemish Institute for the Sea), its project partners, and the Ostend branch of the ILVO (Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research) on the Oosteroever in Ostend will realise a new joint accommodation through a Design & Build contract.
The VLIZ is a hub for marine and coastal research. As a partner in various projects and networks, the VLIZ supports and promotes the international standing of Flemish marine science research and international marine education. ILVO is an internationally renowned scientific institute of the Flemish government, active in Ostend in the research domains ‘aquatic environment and quality’ and ‘fisheries and aquatic production’. Both institutions work in a complementary way.
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The programme for the joint InnovOcean Campus includes offices, seminar and meeting infrastructure, reception and catering space, a library, physicochemical laboratories, aquaculture laboratories, studio space and building-related needs. The new campus will be located on the current ILVO site, between the Lighthouse District (OPEX) and the dynamic East Bank. The InnovOcean Campus will be an important link between the two sites.
PMV’s role
PMV was originally asked to look for a new accommodation for the VLIZ, and investigated various avenues for doing so. In the course of that process, it was established that there were synergy and efficiency gains to be made in joint accommodation with the nearby ILVO, which operates in outdated and energy-inefficient buildings. The assignment was therefore redefined, resulting in a cooperation agreement between the parties. PMV is currently guiding both ILVO and VLIZ in the development of the InnovOcean Campus. As project director and contracting authority, it coordinates a Design & Build contract through a negotiated procedure with publication. PMV leads a steering committee with all stakeholders.
Offsetting construction costs
At the start of the (redefined) assignment, the project area consisted of the current ILVO site. In the preliminary study, this was expanded to include the adjacent site managed by AWV (Agency for Roads and Traffic), leading to a total area of about 22,000 m². Merging the two plots will allow for more optimal use of the available space and create the opportunity to market a significant portion, offsetting the new building costs. The D&B assignment provides for a development plan for the project site, on the basis of which it will be determined which part is eligible for marketing. The project is challenging because of the landscape protection of part of the project area, underground high-voltage power lines and the accessibility of the Oostende Oosteroever to be improved.
The project in numbers
- programme: 8,000 m² gross floor area, 7 storeys and a technical floor;
- ground floor: spacious plinth for a.o. auditorium, foyer and meeting rooms and the labs
- upper floors: offices, marine library and restaurant;
- employment of 200 employees for VLIZ and ILVO together;
- compact BEN building;
- total investment value: 17 million euro (excl. VAT);
- inauguration: spring 2022.
