Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (MDK) have chosen KAAN architects, in collaboration with SVR-ARCHITECTS, Groep Van Roey, and Van Roey Services, to design, build, and maintain the Antwerp Coordination Centre (ACC).
The project will prioritise sustainability, security, and safety, as well as digitalisation projects.
The contract for the design, construction and maintenance of the new port coordination centre was awarded to a partnership between Group Van Roey, Van Roey Services, KAAN architects / SVR-ARCHITECTS, and study firms Sweco / BLASCO after a thorough tendering procedure and close collaboration between Port of Antwerp-Bruges, MDK, Atelier Stadsbouwmeester, and supervising partner Tractebel.
According to current plans, the building will begin in 2024, with the new ACC expected to be operational in 2026.
The state-of-the-art ACC, with a total floor space of 8,000 m², will replace the current coordination centre at the Zandvliet-Berendrecht lock and intends to foster collaboration among all players in the maritime chain. The future-proof common work floor with a surface area of at least 1,000 m² will play a significant role in the above story.
The building’s design seeks to provide a large space structure. Stacking useful elements on top of one another produces a compact volume with low environmental effects. This will result in a green, environmentally responsible gathering space with a surface area of approximately 10,000 m².
Furthermore, the new coordination centre will be a hub for collaboration among various executive and coordinating nautical partners. Along with the nautical chain partners on the shared work floor, this comprises boatmen and lock complex operators, among others, who will occupy new workspaces here.
It will also include a VTS operator training centre and an external hub for the port experience centre Havenwereld, with an emphasis on B2B visits. The ACC prioritises safety and security, with added emphasis on sustainability in the form of ergonomics, circularity, and energy neutrality.
