Kortrijk's skyline altered
Along the Universiteitslaan in Kortrijk, adjacent to the existing campus of the Catholic University College, ION is currently constructing a new, multifunctional building specifically designed for VIVES. The building’s modern architecture will be a beacon for the city of Kortrijk. DMVA Architects from Mechelen created a transparent volume that is surrounded by an ‘artificial skin’ and that connects to the existing VIVES campus through a diverging terrace on the first level.
Multifunctional
The commercial/office space on the ground floor – which will be publicly accessible – is currently for rent. The upper storeys will comprise a restaurant (for both staff and students), 2 auditoriums with a joint capacity of about 300 students and a reception and foyer area. These floors will also be directly accessible from the street level thanks to a wide exterior staircase. The construction’s total gross floor area will amount to some 2,500 m².
The preparatory works are now under way. The completion of the building is scheduled for September 2017 (academic year 2017-2018).