Modern care project in the heart of Ghent

The new residential care center at Stropkaai in Ghent is a textbook example of how architecture and building technology can reinforce each other to create a sustainable and inclusive care environment. This campus of the Brothers of Charity reflects the modern vision of social responsibility, where integration and accessibility are central. The project aims to bring care closer to people's homes and support them in a familiar environment.

The care site is strategically located along the Scheldt River, between Stropstraat and Stropkaai. This area, which has traditionally played an important role in psychiatric care, is now being transformed into a modern care campus. Archipl architects carefully evaluated the historical value of the site. Valuable buildings were retained and given a new function. Patrick Lefebure, partner at Archipl architects: "The care sector has evolved significantly in recent years. The person in need of care is no longer a patient, but a client. The quality of service and the well-being of the person in need of care are central. We argue for an invisible care that is integrated in social and urban life. A care that is embedded in everyday existence obtains normality, obviousness and invisibility. As a care city, the Stropsite becomes a
open district."

Innovative construction techniques

Construction company Wyckaert was responsible for the total built floor area of 22,870 m². The project includes the construction of a five-story residential care center and a ten-story residential care tower housing service flats, studios for assisted living and the central administration of the Brothers of Charity. The site will be further enriched with semi-public and private spaces, creating a good balance between accessibility and privacy. An underground parking lot and a bicycle bridge over the Scheldt improve mobility and make the site more transparent and green. New gardens and squares brighten up the whole.

A striking feature of this project is the extensive and intensive use of Building Information Modeling. The BIM model, in which just about all disciplines worked out their design in 3D, ensures extra accuracy and efficiency during the construction process. All components (architecture, stability and technical installations) were integrated down to the smallest detail. Jasper De Beuckeleer, project manager at Wyckaert: "This approach made the construction process go faster. But it also allowed the various construction partners - client, designers, contractors and suppliers - to work together better. This technology made it possible to coordinate the various building components, prior to production and assembly. The digital preparation significantly accelerated the actual construction and ensured a calmer and better-planned process. Given the complexity of the project, and especially the technical installations, it was very pleasing to note how the prior agreements provided a great deal of clarity and calm on the shop floor."

Collaboration and implementation

A crucial factor in the success of this project is the excellent cooperation between the various parties involved. Witness the open mindset and joint focus on finding solutions. This helped to ensure that the construction of the residential care center and the residential care tower went as planned, so that the move-in could take place even before the construction break. "This was both a logistical achievement and a humanitarian victory; the building's new residents are already very happy with it."

On the technical front, several innovative solutions were implemented. For example, two four-pipe heat pumps were installed in the residential care center. These provide heating and cooling simultaneously. The surplus heat generated by these pumps is cleverly reused to heat other parts of the complex. That this contributes to the energy efficiency of the building is obvious. In addition, heat pump boosters were installed in each assisted living unit, which can provide individual domestic hot water. The entire heating and cooling system was centralized, which increases ease of maintenance. In addition, the increasing demand for renewable energy was anticipated with the installation of 25 charging stations in the underground parking lot and a 70 kWp PV system on the roof.

Care City Strop on the Stropkaai in Ghent is an exemplary project that not only meets today's care and living needs, but is also future-oriented thanks to its sustainable and flexible design. The project demonstrates how collaboration, innovation and respect for the past can lead to a modern and inclusive care environment ready for tomorrow's challenges.

Technical equipment

As an engineering firm, BOTEC specializes in the technical equipment of buildings in the health and care sector. Applying its expertise for the new residential and care site on the Stropkaai in Ghent fits perfectly with its core business.

The entire complex consists of a wzc building and a tower with offices and assisted living facilities. These are connected via an underground basement in which technical rooms and a three-level parking lot are provided. The different functions in the building with corresponding EPB regulations require flexibility in the technical installations. Top cooling is essential in a residential care center. Therefore, BOTEC installed two four-pipe heat pumps that provide cooling and floor cooling (during heat waves). They also simultaneously provide heating for the assisted living apartments, each of which is individually supplied with domestic hot water via a heat pump booster. Heating and hot water production for the residential care center is provided by two modular gas boilers. The system is designed so that excess heat from the heat pumps can be used to heat the residential care center, providing flexibility in the choice of energy source. By placing the central heating and cooling system in one location, maintenance is simple and efficient. The installation of 25 charging stations in the underground parking lot and a 70 kWp PV installation on the roof also addresses the energy transition within the organization.