Iconic parking building with 481 spaces opens in Limburg DC

Access road runs right through the Health Campus parking lot

DIEPENBEEK – Limburg DC is getting 481 parking spaces today. The new, iconic parking building on the Health Campus has five parking levels, 50 charging points and a bicycle storage area for about 220 bicycles. What is striking is that the new entrance runs right through the building. The parking area thus literally forms the entrance to the campus and will later be flanked by the new gate building.

“With this parking lot, we capture a large part of the car traffic right at the edge of Limburg DC,” says Tom Vandeput, Deputy for Economy and Chairman of POM Limburg. “That is important, because the campus is growing strongly in the coming years and at the same time we want to give more space to cyclists, pedestrians and public transport. The combination with the new access road ensures that we can organize those different traffic flows much better.”

New path through the building
Anyone entering Limburg DC by car will henceforth drive through the parking building of the Health Campus. The entrance and exit of the parking lot directly connect to that new road, so motorists can immediately park without first having to drive further into the campus. Those with a different destination will drive through the building to, among other places, the Bouwcampus. The former Agoralaan will be reconstructed and reserved for public transport and bicycles.

The circulation within the building has also been adapted to this. Two spiral slopes in the middle of the building take motorists up and down. Because both traffic flows remain separate and only one direction is driven on the parking levels, there are as few cross-over movements as possible.

Spread over five floors are 481 parking spaces, including spaces for people with disabilities near the lift. On the first floor there are 50 charging points for electric vehicles. On the ground floor there is a spacious bicycle storage area for about 220 bicycles, with space for cargo bikes and charging points for electric bicycles as well.

“This project shows what is possible when all partners sit down at the same table from day one. Within the construction team, we worked intensively to reconcile the financial, technical and architectural prerequisites,” said Karel Luyckx and Kristien Olaerts of the contracting consortium Vanderstraeten-Cordeel.

No classic front or back side
With its striking circular shape, the building deviates from a classic parking garage. It has no pronounced front or back, meaning the open facade faces the campus in all directions. Moreover, the parking lot was designed in such a way that the existing tree line between the building and the BioVille business incubator could be preserved as much as possible.

Along the outer edge of the building, a walking path runs on each floor between the parking area and the balustrade. Those who walk along it have a panoramic view of the campus and the surrounding area. In the middle of the building is an open, green interior space around which the two slopes curve. Solar panels are located on the roof, and there is also space reserved for a future restaurant on the ground floor.

Pieter Frantzen of Tab Architects: “Reclaiming access to the campus offers a unique opportunity to transition from an auto-dominated environment to a pedestrian-friendly one. Not by denying the existing landscape, but by creating a smooth and continuous transition.”.

Based on the understanding that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are essentially the same individuals at different stages of their journey, the design avoids an artificial contrast between the different modes of transport.

At the heart of this strategy is a compact cylindrical parking tower whose 360° façade establishes a natural dialogue with the adjacent buildings and the surrounding trees. With a minimal footprint, it maximizes the influx of natural light. The volume surrounds a central patio with open-air greenery and features widened spiral slopes that seamlessly integrate access for vehicles.”

The parking building is also the first part of the new entrance to Limburg DC. Right next to it is the future gate building, which will house an innovation center for healthcare and conference facilities. Both buildings will be located close to Campuslaan and together will mark the entrance to Limburg DC.

“The realization of this parking lot shows what is possible when partners work together to build the future. Thanks to this investment, we are not only improving the accessibility of the campus, but we are also enhancing the livability and traffic safety for everyone who studies, works or visits here. We as the municipality of Diepenbeek can be proud of that,” says Mayor Rik Kriekels.

First busy weeks at Limburg DC
The opening comes just before the start of the academic year, traditionally a busy period at Limburg DC. Especially during the first ten days, the campus partners expect extra traffic congestion at peak times. Therefore, students and staff are asked to plan their travel in advance and to choose the bicycle or public transport where possible.

The new parking facility fits into this approach. By accommodating as many vehicles as possible at the edge of Limburg DC, traffic can be directed more effectively to the available parking spaces, while more space remains available in the center of the campus for cyclists, pedestrians, and public transportation.