BlueApp: a new Hub for innovation at the University of Antwerp Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is launching BlueApp, an innovative center on the Bluegate site next to Bluechem. The goal is to bring together researchers, start-ups, and large companies to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of sustainable chemistry and materials.

This open innovation center, where knowledge and technology in the field of sustainable chemistry and materials are transformed into innovative projects, was designed by the design team LOW architects, eld, Ingenium, and Bureau De Fonseca. This team also designed the neighboring Bluechem building.

The building aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certification, reflecting its highly sustainable design. It has a compact, elongated volume with four floors plus an underground level and a footprint of approximately 1100 m². The ground floor contains communal and public functions, with open, transparent spaces offering people passing by a view into the workshops and the double-height machine room. The upper floors are dedicated to office and research spaces, with room for around 37 laboratories.

Structural stability was managed by eld, who implemented a grid structure that ensures flexibility and efficiency in the construction process. The use of prefabricated building elements also accelerates and reduces costs in the construction phase. A key challenge was creating open, column-free spaces on the ground floor, which was achieved by using large steel trusses to span the entire area, thus enabling the desired design. The building is both functional and efficient, with a focus on sustainability and innovation.