Grontmij and Libost Group, working in close cooperation, won the much coveted audience award at the Day of the Public Space for the Bedrijvenpark Waterschei project. This is the second such award as Grontmij won the prize last year for the Renovation of Machelen Village.

The science park of Waterschei, a mining area with future
The former mining area of Waterschei was developed as a location for non-environmentally harmful companies in a park setting. The synergy between the science park and the protected mine buildings is achieved by basing the design concept around a barcode.

In developing the Waterschei business park the goals were to ensure the preservation of important landscape and ecological qualities - the valley of the Stiemerbeek - and the leanness of the present moorland. The other goal was to preserve the existing mine buildings and their impressive architectural heritage. The latter was achieved in a contemporary way through selection and use of materials, the integration of water surfaces in the mining areas where the ground is prone to subsidence and the selection of native trees.

Award presentation
The Public Space 2010 award was presented as the culmination of Public Space Day. The judges selected five projects from the many entries and the fair visitors provided the final vote.  The award was presented by the jury president, Georges Allaert, professor at Ghent University to Mayor Wim Dries van Genk during the closing ceremony on March 11th.