Ghent, Belgium – 27.01.2026 – Artevelde University of Applied Sciences is joining forces with Ghent-based real estate developer Alides and construction company Algemene Bouw Maes to develop a new campus near the Old Docks (Oude Dokken). Along Koopvaardijlaan, a campus unlike any other in Ghent will take shape, bringing together a wide range of state-of-the-art media facilities in one integrated location.
The campus will accommodate students from the Communication, Media and Design disciplines, as well as staff from various support services. Construction is set to begin shortly, with the campus scheduled to open at the start of the 2027–2028 academic year.
A vibrant hub at the Old Docks
The area around the Old Docks and Dampoort railway station is undergoing a major transformation. As a Ghent-based university of applied sciences, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences aims to play an active role in this urban renewal. The city-led redevelopment project at the Old Docks also includes the construction of Artevelde’s other new campus at Achterdokkaai near Dampoort: Campus Dok Zuid. Across the water, along Koopvaardijlaan, previously home to Garage Julien, a campus will now be developed that is fully tailored to the needs of contemporary media and design education, featuring professional studios and innovative media labs.
“This campus will become a creative hotspot where we train, among others, the journalists, graphic designers and communication professionals of the future,” says Jo Boogaerts, Head of Real Estate Development at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences. “Spread across five floors, we will centralise a wide range of media studios and labs, including television, photography and radio studios, as well as a dedicated presentation arena. Classrooms and workspaces for students and staff will be flexibly designed. The eye-catcher will be the brand-new Connect Auditorium: an inspiring learning environment focused on collaboration, interaction and knowledge sharing, where traditional lectures meet future-oriented group work.”
“We are also providing a large green outdoor area and more than 1,200 bicycle parking spaces within the building,” Boogaerts adds. “The campus will be sustainably heated and cooled using geothermal energy.”
Campuses in Ghent, for Ghent
The new campus project, together with the Dampoort campus, forms part of Artevelde University of Applied Sciences’ Infrastructure Master Plan. “As part of this plan, we are gradually moving towards fewer campuses, located in easily accessible areas in and around Ghent’s city centre,” explains Isabelle De Wulf, General Director. “With our two new campuses at the Old Docks, we continue to prioritise proximity, both for students and for the surrounding neighbourhoods. We aim to create campuses that are not isolated islands, but open spaces where students, staff, organisations and local residents can connect, right in the heart of Ghent.”
“As a Ghent-based real estate developer, we are particularly proud to collaborate with Artevelde University of Applied Sciences on this new campus,” says Rikkert Leeman, CEO of Alides. “This project perfectly reflects Alides’ mission: developing sustainable new-build projects with clear societal value, contributing to the ongoing transformation of the Old Docks area.”
About Alides
Alides (www.alides.be) is an international real estate investor and developer active in Belgium and Poland. The company is backed by the Maes family, an entrepreneurial family from Ghent. With more than 130 years of experience, Alides combines heritage with a forward-looking vision on real estate through its Real Estate Upcycling approach, focusing on quality, sustainability and innovation.
About Artevelde University of Applied Sciences
Artevelde University of Applied Sciences is a centre of expertise in education, research and services, where students, staff and strategic partners collaborate in a stimulating environment. As “The Makers of Tomorrow’s World”, the institution responds to the needs of the professional field and actively contributes to society.
About Algemene Bouw Maes
Algemene Bouw Maes is a Class 8 contractor based in Ghent, founded by the Maes family and part of the Van Roey Group. The company is known for its proactive approach, with a strong focus on quality, safety, environmental responsibility and collaboration. With an experienced and motivated team, Algemene Bouw Maes delivers a wide range of construction projects across Flanders and Brussels. Thanks to its strong regional roots and sustainable vision, the company is a trusted and well-established partner in the Belgian construction sector.
