Week of 26 May
1. Franki Foundations reimagines geotechnics in Bruges (Belgium)
Last week, several colleagues at Franki Foundations had the pleasure of taking part in the DFI-EFFC International Conference 2025 on Deep Foundations and Ground Improvement, in Bruges.
Under the theme “Geotechnics Reimagined”, the three-day event brought together leading minds from across the industry for an inspiring programme of forward-thinking presentations and in-depth discussions on the future of deep foundation and ground improvement techniques. The conference proved to be an exceptional opportunity for learning, networking, and sharing insights! Franki Foundations is proud to have supported this event as a sponsor and to have contributed to the collective momentum shaping the future of our field.
2. Successful delivery of the Sports Centre by Jacques Delens in Evere (Belgium)
… And what a remarkable space it has become! The heart of the complex is the impressive 1,000 m² sports hall, filled with natural light and crowned by a soaring 9-metre-high ceiling. A beautiful wooden spectator stand adds warmth and elegance, while splashes of colour throughout the building bring a vibrant energy to the whole space. The cafeteria boasts a stunning view of the outdoor fields, and its sunny terrace is sure to become a favourite spot for relaxed, sociable moments. This new facility will no doubt delight local athletes and the wider Evere community.
Congratulations to our colleagues at Jacques Delens for delivering such a brilliant project. Last Wednesday, the whole team gathered on site to celebrate the completion… with French fries, of course!
3. Dignitaries visit DMMF facility site in Penfield, Australia
Last week, Minister Stephen Mullighan, South Australia's Minister for Defence and Space Industries, visited BESIX Watpac’s DMMF facility site in Penfield. This facility is set to bolster the region’s defence capabilities as well as create highly skilled jobs and support local economic growth.
During the visit, Minister Mullighan highlighted the facility's importance in enhancing South Australia's global defence credentials. With plans to service aircraft from the US, New Zealand, and Australia’s RAAF fleet, the DMMF facility is poised to become a critical hub for defense maintenance and upgrades.
4. Open Sites Day 2025 is a big hit for BESIX Group!
BESIX Group can look back on a very successful Open Sites Day last Sunday in Belgium. No less than 65.000 Belgians visited construction sites throughout the country. Among the in total 125 sites, BESIX Group opened 5 of its own sites.
- JV ROCO, one of the Oosterweel sites in Antwerp, welcomed 5.000 visitors on Sunday. They were able to walk along a part of the bypass, a temporary construction which will replace the iconic viaduct of Merksem in Antwerp during its demolition. During the walk, visitors got to know the ins and outs of the Oosterweel project. Gazet van Antwerpen went to have a look.
- JV COTU working on the Scheldt tunnel in Antwerp as part of Oosterweel also welcomed a record number of visitors. Onlookers were able to walk through the newly finished entrance to the tunnel on Left Bank, as well as see the dredging works in preparation of the sinking of the tunnel elements. The site was covered by the Flemish VRT news broadcast and welcomed several Belgian dignitaries: Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Federal Minister of the North Sea & Justice Annelies Verlinden and Flemish Minister of public works & mobility Annick De Ridder.
- Visitors of the Beveren Tunnel in Kallo, a project by BESIX, BESIX Infra and BESIX Unitec, were brought by bus inside the tunnel, where they could see the works up close and personal. Local TV station TV Oost visited the site and published this report.
- Grand Théâtre de Verviers, a site by Wust, welcomed 650 visitors (the maximum amount allowed because of the limited space on site) on Sunday. This renovation of a 19th-century theater using modern techniques is nothing short of extraordinary. Watch this video to discover what visitors were able to see on Sunday (featuring our colleagues Pol Bartholomé).
- Sports Hall of the Spetz (Cobelba) in Arlon. Our colleagues at Cobelba opened the doors of this sports hall, which they are renovating both functionally and energetically. The local television station also visited; you can watch their report here.
Congratulations to all of these site teams for this successful edition and thank you for taking the time on Sunday to open your sites to the public and share your expertise and passion!
And then this... another amazing edition of the 20km of Brussels for BESIX Group!
Last Sunday, 78 runners from all over the Group came to Brussels to run (or walk) the iconic 20 km of Brussels. We met each other at the BESIX Group stand at Parc du Cinquantenaire for a little encouragement before the race, while hiding from the rain. Luckily the sun came out during the race, which meant that afterwards, the tired but happy participants were able to relax in the deck chairs and exchange experiences with their colleagues. Congratulations to all!
