Week of 26 August
1. Sod-turning ceremony at Melbourne Werribee Mercy Hospital (Australia)
Last week, BESIX Watpac celebrated a sod-turning ceremony for the expansion project of the Werribee Mercy Hospital Emergency Department in Melbourne, in the presence of the local Minister for Health and Infrastructure. To honour the commencement of construction, a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony was conducted by proud Bunurong man, Mark Brown.
This significant project, scheduled for completion in 2026, will double the capacity of the current emergency department. Once complete and fully operational, the new Emergency Department will be able to treat an extra 25,000 patients each year. Cheers to our colleagues in Melbourne for the start of this new project!
2. Vanhout converts old school into Oosterweel campus (Belgium)
Vanhout is in charge of the circular renovation of a former school to host the new Oosterweel campus. Works started in the middle of February and the first parts were delivered just recently. The project consists in the rehabilitation of a run-down school building into a modern office building. The building was screened for reusable materials and so Vanhout was able to reuse cable ducts, ceiling tiles, and even furniture! Vanhout is responsible for structural work, finishing and techniques. The campus comprises 644 workplaces, 67 flex spaces, 40 meeting rooms, call and meeting pods, two multipurpose rooms, an auditorium and a bistro. Congratulations for this beautiful circular renovation to our Vanhout colleagues!
On 21 August, the first staff from TM ROCO, the contractor consortium active on the right bank of the Scheldt within the Oosterweel Link project, moved to the new Oosterweel Campus. By the end of October, 650 staff from several Oosterweel contractors and from client Lantis will have their new work base on the campus. Thanks to being located on the same premises, they will be able to work together even more efficiently! The Oosterweel project also wants to welcome neighbouring residents on the campus to promote good relations.
3. Rescue drill at the Abu Dhabi Guggenheim (UAE)
The team at the Abu Dhabi Guggenheim recently organised a rescue drill. A fake victim was rescued from 40 metres in only eight minutes using technical rope techniques. Rescue drills are part of the mandatory training and refreshment courses to ensure the safety of teams working at heights.
4. Latvian Ambassador to Belgium visits Rail Baltica Central Station in Riga (Latvia)
The Latvian Ambassador to Belgium recently visited the construction site of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Station project site, with the local management, Guntis Aboltins, Managing Director BERERIX, and Andis Linde, Stakeholder Manager at BERERIX, and Pieter-Jan Vansteenkiste, Group Director Public and Corporate Affairs. As you can see in the picture below, the silhouette of the Central Station building which consists of a long-span steel structure is now clearly visible.
BESIX is part of the BERERIX consortium with Rizzani de Eccher for the construction of the Riga Central station and a bridge over the Daugava River.
And then this… BESIX Group climbing for life
From 22 to 24 August, 76 colleagues participated in the Climb for Life charity initiative in the beautiful region of the Vosges, in France. They cycled, ran, or hiked to support the diabetes community. Thanks to all for surpassing themselves to support this beautiful cause!
