Pearl of a new technical school with ditto workshop facility

The VTI Brugge was constantly running up against the limitations of its buildings that dated back to the nineteenth century. In January, it could proudly open its doors on its new site on the former grounds of train and streetcar manufacturer Bombardier. The key word for the new construction was flexibility, allowing the building to constantly adapt to new or changing courses. A label that also applies to the workshop equipment, supplied by Hoffmann Group. Beautiful looking, certainly, but above all extremely functional and robust.

For two years, outgoing general manager Jos Loridan searched for a new location for VTI Brugge. "A renovation of the site on the Boeveriestraat was technically and financially no longer feasible. The buildings were simply running out of space. At Vaartdijkstraat, on a patch of land bought over from Bombardier, we found everything we were looking for: proximity to the train station and space to grow for our 650 students and teachers." 

The move in early January was also the moment to introduce a new pedagogical concept. Whereas each teacher previously had his or her own studio, in the new building they found large open spaces that should promote cooperation. A concept that was also reflected in the construction. Siska Desmet of Antwerpse Bouwwerken, which was responsible for the entire structural work, finishing and furnishing: "VTI Brugge wanted to create a future-proof building that is easy to adapt. There are therefore no load-bearing interior walls, the pipes are concealed in false ceilings and the energy supplies run on rails so that everything can easily be changed."

State-of-the-art

Anyone walking through the new buildings cannot help but be impressed. When visiting the school, Education Minister Ben Weyts did not even shy away from the words state-of-the-art. "Our teachers' fear of the unknown fell away from them very quickly. The tranquility in the classrooms due to the good acoustics and the wide expanse of light, the brand new materials they were provided with, made them quickly experience the benefits of the new way of working. You even notice that there are colleagues who now find their motivation again," says brand-new general manager Miek Kemel. 

The studios they can use on the Vaartdijkstraat put on a completely new look. All equipment was left behind in the Boeveriestraat and replaced with new. The workshop equipment immediately catches the eye. That the Hoffmann Group was chosen as the supplier should come as no surprise. "We have been customers for years, but never cheated, although our orders are usually more modest than this one," Loridan adds with a wink. 

Quality, robust and durable

The shopping list was indeed impressive: 29 welding tables, 8 roller shutter cabinets, 16 workbenches, 70 vices, 9 hexagonal tables with drawer block, 4 storage cabinets, various tools ... "Together with the VTI, we looked at what all was needed, where everything had to go and how we could at the same time fit in with that open feeling that has been created here. The fact that all the equipment from the GARANT range is modular and geared to lean working means that we were also able to extend the flexibility of the building into the workshop equipment," summarizes Hoffmann specialist Geert Libert. 

Loridan is already satisfied with the result: "Invention is of course the best proof, but everything is already meeting expectations. It has been executed as we conceived and planned. The material is high quality, robust and durable. Even if a student gets into a drawer, it would still function." The collaboration also went smoothly. "For us it was the first time working so closely with a construction company," says Hoffmann area sales manager Frank de Jong. "Corona didn't make it easy to realize everything in 22 months, but there was a lot of understanding along both sides to come to good solutions."

Attractiveness of technical education

But what do the students themselves think of it? How do they like their new learning environment? "Our current students are not so easily impressed, but former students all the more: 'If only I could have worked with these materials during my studies.' We hope that with our new building we can increase the appeal of technical education. After all, we keep fighting the perception of dirty hands and dirty overalls, whereas here we can show that that corny image is long gone," Kemel concludes.