| Type | New prison construction |
| Builder | Direction of Buildings - Prisons Project Group |
| Location | Biestraat in Beveren |
| Architect | Jaspers - Eyers Architects - Stéphane Beel Architects - archivolt architects |
| Surface area above ground | 95.000 m² |
| Study Office Stability | VK Engineering Building Services / Civil & Structural |
| Maintenance | BAM fm |
| Study Office Techniques | VK Engineering Building Services / Civil & Structural |
Four-section prison realized as energy efficient and sustainable as possible
The new prison "Poort van Beveren" is located next to the E17 and houses 312 male inmates. The overall complex consists of four parts: the entrance building, the service building, the cell complex and the logistics/work building. The different functional zones were structured and separated by fully-fledged outdoor spaces, and linked via transition buildings. The project also included the construction of parking outside the perimeter wall, landscaping and construction of the secure walks. Extensive attention was paid to facilities for the differently-abled. All this was worked out by BAM PPP Belgium under the form of a PPP, where Interbuild was in charge of construction and BAM fm for maintenance.
The service building includes the administration offices, sports complex, visitation complex, inmate reception complex, national transfer complex and courtroom complex. The service building also provides some cells for a specific target group of detainees.
The cell complex consists of four wings with differentiated regimes located around a central supervisory core overlooking the four wings. Similarly, legibility and transparency were increased by working with a panopticon with open galleries. By opening up the building levels, passive security is also improved. This gives rise to the creation of a new form of prison. This is a renewed cross model, in which the core and wings were optimized and adapted to a changing vision of detention. The deformation of the wings themselves creates gallery spaces that allow light to enter very deeply through high windows into the atria that create central spaces per wing.
There are cells for one or two people equipped with sanitary facilities. Each wing consists of three sections. The medical center is also located in this cellular section. Two enclosed walks are equipped with plantings and security against helicopter escapes.
The ambition was to create a building as energy-efficient as possible, with an emphasis on sustainability (sustainability in use, energetic and ecological sustainability, as well as social sustainability) and energy neutrality that guarantees the comfort of the users. With an E-level of E 60 and a K-level of K 30, a prison was thus developed as an exemplary building of optimal energy performance.
A prison requires extensive maintenance. Since completion, BAM fm has been responsible for the complete management and maintenance of the prison (with the exception of guarding the inmates). An extensive team is permanently at the prison to be on the ball in case of any problems or technical challenges. BAM fm is responsible for maintenance for 25 years.
