This afternoon in Lanaken, the principals of the primary school and the atheneum at GO! Linc Parc campus symbolically laid the first stone for the construction of two brand-new school buildings. They were joined by numerous guests, including Mayor Marino Keulen. The design centres on greenery, connection and tailored education. If all goes according to plan, the new buildings will open in 2026.
The Lanaken school campus offers nursery, primary, Dalton-based, secondary and adult education. It also houses a boarding school and a CLB (student guidance centre). Currently, the buildings are scattered across a 4.5-hectare site — roughly the size of seven football fields. The new infrastructure aims to improve overall quality of life on campus. But beyond bricks and mortar, this is part of a much broader project.
The campus is undergoing a complete transformation. Last year, it received a new name: Linc Parc, reflecting a fresh vision for the future — linking education with tomorrow.
LINC also stands for Lifelong learning and living, Innovation and inspiration, Nature inside and out, and Connection between various forms of education. A renewed infrastructure is essential to bring that vision to life.
Construction begins
The central castle, which serves as the campus reception area, and the boarding school have already been successfully renovated. Now, two new school buildings are being added: one for nursery and primary education, and one for the atheneum (secondary). While groundwork had already started, the laying of the foundation stone marks the official launch of construction.
“If all goes well, by 2026 we’ll have a school campus that fully meets today’s educational needs — personalised learning, comfort and sustainability. A school filled with inspiring learning environments, where different educational pathways will coexist and interact at the right moments. With so many types of learning spaces, every student will have the chance to work at their own pace. We are confident that Linc Parc’s innovative educational culture will soon serve as an example for others,” - Peter Vanaken, Chair of the Board of GO! Scholengroep WIJS
“These two new school buildings are our flagship examples of innovation. The upgraded infrastructure promotes closer collaboration and a seamless transition between nursery, primary and secondary education. Students move through each phase in a familiar, supportive setting. What’s more, the new buildings move away from traditional classroom layouts. Linc Parc opts for integrated learning and living spaces, student-centred furniture, and flexible rooms that support a personalised approach — all essential elements for shaping the education of tomorrow,” - Els Willems, General Director of GO! Scholengroep WIJS
Green space and openness
dbv architecten, based in Hasselt, is behind the design of the new buildings — with greenery and open space taking centre stage.
“We see the campus as one universe, made up of different living and learning worlds. That’s why we’re designing the landscape park with both enclosed areas — like hedges around the kindergarten classes — and new connections through walking paths that link spaces and encourage social interaction among older students. The layout of the green school park invites students outdoors while drawing nature inside through large windows. Inside, we’ve included spacious classrooms, practical rooms for the atheneum, and an atrium for the nursery and primary building. We’re convinced that both our architectural and landscape vision will reinforce the campus’s educational mission,” – Denis Delhaise, Architect-Partner at dbv architecten
Peace of mind for schools
The design, construction, financing and long-term maintenance of the new buildings are being handled by Aurora Scholen, a consortium made up of investors EPICo and Rebel, together with contractors Democo and Van Roey.
“We are incredibly proud to build a project with such a strong social impact. The fact that our consortium also takes care of maintenance for 30 years is a major bonus and brings peace of mind to the school community. No more worrying about damage, repairs or budgets — school boards and parent committees can now fully focus on school operations and educational development,” - Jochen Willen, CEO of Democo
Due to the active construction site, some logistical adjustments have been made on campus, but the school’s day-to-day operations continue uninterrupted. If everything proceeds as planned, classes in the new buildings will begin in September 2026.
Investing in Flemish school infrastructure
Linc Parc is just one of many school infrastructure projects being delivered by Aurora Scholen. The consortium is currently designing and building 23 schools across Flanders, including in Turnhout, Ertvelde, Ghent, Mechelen and Ronse. Each project is a public-private partnership initiated by the Flemish government. Through these efforts, Aurora Scholen aims to accelerate the much-needed renewal of school infrastructure and relieve school boards, parent associations and school communities of the burden.
