"The foundation you can build on" is not just a theme for GO! Primary School De Smiskens. The school has the honor of being the pilot school for the first school cluster for GO! education of the Flemish Community. This project is being realized by the consortium Aurora Schools, consisting of Rebel, EPICo, Democo, and Van Roey.
DBFM formula
The school is being constructed using the DBFM formula: Aurora Schools is responsible for the design (Design), construction (Build), financing (Finance), and 30-year maintenance (Maintain) of the school. The consortium will make the buildings available to the school board of GO! Primary School De Smiskens for 30 years in exchange for an availability fee. Technical and construction maintenance will be handled by Demtec Services and Van Roey Services throughout this period.
Maximizing green space
The new two-story school building is tailored to the students and the community. The new buildings for the school and the future daycare center will be located at the edge of the site, with only paved areas around the buildings. This design preserves the central green space, allowing children to play freely. It's also a sustainable choice: the existing greenery helps combat high temperatures during the summer, aids in water infiltration, and enhances biodiversity in the neighborhood.
Central as a starting point
The school is accessible via both Smiskensstraat and Graatakker, and careful consideration has been given to the school's entrance. It will be centrally located at a reception square, allowing parents to drop off and pick up their children in peace.
The building itself is designed around a central point, the atrium, where various activities can take place, both during and after school hours. The atrium seamlessly connects the different clusters within the school. Each cluster also has a visually distinct appearance. Paired with these different functions are outdoor spaces with various uses and atmospheres, creating a versatile play area for the school's students to explore. The interior will also prioritize versatile use and flexibility.
Even outside school hours, the gymnasium, artistic space, and kitchen can be opened to the neighborhood.
Original Foundation Stone ceremony
A human-centric design calls for an original foundation stone ceremony. Dominique Carette, director of GO! Primary School De Smiskens, states, "For us, no traditional groundbreaking with a few prominent figures, but an event where our students take center stage. Two students from each cluster were selected to receive a large white tile from the prominent figures. Our four clusters will then work together to create a design that will later prominently adorn the facade of our brand-new school."
Dominique Carette received an original gift from Koen Pelleriaux, CEO of GO! Education of the Flemish Community. It is a scale model of the new GO! Primary School De Smiskens, to be built in LEGO.
