Odisee in Aalst: The striking journey from bank building to dynamic educational hub

The need for a thorough renovation arose from the desire to improve the safety and visual appeal of the building. Odisee aimed to give the building a modern appearance, while preserving the original design.

Light, fire safe and easy to install
The facade cladding was  a key aspect of the renovation. ‘We chose Rockpanel because it’s fire resilient and the material is light-weight,’ explains Dekoning. As the building features hanging terraces, adding extra weight would have posed a risk. Rockpanel provided an ideal solution: the material is light-weight, fireproof, stable and easy to work with, which was crucial for this project.

Constructing the new facade structure proved to be one of the biggest challenges during the renovation. The original facade had not been insulated, so an entirely new structure needed to be added. ‘Due to the additional insulation, we had to increase the distance between the supporting structure and the panels. This was why it was important to limit the weight of the boards,’ Dekoning explains.

Installing the panels went very smoothly, despite these challenges. ‘The slide-and-click system in which the panels are suspended from an aluminum control structure enabled us to work flexibly per floor or façade wall. This allowed us to carry out renovation in phases, without disrupting the daily use of the building. We only had to screw the last overhanging board to the facade. The precisely adjustable system also allowed any unevenness in the original facade to be visually eliminated.’

Playful and flexible design
Additionally, the use of Rockpanel introduced greater flexibility in the design. ‘We didn’t want a dark facade, as originally suggested by Odisee. The original building was light-coloured, and we wanted to keep this look. In the end, we decided to give the building a fresh, new look, which was also approved by Stedenbouw. Specifically, we used Rockpanel Premium Colour RAL 7039 for the facades.’

‘We opted for a playful design by alternating the width of the facade panels, creating a dynamic appearance. that didn’t need to be coordinated with the existing window pattern,’ says Dekoning. ‘Afterwards, this artwork – previously displayed on the canvases – was applied directly on the boards using stickers and a fire-resistant foil, creating a facade which was both visually pleasing and practical.’

Result
The facade renovation of Odisee Aalst is a fine example of how aesthetics and technical requirements can go hand in hand. Thanks to the use of Rockpanel and a well-considered approach, an old bank building has been given a new, modern function without losing its character. ‘It was a challenge, but a rewarding project all the same,’ Dekoning concludes. “We have created a building that is not only safe and functional, but also visually attractive.’

Thanks to this facade renovation Odisee Aalst is ready for the future and can present itself as an educational institution ready to welcome the next generation of students.