On Sunday, 25 May 2025, we opened the construction site of the Kortrijk City Theatre to the public as part of Open Construction Day (Open Wervendag). With more than 2,000 visitors, an inspiring VIP session and a special edition dedicated to young people, the event put heritage, innovation and the builders of tomorrow in the spotlight.
A proud look back
Op zondag 25 mei openden we de ‘werfhekkens’ van de Stadsschouwburg in Kortrijk voor het grote publiek tijdens Open Wervendag. Deze unieke gelegenheid trok maar liefst 1946 nieuwsgierige bezoekers, die via een uitgestippelde route een exclusieve blik achter de schermen kregen van dit renovatie- en uitbreidingsproject.
On Sunday, 25 May, we opened the construction site of the Kortrijk City Theatre to the public as part of Open Construction Day. The event attracted an impressive 1,946 curious visitors, who were guided along a dedicated route offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at this major renovation and expansion project.
In addition, the City Theatre was designated as the provincial VIP location by Embuild West-Flanders. Invited guests enjoyed a breakfast, followed by a panel discussion featuring Alexander Ververken (Director of the City Theatre), Felix De Clerck (Alderman for Culture, Youth, Enterprise and Digital Transformation), architect Jaron Vanoosteghem and our co-CEO Stijn D’hoore. The session was moderated by Jan-Bart De Meulenaere. A guided tour of the site completed the programme.
Voorproefje voor studenten op vrijdag
Two days earlier, on Friday, 180 students from four schools were given an exclusive ‘Open Construction Day preview’, an initiative by Embuild Flanders in collaboration with Vlajo vzw. The students — coming from construction programmes, technical fields and general education tracks — were introduced to the innovative methods and challenges behind this urban redevelopment project.
After an interactive debate with experts from the construction and education sectors, moderated by Andy Peelman, they were also taken on a guided tour of the site. With this initiative, we aim to inspire these ‘builders of the future’ and spark their enthusiasm for the industry.
Innovation
The project at the City Theatre combines both renovation and new construction, with careful attention to heritage as well as innovation. We place a strong focus on digitalisation: using 3D scans and point clouds, existing structures are mapped and incorporated into detailed digital building models. This allows the execution to proceed efficiently and with minimal disruption to the surrounding area—an absolute necessity given the project’s central location, including the use of a tower crane positioned inside the existing building.
A glimpse into the future
The strong turnout and the enthusiastic feedback from both visitors and students demonstrate a growing interest in the construction process behind complex projects. A heartfelt thank you to all visitors - and to everyone contributing to the future of the City Theatre.
Open Construction Day did not go unnoticed in the media either.