From the conception of Louvain-la-Neuve, its planners anticipated the needs and challenges of tomorrow.

By creating a flexible city, new projects have been, and continue to be, completed seamlessly.  The city, in fact, is constantly under necessary, but welcome, urban development ! 

The building of the esplanade Mall in 2005 changed the face of Louvain-la-Neuve and redynamized the town center, a true call for investors that no longer hesitate to flock to the city.

Future projects :

Extending the center

• The pedestrian center will be extended to above the center ring between the Aula Magna and the Rampe du Val.  The project includes the construction of a two-star hotel, a residence and service center for seniors and three small apartment buildings.  

• Another extension of the center is planned to the north of the Grand-Place.  300 student dwellings are already under construction and a new building project of 150 apartments and 40 studios will cover the center ring up to the Source Garden.  These two blocks will be separated by the new street, Rue du Traité de Rome, a direct access to the Hergé Museum via the footbridge.

A new Museum

• A new university museum will be built bordering the lake around 2013.  Finding its current premises too constricting, the Museum of Louvain-la-Neuve had to come up with a new design.  It will project over the current parking lot, between the lake and the Aula Magna and it will be croissant-shaped, with multiple levels to profit from the view of the lake from the urban center.

Photo © Perkins & Will et B.A.E.Verhaegen

Community projects

• A new municipal branch will be built along the length of Voie des Hennuyers, halfway between the districts of Baraque and Biéreau. The building will be energy efficient and will comprise over 1,100 m² and 3 levels. It is designed to house population services and the civil state offices of the CPAS and possibly City-Planning. 

• A new theater and a new police station between the current Jean Vilar and Rue Rabelais are two community projects initiated with UCL.  The theater is located on the narrow Rue du Sablon and the Police Station of Ottignies does not have sufficient premises for the operations that it must conduct for Louvain-la-Neuve.  Because of this, the plan is to increase the center above the Sablon parking lot for these two connected buildings. 

A bet for the future

• The RER parking lot with 2300 spaces will be completed in 2013 close to Nationale 4, coupled with a 900 spot resident parking lot, with the view of creating an eco-district above it.  This new district will have housing, offices and shops with a total ground surface area of 56 000 m². 500 apartments and student accomodations are planned.