Wood Academy #5

9:45 - 10.00

10:00 -10:30

10:30 - 11:00

Conference 2: Explore Finland -  What can Belgium learn from Finland?

In this Explore Finland session, we will take a closer look at a country renowned for its abundant forest resources. Yet Finland's strength goes far beyond the availability of timber. Its real achievement lies in the way public policy, public procurement, industry and knowledge sharing have helped build a well-structured timber ecosystem. This session will explore what Belgium can learn from this approach, with a particular focus on the catalytic role of public procurement and collaboration across the entire value chain. In collaboration with Fayat scholarships and Tomas Delandsheer.

Sini Koskinen, leading expert at the Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries, will share the key drivers behind this successful model.

These insights will then be brought to life through Katajanokan Laituri, a landmark office and hotel development on Helsinki's waterfront, presented by Selina Anttinen, founder of Anttinen Oiva Architects.

With the support of Fayat Scholarships.

11:00-12:00

Conferences 3 : New SD Worx headquarter in Antwerp. From sustainability ambition to workplace reality

The future SD Worx headquarters demonstrates how ambitious sustainability and flexibility goals can shape the design of next-generation workplaces.Driven by the client's ambition to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification and create a building capable of adapting to future needs, BULK and Sergison Bates have developed a hybrid design strategy in which timber plays a central role. Through this landmark project, the speakers will share insights into the decision-making process, the role of hybrid construction, and the opportunities and challenges involved in designing sustainable, adaptable office buildings for the future.

12:30-13:30

Lunch

14:00-15:00

Visit of the future SD Worx offices in Antwerp (Brouwersvliet 5), together with the teams of Wood Shapers, Van Laere and an experience-sharing session with the architects from Sergison Bates Architects & BULK. This 12-storey hybrid project of 24,300 m², located along the waterfront, combines timber and concrete to accommodate offices, shared spaces and collective facilities. A concrete example of the evolution of large-scale tertiary developments.

Visit of the residential project Boomgaard, located in Nieuw Zuid (Herbouvillekaai 9). Designed by David Chipperfield and Bureau Bouwtechniek, this residential development brings together 59 apartments organised around an inner orchard garden. The project combines a hybrid timber structure with low-impact materials and places particular emphasis on circularity, climate and residents’ quality of life.