Trade Fair, Gare Maritime and BotaniCo win RES Awards 2020

Big winners this year are:

• the Handelsbeurs, a vibrant experience venue in the heart of Antwerp;
• the historic Gare Maritime in Brussels, also known as the largest timber construction project in Europe;    
• BotaniCo, an exceptional cohousing project in Leuven. A seven-member jury of experts and prominent figures praised the laureates for their strong efforts in sustainability, design and innovation.

During a first-ever online awards show, presented by Hanne Decoutere, the prestigious RES Awards 2020 were presented tonight. This is an initiative of the Real Estate Society, the association of the real estate alumni of the Antwerp Management School (AMS). Every year the RES praises the most extraordinary Belgian construction projects in three sectors with its awards. This time, awards were presented in the categories of residential real estate, (semi-)public real estate and commercial real estate. In recent months, dozens of property developers and architects submitted their most punishing projects of the past year, hoping to receive one of the coveted "Oscars of the Belgian real estate sector.

A seven-member jury of experts and prominent figures finally designated the three victorious projects. They were Peter Vanden Abeele (master builder of Ghent), Kristiaan Borret (master builder of Brussels), Steven De Haes (dean of Antwerp Management School), Serge Fautré (honorary chairman UPSI-BVS), Ingrid Ceusters (Women on Board), Dirk Mattheeuws (chairman NAV) and Jean-Philip Vroninks (director ULI). Jury president was again Frederik Lesire.

"We are enormously pleased that the RES Awards allow us to end this special 'corona year' in another positive and enthusiastic way. Our industry deserves that as well. Despite lockdowns and social distancing, it continues to move and think full steam ahead. And that still results every day in numerous ambitious and innovative projects. So much effort deserves a crown. With the RES Awards, so to speak, the Belgian Real Estate Oscars, we try to highlight and encourage even more that persistent pursuit of innovation, quality and sustainability by talented architects, developers and construction companies." - Frederik Lesire, MRE, jury president RES Awards

For the judges' motivation, click here.