Flemish test facility accelerates climate-neutral construction

ConstrucThor was developed by an interdisciplinary team from KU Leuven and is part of the Open Thor Living Lab, in close collaboration with EnergyVille. The official opening takes place in the presence of, among others, Minister-President of the Flemish Government Matthias Diependaele, Mayor of the City of Genk Wim Dries, KU Leuven Vice-Rector Stefaan Vaes, and EnergyVille General Manager Bram De Wispelaere.

Testing beyond the laboratory

While innovative construction solutions are often tested today under highly controlled laboratory conditions, ConstrucThor explicitly starts from the chaotic reality of construction and renovation. Variable weather conditions, existing construction practices and unpredictable user behaviour are deliberately taken into account. This makes the infrastructure particularly relevant for companies seeking to validate their products, systems or concepts before large-scale commercialisation.

The infrastructure consists of several complementary modules. At its core is the main building, whose façade and roof are divided into test zones. Here, companies and researchers can systematically compare a wide range of renovation and new-build solutions under identical conditions.

Adjacent to this is a demountable and adaptable office building in which different floor and ceiling structures—ranging from heavy concrete to lightweight timber constructions—are combined across three floors. These configurations make it possible to test innovative façade solutions in combination with tailored HVAC systems equipped with advanced control technologies.

In addition, the site includes an open construction plot for modular new buildings, and three older buildings that have been reconstructed as realistically as possible. These are typical buildings found in virtually every Flemish city or municipality and are highly

relevant to the renovation market: a 1930s townhouse, a semi-detached house from the 1950s, and a three-storey apartment building from the 1970s. These buildings incorporate the typical complex details of their era and allow sustainable and cost-effective renovation solutions to be tested under realistic conditions. An underground tunnel connects the various modules and houses several climate-neutral heating technologies, enabling flexible testing of new solutions.

Circular construction and virtual occupants

ConstrucThor is not only a test facility; it is itself a showcase of circular construction. Wherever possible, materials are sourced from demolished buildings, and the facility has been designed for disassembly and reuse. This approach aligns with the growing industrial interest in circular materials, modular construction systems and new business models within the construction sector.

The renovated houses are also equipped with virtual occupants that simulate building use, including heating, ventilation, electricity and domestic hot water consumption. Combined with natural climate fluctuations, this enables precise analysis of actual energy use, comfort and the lifespan of construction solutions.

From material innovation to integrated energy systems

ConstrucThor enables full-scale testing of a wide range of technologies, from circular and bio-based construction materials to modular and demountable structural systems, with a strong focus on building physics performance. In addition, integrated renewable energy technologies can be studied, such as solar energy, geothermal systems and air-to-water heat pumps, with particular attention to their application in existing buildings.

Platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing

ConstrucThor is conceived as an open innovation infrastructure where research groups, companies from the construction and energy sectors, educational institutions and policymakers can collaborate. The facility offers an independent, scientifically grounded environment to test and compare innovations and support them with measurable data.

As part of the innovation ecosystem of Thor Park in Genk, the infrastructure acts as a crucial link between research, practice and policy. It accelerates the valorisation of new technologies, supports industrial innovation and contributes to faster and more cost-effective decarbonisation of the Flemish building stock.