How can campuses shaped by an industrial past be transformed into sustainable, inclusive university spaces that are fully integrated into the city? This was the central question explored at the University of Liège from 19 to 21 May 2026, when around twenty participants from the partner universities of the European alliance UNIC gathered for the Staff Week entitled “Redesigning the Campus in the City”.
Over the course of three days, infrastructure directors, deans, architects, academics and municipal representatives from partner universities and cities in Zagreb, Rotterdam, Łódź, Oulu, Cork, Malmö and Bochum shared their experiences around a common observation: the universities within the alliance are now facing similar challenges linked to urban and environmental transformation. Between the rehabilitation of former industrial sites, the adaptation of buildings to new uses, and the integration of climate and social concerns, campuses are increasingly becoming real laboratories for the transformation of post-industrial cities.
In Liège, this issue has particular significance. The first day highlighted the redevelopment of the Faculty of Architecture and the ongoing transformations across the university’s different campuses. The UNIC partners also presented the specific realities of their own campuses, revealing shared concerns such as mobility, sustainability, accessibility and stakeholder engagement.
The second day focused on sustainable transition strategies. The institutional strategy for campus planning and management, presented by the Vice-Rector, Pierre Duysinx, with the support of ARI and Green Office, sparked discussions on energy-efficient refurbishment, spatial planning and the university’s role in the region’s ecological transition.
Beyond infrastructure, however, discussions also emphasized that an inclusive campus is built through human and political choices. The final morning, dedicated to accessibility, particularly resonated with participants because of its practical approach. Professor Loïc Sauvage raised awareness about the obstacles faced by people with disabilities and the sometimes minimal adjustments capable of transforming users’ experiences. Workshops organized by the association Passe-Muraille in the Val Benoît buildings allowed participants to experience different disability situations themselves within this newly renovated environment.
For Pierre Hallot, this meeting perfectly illustrates the added value of a European alliance such as UNIC: “This openness towards other universities experiencing extremely similar contexts and constraints linked to post-industrial reconversion helps enrich our reflection on the future of our university. This activity made things tangible and, above all, created connections with colleagues from the other partner institutions. It provides a concrete basis for encouraging other colleagues to discover UNIC.”
Through discussions, visits and informal exchanges, this Staff Week ultimately confirmed one idea: the challenges facing the campuses of tomorrow go far beyond national borders. In the face of the ongoing transformation of European cities, cooperation between universities appears more essential than ever in imagining spaces that are more sustainable, accessible and connected to their territories.
University of Liège
International Relations
Place du 20 Août, 7 (A1) – 4000 Liège – Belgium
Tél. : +32 (0)4 366 90 55
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