Staircase construction Ghent (URBCON pilot project)
- Ghent - Belgium
URBCON is a European innovation project focused on developing sustainable concrete solutions for urban environments. By replacing primary raw materials with industrial by-products, the project significantly reduces CO₂ emissions and resource use. FDN contributes its engineering expertise in designing and constructing structures using recycled concrete with up to 70% reduced carbon footprint for the concrete mixes.
Project description and location
The URBCON project – “By-products for sustainable concrete in the urban environment” – aims to transform the way concrete is produced and used in cities. It focuses on reducing raw material consumption and CO₂ emissions in construction through the use of alternative materials such as metallic slags and incineration ashes. The project is being implemented in metropolitan areas including Ghent, Rotterdam, and Northern France, where several pilot projects demonstrate the practical applications of this new circular concrete technology. For this project we designed and executed a fire escape staircase for a school in Ghent. The project was a great success with application of concrete using recycled material and low cement usage.
Challenges of the project
One of the main challenges was developing concrete that meets modern structural and safety standards while replacing traditional raw materials with by-products. Ensuring durability, workability, and scalability of these innovative mixtures required extensive research, testing, and collaboration between material scientists, engineers, and contractors. Another challenge was establishing efficient logistics and digital resource mapping to match material availability with construction demand.
Sustainability
URBCON directly addresses the construction sector’s environmental impact. By integrating by-products into new concrete formulations, the project reduces dependency on virgin materials and lowers CO₂ emissions. This sustainable approach extends the life cycle of resources and supports Europe’s transition toward climate-neutral urban environments.
Circularity
Circularity is at the heart of URBCON. The project demonstrates how industrial by-products can be upcycled into high-quality construction materials. This approach not only minimizes waste but also closes material loops between industries, transforming what was once discarded into valuable input for sustainable infrastructure. Through digital platforms, URBCON also promotes transparency and efficiency in material reuse.
FDN contribution
FDN Group participated as an engineering expert, focusing on the design and construction of structures made from recycled concrete. Our role included exploring design possibilities for prefabrication, selecting contractors, and testing the performance of concrete mixtures with minimal or no cement. FDN also developed construction, testing, and maintenance protocols to ensure long-term reliability and compliance with safety standards. These contributions have been essential to realizing URBCON’s vision of circular concrete in practice.
Partners
URBCON is a collaboration between European universities, research institutes, public authorities, and private companies. The consortium brings together leading expertise in sustainable construction materials, resource mapping, and life cycle analysis. Through this international partnership, knowledge and innovation are shared to accelerate the transition toward greener, circular construction practices across Europe.
Partner University: University Ghent, Belgium
Urbcon website: Interreg North West Europe