De Watermolen swimming pool

The Challenge

The city of Sint-Niklaas faced a growing shortage of accessible swimming facilities. To address this need, a new, large-scale swimming pool complex—spanning approximately 9,000 m²—is being developed on the site of the former Puyenbeke sports and recreation park. The challenge was to design a facility that not only meets the community’s recreational needs but also aligns with modern sustainability standards.

The Solution

For this project, Tractebel implemented the GRO tool, the Flemish sustainability framework for construction. GRO guided the design process by helping define and monitor the project’s sustainability ambitions. Both the client and the design team used this tool throughout the various project phases to ensure that environmental performance remained a central focus from concept to execution.

The Impact

The result is a future-proof, energy-efficient swimming complex that prioritizes user comfort and circular construction principles. By integrating GRO from the outset, Tractebel helped deliver a sustainable public facility that supports the city’s long-term environmental and social goals.