Val-Benoît Institute of Chemistry & Metallurgy, Belgium

The Val-Benoît Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy trained generations of Belgium’s industrial scientists since its founding in 1937. This Modernist building was designed with simplicity and function, split into wings connected by a central spine. After 70 years of teaching, Val-Benoît eventually closed and the buildings were left empty.

I made a brief visit in 2017, already very late to the party on this one. One of the few buildings remaining, and the only accessible one at the time, was the Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy. Sadly, the institute was very disappointing; it was looted, heavily tagged with graffiti, and littered with trash. Still, I managed to find a handful of shots in the entry hall, a lecture hall and the laboratories.

History of Val-Benoît

In the aftermath of the First World War, the University of Liège began a phase of expansion. With growing enrolments in engineering and applied sciences, the university sought space to accommodate new laboratories and technical departments. Certainly, the existing urban campus could no longer support its ambitions.

The chosen site lay just south of the city centre, on the left bank of the Meuse. Val-Benoît, a former Cistercian abbey, once stood on the site. Thus, the campus got its name.

Construction of Val-Benoît began in the early 1930s. Initially there would be five institutes: Chemistry and Metallurgy, Mineral Sciences, Civil Engineering, Mechanics, and a combined Thermodynamics Laboratory and Thermoelectric Power Station. The inauguration of the first buildings took place on 26th November 1937 in the presence of King Léopold III.

Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy at Val-Benoît

The Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy (Institut de Chimie et de Métallurgie) was one of the three buildings that were opened at the inauguration in 1937. Belgian architect Albert Puters led the design. A graduate of the university’s own faculty of architecture, Puters decided to keep the architecture simple and functional. The building structure is reinforced concrete, visible only on the interior. The façade is clad with brickwork, accented by limestone around the entrance and window frames. The finishes inside are sparse but deliberate: tiled floors, metal railings, and high ceilings all fit in with the building’s utilitarian aesthetic. This design and the chosen materials are typical of 1930s Modernist movement buildings.

Modernism is the streamlined evolution of Art Deco, emerging in the late 1930s and 1940s. At this time, the world was suffering from the Great Depression. Naturally, these hard times saw a shift away from the opulence of Art Deco towards simplicity. Modernist buildings were more functional in design, dispensing with ornament in favour of practicality while keeping the hints of the geometric designs seen in Art Deco.

The Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy building followed an E-shaped plan, with long lateral wings connected by a central spine. The wings housed laboratories and technical rooms, while the central block contained lecture halls and auditoria. These facilities and teaching staff would be instrumental in training Belgium’s next generations of chemists and metallurgists, supporting the country’s industrial economy long into the future. Graduates would have a wealth of careers to choose from within the region’s coal, steel, and glass industries.

Decline, Closure, and Disuse

By the late 20th century, the needs of the University of Liège had changed. The decentralisation of departments and the development of new campuses led to a gradual withdrawal from Val-Benoît. By the early 2000s, the campus was left disused and silent.

Transformation: From University to mixed-use Hub

In recent years, the Val-Benoît campus has begun its transformation into a mixed-use hub. The overall plan includes spaces for business, culture, housing, and education. Interestingly, many of the buildings are retaining their historical architectural features, with renovation favoured over demolition.

At this time, renovation work nears completion. The Institute of Chemistry and Metallurgy is one of the final buildings to undergo this transformation. Alongside the Thermoelectric Power Station and the Institute of Mechanics, these final buildings will be in use again in the next few years.