Beurshal Brugge

The old and demolished exhibition hall of Bruges was built over 50 years ago (1966) as a temporary structure by Groep Planning. The Bruges Meeting & Convention Centre (BMCC) is a groundbreaking urban renewal project located in the heart of the historic city.

With a multifunctional exhibition hall (4,500 m²), which also serves as a public covered square, the building is fully integrated into the neighborhood. The upper floors accommodate a conference space for more than 500 participants. At the same time, the exhibition area can be transformed into a public covered square by opening the glass exterior walls of the hall. A key asset of the new building is its functional layout and flexible usability. The exhibition and conference areas are connected via a shared entrance but can be used perfectly independently and simultaneously. The building has a robust, massive appearance in reddish-brown brick, matched to the city’s color palette—a reference to historic Bruges. Their solid character provides sufficient shade and serves as integrated sun protection. From the second floor, the view from inside is directed outward toward the Bruges skyline. Preserving all existing high-quality trees that have characterized the Beursplein for decades was a non-negotiable condition from the start. Beech trees are generally sensitive to changing soil conditions. To address this, the designers collaborated with external arborists and the Public Works Department of the city of Bruges.

Types of Spaces

• Entrance hall at ground level
• Exhibition hall: with an area of nearly 4,500 m², suitable for trade fairs, large public events, and conferences
  Auditorium: with a retractable grandstand, accommodates 516 participants. Surrounded by buffer zones (foyer, circulation, etc.) to ensure high sound insulation from the surroundings
• Meeting rooms: The 12 meeting rooms on level 3 are filled with light, multifunctional, and equipped with essential meeting technologies
  Catering area and terrace: The catering space on level 4 opens onto a terrace with views of the historic city center
• Parking and cloakroom: Parking, cloakrooms, and lockers are located on level -1

Acoustic Use of the Exhibition Area

The exhibition area can be used in two modes: as a traditional exhibition hall or as a space for musical performances.

Music Mode:

• Heavy precast concrete panels, tongue and groove, finished with mortar on the cavity side
• Double windows in the skylights for daylight
• Duplicated smoke vents
• Mobile walls create a chicane for the emergency exits and entrance vestibule to improve the weakest links in the sound insulation of the envelope
• The chicane also helps minimize disturbance to the surroundings when people enter and exit
• Mobile wall panels for the glazed façade (photo from the inside shows this)

While the exhibition hall is organized horizontally, connected to the neighborhood and directly accessible from outside, the conference section is vertically stacked. The monumental building rests on a glass plinth, enhancing ground-level transparency and emphasizing its public character. The entrance is dominated by an impressive cantilever that provides a covered entryway.