Edition 2
The second edition of the SBE Student Challenge challenged students to design an urban, architectural, and structural concept for the Vijfstraten cycling bridge in Sint-Niklaas. Unlike the first edition, this assignment took place in an urban context.
Cycling bridge parallel to the railway
Overall Vision
The cycling bridge in this design competition is part of the F4 cycling highway between Ghent and Antwerp. With the expansion of the network of cycling highways and supra-local functional cycling routes, the goal is to offer a viable alternative to motorized traffic, particularly for medium distances (5 to 20 km). The aim is to increase the share of functional cycling trips at the expense of car use.
The majority of daily, functional trips can be perfectly carried out by bike. E-bikes make it possible to reach even more destinations within a shorter time. The cycling highways connect to high-quality cycle routes in cities and municipalities, similar routes, as well as NMBS train stations and stops. About 80% of the network runs alongside railway lines, former railway beds, or waterways.
Context
The Vijfstraten cycling bridge is part of the construction of the F4 cycling highway between Ghent and Antwerp, running along railway line 59 Ghent–Antwerp near Sint-Niklaas. Most sections of the route have already been completed or are under construction. A crucial missing link is the crossing at Vijfstraten in Sint-Niklaas.
Currently, the section between the Vijfstraten–Slachthuisstraat intersection and the connection to the cycling route along the railway at Nieuwe Molenstraat remains a gap in the cycling highway. This is also a busy and dangerous intersection for cyclists, located where the N451 meets the Sint-Niklaas Ring Road (R42).
The challenge
Collaboration between different disciplines was central to this design competition. Each team consisted of a maximum of five students with diverse profiles. New compared to edition 1 was that the SBE Student Challenge was no longer tied to a single educational institution. Students were free not only to register individually or as a group, but also to choose their teammates—whether from other departments, faculties, or even institutions.
For this design competition, students were expected to deliver at least an architectural and technical design that included the following elements:
A new (non-movable) bridge over the Vijfstraten–Slachthuisstraat crossing, located north of and parallel to the existing railway bridge;
Approach ramps for the bridge (including piers, foundations, and/or earthworks);
Environmental works, such as: the closure and redevelopment of Nieuwe Molenstraat and its surroundings, approach ramps and landscaping, rainwater management, cycle paths connected to existing roads, …;
Site development and/or functional use of the acquired parcels B 557p² and 557r².
Kick-off
Watch the recording of the kick-off for the second edition of the design competition here.
The winners
On June 28, 2022, during a company event for the employees of #teamsbe, the winners of the SBE Student Challenge were announced at the closing ceremony.
The winner of the SBE Student Challenge edition 2 is team TVB! Congratulations to Gaetan Van Beversluys and Hannes Torrekens. Their design impressed the jury with a smart and cohesive response to both technical and environmental challenges. The result is a dynamic experience for bridge users. The bridge’s tailor-made architecture reflects its surroundings while simultaneously adding a strong new identity.
The laureates in the category prizes are:
Best Design: team TVB
Best Urban and Landscape Integration: team KaMa
Best Structural Detailing: team KaMa
The Jury
