Project
A historic industrial icon at the heart of Seraing's story, the Ateliers Centraux are being transformed into a unique mixed-use district where community spirit meets quality of life. Discover an ambitious project that bridges past, present, and future
The Ateliers Story
Seraing 1900, the Center of the World
In the 19th century, Belgium emerged as the world's second-largest industrial power, behind only the British Empire. This extraordinary rise began in Wallonia, with Seraing leading the charge and blast furnaces shaping the landscape.
— Victor Hugo, The Rhine
In 1817, engineer and entrepreneur John Cockerill established one of the first major industrial complexes of the modern era in Seraing. In record time, the city's industries captured global attention, exporting cutting-edge technologies that would help shape modernity itself: steam engines, boilers, bridges, ship hulls, and one of the century's most strategic innovations, the railway.
Throughout the 19th century, this industrial boom gave rise to a previously unseen landscape: a panorama of foundries, rolling mills, forges, and vast workshops, dominated by the iconic silhouette of the blast furnace, which replaced the church steeple as the community's defining landmark. It was within this extraordinary yet imposing industrial world that the Ateliers Centraux were born in the early decades of the following century.
One Place, One Spirit, One Community
Built in the early 20th century, the Ateliers Centraux served as the logistical and administrative hub for the surrounding industries. More than a workplace, they were a place that brought people together: the cornerstone of a community and a symbol of working-class culture.
As their name suggests, the Ateliers Centraux occupied a central position within the Cockerill industrial complex in Ougrée. They supplied the mechanical and electrical components required across the group's operations, from coke plants to rolling mills. The site also included locomotive assembly and repair workshops, a design office, and administrative departments.
It was a world unto itself, bringing together production and maintenance workers, mechanics, engineers, warehouse staff, secretaries, and many others. Bound by work but also by life's milestones, national celebrations, local festivities, and labor movements, this community remained vibrant until the site's closure in the early 2000s.
A New Beginning
An Iconic Building
The site consists of three monumental halls, distinguished by their impressive proportions and understated elegance. Once a concrete cathedral dedicated to industry, they are now being reimagined as spaces designed to inspire, connect, and entertain.
Inherited from its industrial past, the site's architecture is characterized by simple and functional design, generous volumes, large openings, and a timeless aesthetic that invites contemplation. The powerful atmosphere of the place inspired the desire to breathe new life into this solemn, majestic, and iconic heritage.
The redevelopment, entrusted to Danish architect Dorte Mandrup, seeks to preserve the cultural and symbolic legacy of the site through a strategy of conservation, reuse, and recycling. The original layout and grand structure of the halls will be showcased and reinterpreted with a contemporary identity, creating spaces dedicated to creativity, connection, and quality of life.
A Complete Ecosystem
The future district has been conceived as a self-sustaining ecosystem, built around diverse and complementary uses: housing, retail, hospitality, community and sports facilities, shared spaces, and more. A world of possibilities within a single destination.
Spread across more than 30,000 m², the Ateliers Centraux master plan is organized into three distinct areas: the workshops within the West Hall, transformed into a centre for art and creative production; the Locomotive Hall to the south, incorporating housing, retail, and sports facilities; the East Hall, dedicated to hospitality and leisure, including a hotel that reinforces the district's role as a true destination.
At the heart of this ecosystem lies the forecourt, envisioned as a vibrant public square. Designed to host concerts, performances, festivals, flea markets, and countless other events, it serves as a welcoming gathering place for everyone, from day visitors to year-round residents.
A One‑of‑a‑Kind Destination
A Place for Culture in All Its Forms
Culture, in its broadest sense, is one of the project's defining pillars. Contemporary art, performing arts, street arts, festivals, gatherings, neighbourhood celebrations, and community events all have a place here. As a true social connector, culture becomes both the beating heart of the district and its public face.
Art and culture are at the very core of the Ateliers Centraux vision. Developed in close harmony with the architectural programme, the cultural strategy is designed to encourage encounters, shared experiences, and discovery in the most open, generous, and inclusive spirit possible.
The curatorial vision is built on dialogue between all forms of cultural expression, regardless of genre or artistic hierarchy. From experimental contemporary art installations to spontaneous community banquets, every initiative capable of bringing life to the site in unexpected and eclectic ways will find its place here. The ambition is to create a district with a genuine soul, where everyone can thrive in everyday life.
A New European Hotspot
Far more than a real estate project contained within its own boundaries, the Ateliers Centraux are intended to become the vibrant centre of a district undergoing profound renewal, stretching from the Sart-Tilman university campus to the Sclessin Stadium. A hub for leisure, culture, and innovation, ideally positioned to attract visitors from across Europe.
The Ateliers Centraux project aims to become one of the key drivers behind the regeneration of the Ougrée-Meuse area, a major urban development initiative designed to revitalize the neighbourhoods extending from the banks of the Meuse to the hills of Sart-Tilman. Whether you are a Seraing resident, a university student, a Standard Liège supporter ("Come on, Rouches!"), or a regular at the OM concert venue, there's a place for you at the Ateliers Centraux.
Beyond the Province of Liège, the site is designed to shine on a European scale. Its cultural programme, combined with a comprehensive hospitality and service offering, has been developed to create a destination that is vibrant, welcoming, and constantly surprising. From Brussels, Cologne, Luxembourg, Düsseldorf, Paris, or Amsterdam, Seraing is only a few hours away by train or car, making it the perfect setting for a weekend escape or a longer stay dedicated to discovery.
Experience the project today!
From a single building to a buzzing hive. Residential living, retail, culture, sports, student life, and civic engagement all thrive in harmony. With Ateliers Centraux, an entire neighborhood is reborn.