Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A central Antwerp fire station and part of the city’s homeless shelter will relocate to the Digipolis site, creating a new hub for public services.
Renovations are expected to begin in the fall of 2026 and be completed by 2029. Digipolis Antwerp is expected to move to Den Bell, the municipal building of the city.
The Paleisstraat fire station is antiquated and no longer satisfies contemporary requirements. Also in need of a new location is a section of the city’s homeless shelter. Both will be moved to the Generaal Armstrongweg location.
Currently based there is the city’s IT partner, Digipolis Antwerp. That function will relocate to Den Bell, the city’s administration building, around New Year’s Eve.
The required alterations will be made to the existing Digipolis building. Both groups will have separate entrances and exits. Additionally, the interior areas will be totally divided.
The ground and first floors of the fire department will be situated on the west side of the structure, underneath the tower. This will comprise offices, a warehouse, a workshop, and spaces for rest and recreation. A brand-new car park with six parking spots and a training area will be built next to the current structure.
The temporary location of the homeless services moving to the site is the old Sint-Erasmus Hospital in Borgerhout.
The tower, the east side of the ground and first floors, and the current entrance will all be used by the homeless shelter.
Renovations are scheduled to start in the fall of 2026, if all goes as planned. Early in 2029, both groups ought to be able to relocate to their new sites.
How will the homeless shelter’s capacity change after moving?
The relocation of the shelter to Digipolis in Antwerp will most likely put an emphasis on improved living conditions with smaller private spaces, impacting capacity by either keeping it the same or reducing it slightly, while providing additional comfort and support for individuals living there.
This is the same approach as many current trends and best practices in homeless shelter design, which emphasize smaller and more manageable units and communal spaces for privacy, reducing stress, and enhancing supportive services later over simply maximizing bed capacity and reducing community areas. It might even mean a reduced or stabilized capacity, but with better living conditions and support outcomes for individuals living there.
No further official announcements are available regarding capacity change for this particular shelter relocation from the project authorities or the city administration.
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