Transformation of a historic building into a centre for higher education and scientific research

The Université du Travail (UT), founded by Paul Pastur, was built in 1905 by architects Albert and Alexis Dumont. The building featured impressive exhibition halls illuminated by three large skylights, designed to showcase the technical expertise of the era. In addition, a majestic great hall was created, with a richly decorated mosaic floor, flanked by a series of classrooms and laboratories. The university building reflects Charleroi’s industrial heritage at the beginning of the 20th century and embodies the political tensions between the emerging working class and the ruling bourgeoisie. As a unique institution for both technical and economic education, it was dedicated to training workers and clerks. Listed as a historic monument since 2004, the building is especially notable for having been built directly on Charleroi’s former fortification walls.

The transformation includes the restoration of its remarkable listed interiors and corridors, the refurbishment of the façades to their original appearance, and the installation of high-performance glazing in the windows. Interior spaces have been renovated to support modern, active learning methods, with multifunctional areas such as the Learning Center, classrooms, and auditoriums.

An innovative technical core makes the building energy independent. All technical systems have been upgraded, the structure reinforced, and fire safety discreetly enhanced, with hidden sprinklers integrated into the steel framework.

One of the main challenges has been integrating new research infrastructures into the Zénobe Gramme building. This integration creates a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation and sustainable development by bringing together stakeholders with complementary expertise. The research centre acts as a hub, physically connecting researchers, students, and industry partners, while providing shared facilities that support the development of breakthrough technologies. Through this approach, CUZG actively contributes to generating the knowledge necessary to tackle major social challenges.