“Our team wants to make its mark on all of Flanders”

Hexagon's world never stands still. Recently, the team has once again started redeveloping a number of existing sites, each time with a view to adding value for business activity and the neighbourhood. A clear evolution can be seen: “Hexagon is now looking more for larger-scale projects, while still focusing on areas that benefit from redevelopment. That way, we continue to make a difference ecologically, socially and economically,” says director Jelle Vandendriessche. “On sites with large surface areas, we also believe it is necessary to bring more variety to the mix, something the government also encourages,” adds financial director Stijn Eyckmans. “That means our well-known SME units, but also offices, housing and build-to-suit projects, with the latter taking up the most space.”

A good example of a larger-scale redevelopment is the new Twee Kranen project in Zwijndrecht, which Hexagon is getting off the ground together with Revive: “Half of the available space there will be taken up by larger players, while the other half is aimed more at small and medium-sized enterprises. After all, our focus remains on the Flemish SME that wants to do business but needs the right space to do so,” explains Jelle. “Twee Kranen is a prime example of our goal of making our mark in the rest of Flanders and Brussels too. To support that ambition, we are setting up a satellite office in Antwerp. That way, we will have our ‘boots on the ground’, as they would say in the US.”

A large redevelopment can also be the ideal basis for a build-to-suit project. Build-to-suit means that a developer guides the client in their search for new premises, and then draws up and carries out a tailored building plan. This kind of process also brings a new dynamic for Hexagon's experienced team: “A build-to-suit project involves a more intensive preparatory phase, in which the plans have to be aligned with the client's wishes from A to Z. The necessary permits also have to be obtained, both for the building and for operating the activities. Our team has already proved several times in the past that we can handle these challenges, and will continue to do so in the future. The expertise we have built up is an important advantage and takes a welcome load off the client's shoulders.”