SCK CEN inaugurates new main entrance
Stricter security and better organised
Today, the nuclear research centre SCK CEN is officially inaugurating its brand new main entrance. “This is a momentous day in our history,” said Peter Baeten, Director General of SCK CEN. After more than 70 years, SCK CEN is leaving Boeretang 200 and is relocating to number 190. “This new entrance is more than just a new front door – it's our gateway to enhanced security, state-of-the-art infrastructure and operations that are fit for the future.”
Very soon, regular visitors to SCK CEN won't believe their eyes the next time they drive into the car park. From now on, the nuclear research centre will welcome them with a modern face – the Main Entrance Building (MEB). The building itself consists of tall, interwoven expanses of glass with warm wood accents and slender, branch-shaped columns – an architectural nod to the surrounding greenery. Behind that architectural calm, however, lies a clear priority: robust security. “We bear great responsibility to protect our site both physically and digitally,” said Peter Baeten, Director General of SCK CEN. “That is why we are continually investing in security and safety. This new main entrance forms an essential part of that.”
When designing the new entrance, not only were the very latest security, detection and identification systems on the market included, but the many years of practical experience at Boeretang 200 were also deliberately taken into account. “The lessons we have learned over the years have now been translated into an entrance that is better organised,” continued Peter Van de Velde, project leader Security. The result is a building that combines efficiency and clarity. What makes MEB special is the way it structures all visitor flows. Inbound and outbound traffic are strictly separated. Employees, third parties and visitors also follow their own access route – on foot, by bike and by car. “Those separate access flows provide clarity. This speeds up identification and enables checks to be more focused and thorough, while ensuring that the flows of people are still processed smoothly. It also increases road safety.”
naar een versterkte beveiliging, moderne infrastructuur en toekomstgerichte werking.
Strict separation between SCK CEN and VITO
The MEB’s commissioning represents the final stage in the strict separation between SCK CEN and VITO. This separation dates back to 1991, when SCK CEN, following a government decision, transferred its non-nuclear activities to the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). This divided the research into two parts, and consequently, the business park as well. Since then, both research institutes have operated entirely independently, still sharing a main entrance. This is now coming to an end. This division does not hinder research collaboration; on the contrary.
Legal obligation
Commissioning the MEB also fulfils legal obligations. SCK CEN is subject to several Royal Decrees regulating the physical protection of nuclear material, nuclear facilities, and nuclear transport. "The regulatory framework for physical security is defined by the four Royal Decrees of 17 October 2011," explains Peter Van de Velde. "Those obligations were further reinforced by the Royal Decree of 17 March 2024. Our MEB enables us to comply with current regulations and proactively address future changes."
