Since 2021, RUSG has been flying high in the Belgian First Division A of football. Their home base is the delightful historic Joseph Marien Stadium in Forest, but it no longer meets the requirements of a modern club of this caliber and cannot be upgraded because of its heritage status. It’s time to write a new chapter in the club’s history with a brand new stadium designed to shine on the European football stage.

RUSG is currently in negotiations for the construction of a new stadium at the Bempt-site in Forest. If this process ends favorably, the club intends to be ready to immediately initiate the permit process. In 2020, the club already appointed a team of architects: ESA and KSS, who have extensive experience in building football stadiums, both in Belgium and abroad. Several sketches and studies have already been conducted, and others are still ongoing, focusing on the site’s possibilities, the general stadium configuration, and the layout of stands and interior spaces.

But that’s not all. RUSG is now looking for a designer to skillfully integrate the stadium into the urban environment, both in termes of its look, surrounding landscaping and (designing of all flows) the visitors flows. An architecture that aligns with the landscape quality of the Bempt, even when 16,000 visitors flood the grounds during peak hours, but which also proudly shows itself towards the motorway. Beyond match days, the stadium should be an asset to the neighborhood, reflect the club’s identity and integrate harmoniously into Forest’s urban fabric. The ambition, in collaboration with ESA and KSS, is to create an innovative stadium infused with a sustainable approach, designed to stand the test of time.

The designer RUSG is searching for will need to dive into action immediately, as time is running out. An efficient collaboration between the three architects is crucial to achieve a coherent whole for a brief that is unique, especially in the world of architectural competitions in Belgium.

If you are interested, we invite you to send your candidacy, before 06.11.2023 at 11 AM, to bouwmeester maître architecte at appel-oproep@bma.brussels.