Credit: MMTP
Thursday 27 April 2023 marked the inauguration of the new buildings of the Ligue HMC, a private association supporting the social and professional integration of people with intellectual disabilities, in Capellen.
The inauguration took place in the presence of Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility and Public Works, François Bausch, the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Georges Engel, the Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, and the management of the Ligue HMC.
Three new buildings have been built in the Villa Bourg park in Capellen, headquarters of the Ligue HMC, with the aim of providing better reception for 200 people with intellectual disabilities, 60 supervisors and various visitors and clients.
The buildings were developed in two consecutive construction phases, which integrating them into the existing park while preserving the use of part of the old workshops, including the canteen, until the completion of the new buildings.
The project, according to the respective government ministries, was designed to respond to the needs of the Ligue HMC, in particular by strengthening social belonging and creating structures that allow people to integrate and make a valuable contribution to society, according to their skills.
The three new buildings include a work and training structure with sheltered workshops such as carpentry, locksmithing, caning, bookbinding, weaving and ceramics.
A second building was built, which also includes sheltered workshops (kitchen, canteen, restaurant, laundry), a day activity centre with functional rooms and a reception and relaxation room, a teaching kitchen and a socio-paedagogical and therapeutic activity centre with a "Snoezelen" room/music room, as well as an occupational therapy and physiotherapy area, a gymnasium and an infirmary.
Similarly, a shop for Ligue HMC products and a service for companies with multi-purpose rooms for subcontracting work are located in the last building as well as a container park outside.
Moreover, the project saw the completion and renewal of the park with native trees and hedges and the redevelopment of the roads.. An car park (which is described as "ecological") with 41 spaces is available to employees at the entrance to the site, whilst the visitor car park offers twelve spaces near the restaurant and the shop.
According to the ministries, the energy concept guarantees reduced energy consumption. The outer envelope of the buildings as well as the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (supplemented by natural ventilation through motorised openings on the facade) are reportedly at the cutting edge of technology and have low energy consumption. The project also focused on using environmentally friendly materials to ensure good indoor air quality.
The overall cost of this project was €31,000,000 including tax. The commissioning of the three buildings was completed in September 2022.
