Bismut: construction works have started.

The former ‘Chevron’ building (formerly ‘Texaco’) located on campus Ardoyen was transferred by the Chevron company to Ghent University on 1 February 2022, following the early termination of its ground lease.
The UGent administration decided to renovate the former Chevron building for the benefit of departments EA17: Applied Physics; EA08: Electrical Energy, Metals, Mechanical Constructions & Systems and EA11: Materials, Textiles & Chemical Process Engineering.
Meanwhile, the former ‘Chevron’ is being transformed and renamed ‘Bismut’: investments are being made to keep the building working, in particular by bringing all the technical installations up to date and by carrying out some necessary structural work to accommodate the operations of the departments.
It is assumed that the building will eventually be demolished. Hence, no investment is being made in the building shell.
The programme consists of:
Chemical laboratories for research and teaching, practical rooms, engine test cells, research rooms and offices.

In addition, the old fuel plants and storage rooms will be demolished to make way for a large new-build shed that will serve as a test hall for E08.
The shed will be energy-neutral. All energy needs for the operation of the building will be compensated by own energy generation through photovoltaic panels and air-water heat pumps.