Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hall 9 in Kessel‑Lo will be transformed into a youth centre with a heated core for offices and workshops, and a covered play space in Leuven. Alderman Karin Brouwers leads the project.
As VRT News reported, Hall 9 in Kessel-Lo, which has stood empty for years, will soon be turned into a new youth centre for Leuven. The city will repair the roof, walls and outside woodwork. The centre will have offices for groups that work with young people, studios for art and music, and a covered space where sports and games can take place. Around the building, there will also be a play and learning garden, with one part made for small children and another part for teenagers.
What will Leuven’s Hall 9 offer for young people and teens?
Alderman for Youth Karin Brouwers (CD&V) said the city does not want to decide everything about Hall 9 on its own. Children and teenagers will be asked to help plan how the building will be used.
They can share ideas in workshops and meetings, like asking for a skate ramp, music rooms, or places to relax with friends. By listening to what young people want, the city hopes Hall 9 will become more than just a hall.
“Children are sheltered from the rain and the sun, but still have plenty of space to play, without actually being outside.”
Karin Brouwers (CD&V), Alderman for Youth
In the middle of Hall 9, the city will build a heated box. Inside there will be a reception, a hall for many uses, meeting rooms, workshop areas and offices for the youth team. The rest of the hall will stay open but will not be heated. It will work like a covered square. Alderman Karin Brouwers says it will feel a bit like being outside but with a roof overhead.
Hall 9 is a large industrial building in Kessel‑Lo, part of Leuven, that has been empty for years after its former use ended. The city bought the site with the goal of turning it into a community hub rather than letting it decay. The idea for a youth centre grew out of earlier consultations about the shortage of indoor play and meeting spaces for young people in the area.
