The full-fledged KunstAcademie KunstParel, offering departments for Speech, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, has taken up residence in the renovated building on September 1, 2026. The building, owned by the municipality since 1856, has served various functions over the years.
The building's history includes its construction as a town hall with an adjacent school in 1856, an adaptation of the facade in 1923, and its use as a justice of the peace and tax office from 1970. The Herne Music School was founded in 1980 and partially relocated in 2009. After the justice of the peace closed in 2017, the renovation and expansion to transform the building into an art academy began on May 22, 2024.
The renovation has consolidated all departments – Speech, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts – under one roof. The original facade has been preserved, creating a blend of old and new. This project is part of the 'Een Sterke Kern voor Herne' study from 2019.
The works include an extension at the rear with a speech class, a ballet studio, and a percussion room. The existing basement has been fitted with technical spaces, a changing room, and storage. The ground floor houses the secretariat, music theory classes, and instrument rooms. The first floors accommodate additional instrument rooms and a visual arts studio, while the attic contains technical and storage areas.
The building is now fully accessible to wheelchair users thanks to an elevator. Heating is provided by an air/water heat pump with underfloor heating, and a 25KWP PV installation on the roof ensures renewable energy. It meets the EPB requirements for energy performance and a healthy indoor climate. An acoustic study was also conducted, with particular attention to the drum room, to comply with standards for air and impact noise, installation noise, reverberation time, and sound absorption.
The estimated costs for the project amount to 2,675,000 euros. The design was created by architectural firm Corbey-Ringoir, with Phenix as the main contractor, overseeing Celcio (HVAC/sanitary), Vander Putten (electrical), and Orona (elevator).
