History
There has been a
seminary in the neighbourhood of the Reep, at the Geraard de Duivelsteen, even
as far back as the 16th century. Following a relocation to the vicinity of
the cathedral since 1625, the great seminary has returned to its former home on
the Reep.
1903: Looking for a new location
At the end of the 19th century, the building complex at the cathedral was in poor condition. No longer did it meet hygienic requirements: the heating, lighting and ventilation were inadequate, the inner courtyard was too small, and sunlight could not reach it… Supporting themselves with the decrees of the French administration, of 18 Germinal, Year X and of 30 December 1809, that every provincial government must provide a bishop with a seminary building that met requirements, the governors of the seminary appealed to the provincial administration of East Flanders.
1905: Building on the Reep
On 24 July, the decision was made to build the new seminary at the Reep, facing the Geraard de Duivelsteen, where the Ghent seminary once stood in its younger days.
An architect named Mortier was awarded the assignment of drawing up the plans: space for 200 seminarians, with two rooms for each, rooms for 9 professors, the President, personnel, nuns, refectories, classrooms, libraries… 10,448 m² in all, divided over three storeys. Taking these requirements more or less into account, Mr Mortier designed Ghent's new great seminary as we know it today.
1914: Temporary barracks
In 1914, the new building was finally ready. The first to move in were… German occupying troops -- who turned the building into the 'Hohenzollern' barracks (the hayloft barracks in Ghent parlance). Traces of the German occupation are still to be seen in the seminary today. Then, from 1918 to 1925, the building was used as the Belgian army's Albert Barracks.
1925: The great seminary on the Reep
On 6 November 1925, the seminary's managerial office (Chairman A. De Bock, Secretary O. Joliet) and the government of the province of East Flanders concluded a contract whereby the seminary received the right to occupy the buildings at the Reep as of 1 January 1926.
2002: A new era
The last of the seminarians vacated the great seminary in 2002. By that time, the property had become much too large for the small number of persons called to the religious order, and a new use was sought for the buildings.
Renovations were begun in June 2002 and lasted until mid-2003. In refurbishing the buildings, care was taken to maintain a balance between the character of the old structure and modern architecture. The finest example of this is the inner courtyard, constructed in concrete, with a floor painting by Panamarenko that echoes the colours of the brick walls.
Starting with the official inauguration on 29 September 2003, it became Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School's turn to occupy the great seminary.