Workshop & Events

The NICOLE Fall Workshop 2024 will take place from 21–22 November in Bilbao, Spain, hosted by IDOM.

The theme of the Fall Workshop is:

Successful Legacy Site Revitalization
Governance, Risk Mitigation, and Circular Solutions
 

Revitalization of legacy sites is key in moving towards the 2030 EU soil strategy objectives. Significant portions of our cities have drastically changed in the last decades. Former industrial sites have been converted into business parks or startup incubation zones, as well as urban redevelopment for city expansion fostering innovation and economic growth. Bilbao, our host city, is a vibrant testimony to the successful revitalization of legacy areas, and its Guggenheim museum and metropolitan area shine as a world example of regeneration of degraded industrial sites.

But the work is not complete and many legacy sites in Europe are still looking for a future: they may be former mining or industrial sites; they are located in a large variety of settings, from urban to rural; and they have a very diverse market potential and community value. Revitalizing sites requires a complex strategy, which encompasses the business model, governance of the process, mitigation of business risks, and nowadays requires the use of circular solutions during remediation, redevelopment and the planned future use.

The workshop will focus on five key topics:

1. Business models in revitalizing legacy sites
2. Stakeholder engagement and governance in legacy site transformation
3. Project risk management in the revitalization of legacy sites
4. Innovating with nature-based solutions for site remediation
5. Increasing circularity: from legacy site to land stewardship

Please find the workshop program below:

17:00–18:00 Site Visit: Guided Tour of the Alhóndiga (to be confirmed) – 21 November
A tour of the Alhóndiga, offering insights into the building's rich history, its transformation, and current projects.
Location: Azkuna Zentroa-Alhóndiga Bilbao, Arriquíbar Plaza, 4, Abando, 48010 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

19:15–22:30 Conference Dinner "The Guggenheim Experience" – 21 November
The conference dinner will be held at a unique venue—the iconic Guggenheim Museum in the heart of Bilbao. The museum will open its doors after hours for exclusive, small-scale tours. Following the tours, a networking-style dinner will be hosted within the museum. More information about the event can be found here.

Registration

NICOLE Members, please register for the NICOLE Member Day and the Workshop Days by logging into the NICOLE Portal. Simply navigate to the events page, where you will find the registration link waiting for you.

If you are not a member of NICOLE or you want to join with more than 3 colleagues, please contact, the NICOLE Secretariat, Ms Chayenne van Dijk.

Logistic Information & Hotel Recommendations

We have prepared a document with logistic information and hotel recommendations to help arrange your stay in Bilbao. Please click on the button below to view the details.

Workshop location

IDOM | Consulting, Engineering, Architecture
Zarandoa Etorb., 23, Deusto, 48015 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain