Today, on 1 August 2024, Team Belgium reached an important milestone in the construction of the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The "last beam" ceremony, organised by One Designs, was a remarkable event that symbolised the successful completion of the first superstructure phase of the project.
The ceremony took place in the heart of the construction site, in a special tent. The ceremony began with a captivating video with photos of the construction, highlighting the hard work and dedication of all involved. Some members of the consortium, BelExpo and Atsuko-san, the country manager, shared some new developments, showed images of the progress made and expressed their gratitude and encouragement to the teams.
The most moving moment of the ceremony came when all attendees had the chance to sign the final beam before it was installed. This symbolic gesture allowed everyone to leave their mark on the pavilion, which embodied the collective effort and spirit of collaboration at the heart of the project.
The ceremony concluded with a traditional Japanese "Kampai" toast led by Cyril Rousseaux and Camille Descamps (Carré 7), who celebrated the occasion with a sense of unity and completion.
Finally, Carré 7 and the Pirnay family showed their appreciation by offering a small token of appreciation to everyone involved in the project, including the workers. This gesture of appreciation resonated deeply with all present and highlighted the mutual respect among the team.
The event was attended by representatives from various organisations, including the Expo Association, BelExpo, One Designs, Carré 7, Poly-Tech, Pirnay, Beyond Limits, JMA, AWEX, the Buildings Agency and other project partners, along with the dedicated workers.
The "last beam" ceremony is a traditional event in Japan to bring good luck to the building and builders. It marks the end of the first superstructure phase and paves the way for other specialised teams to continue the work.
The Belgian pavilion is making tremendously rapid progress! The pavilion's foundations were completed on 30 June 2024, allowing the team to start the superstructure on 1 July. Today, 1 August, marks the completion of this work with the installation of the last beam.
This milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication and international cooperation behind the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. We look forward to the next construction phases and the final unveiling of our pavilion, which will showcase the best of Belgium to the world.