Photo Credit: Alheembouw
From brewery to broad, sustainable school
Egied Van Broeckhoven
Early September. The school bell rings, chairs are taken down from the desks, and an excited buzz fills the classrooms. A school is more than just a place to learn: it’s an environment that inspires, stimulates, and encourages growth during a twelve-year journey of discovery. The Egied Van Broeckhoven School is precisely such a school, an example of how a building can contribute to a learning environment that excites and motivates.
Located in the multicultural neighbourhood of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, a district in Brussels with its own unique challenges, the school’s complex is a beautiful example of how new construction and renovation can go hand in hand. The school is housed in a former industrial building, which has been transformed into a modern, sustainable learning environment with respect for its heritage. This project supports the philosophy of Ignatiaanse Scholen in Beweging. By working with local community organizations, the Jesuits give meaning to the concept of a broad school: thanks to a wide range of rooms and outdoor spaces, this project serves as a link between the learning landscape on one hand and the neighbourhood, city, and society on the other. Local sports clubs, like the boxing school, provide young people the opportunity to get together outside the school walls as well. It is a unique initiative without precedent, perfectly aligned with the school’s vision. Egied would look at it with pride, because the man after whom the school is named lived in a poor working-class neighbourhood in Anderlecht, where he became known for his Diary of Friendship.
A harmonious fusion of heritage and innovation
Ekla pilsner was still brewed until the mid-1970s on the former site of Vandenheuvel brewery, between Ninoofsesteenweg and Alphonse Vandenpeereboomstraat. Shortly after being used as a wine trade building, it remained vacant for a long time. Through the DBFM formula – which stands for Design, Build, Finance and Maintain – the former brewery was transformed into a state-of-the-art educational facility.
Eva Deheegher, Project Engineer at Sweco explains: The design respects the cultural value of the industrial heritage. The Art Deco style of the street façades has been restored, and the curved shapes are echoed in the contemporary architecture of the new building. Even the characteristic checkered floor tiles have been preserved, creating a natural symbiosis between old and new. The repurposing of the historical patrimony was accompanied by extensive retrofitting, which made the project more complex but also more sustainable: less demolition means more circular material use.
Photo Credit: Alheembouw
A sustainable design for maximum room and comfort
One of the major challenges of the project was creating as much usable room as possible within a limited surface area. The choice of stacked outdoor spaces proved to be a smart solution. The sports hall, built half underground, catches the attention of passers-by and invites interaction. On the roof of the sports hall is a green playground, and the outdoor spaces spread across different levels provide room for various activities, from sports to relaxation.
Eva continues: “The building was entirely designed with a focus on the pedagogical quality for more than 800 students, with special attention to their comfort and well-being. Functional aspects such as acoustics, ambient temperature, and sufficient daylight were crucial.” This was no easy task, given the starting point of the existing industrial building. And yet that is precisely how an extraordinary piece of architecture came about: a central open patio as a filter for daylight. Sustainable ventilation technologies provide a healthy indoor climate. “Since COVID-19, we know that low CO2 concentration and clean air lead to healthier students and better cognitive performance.”
Photo Credit: Alheembouw
Energy-conscious techniques for a green future
Wim Meyns, Manager MEP Engineering adds: “Thanks to comprehensive energy optimisation, we perform 30% better than EPC and EPB standards. This approach not only results in lower energy bills, but also contributes to a better, greener future.” In addition to the installation of solar panels, we opted for high-quality insulation, smart lighting, and a demand-controlled ventilation system. But the most innovative aspect of this project is the use of geothermal energy, a technology that harnesses the Earth’s heat through geothermal drilling. “In winter, heat is extracted from the ground and delivered to the building through a heat pump. As a result, the ground cools by the end of the winter, which allows us to use the cold in the summer to keep the rooms comfortably cool.” Since the heat underground naturally replenishes, geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that ensures optimal energy efficiency: a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Finally, rainwater is collected and reused to flush toilets and water the plants on the playground.
Collaboration as the key to success
Even before the first brick was laid, the design team and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) experts played a vital role in the realisation of this project. Hundreds of hours of studies and consultations with architects, contractors and other construction partners preceded construction. It was a challenge to complete such a large-scale project on time and on budget, but thanks to the excellent cooperation between all parties involved, every phase of construction went smoothly. Besides the client, the architectural firm and the main contractor, the project came about in collaboration with:
- Project management: PREO
- DBFM Team
- Consortium ABC02, composed of Alheembouw NV and Invesis
- Interior architecture: B2Ai interior design
- Landscape architecture: Stefaan Thiers
- Stability & techniques: Sweco Belgium
- Operation & maintenance: BAM FM
The Egied Van Broeckhoven School is an inspiring example of how sustainable and energy-efficient construction techniques can contribute to a better future, not only for the current generation of pupils and teachers, but also for society as a whole.
