Sweco Belgium
Defense builds the future: groundbreaking of the new Headquarters
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Defense will lay the first symbolic stone of its new headquarters in Evere. The ceremony marks the official start of an ambitious construction project that will provide Defense with a modern, secure, and sustainable workspace, ready to tackle future challenges. Sweco is the engineering partner for this prestigious assignment.
The ceremony will be attended by Defense Minister Theo Francken, Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Frédéric Goetynck, and representatives of the NHQ consortium.
Design, Build & Maintain
The current infrastructure at the Queen Elisabeth Quarter, dating back to the early 1970s, is highly outdated and energy-consuming. As the infrastructure no longer meets the needs of our personnel and organization, a decision was made at the end of 2018 to build a new headquarters.
In December 2022, the Council of Ministers approved the awarding of a Design, Build & Maintain contract for the new headquarters of the Defense staff in Evere. The contract, totaling 499 million euros (initial investment and 2 years of maintenance, extendable by an additional 8 years), was awarded to the NHQ consortium consisting of contractors BAM Interbuild, Galère, Jan De Nul, Valens, and AB Eiffage, architects Assar, ArtBuild, and ANMA, and the Sweco engineering firm. The group is responsible not only for the design and realization but also for the technical maintenance of the infrastructure.
In September 2024, the demolition of existing buildings and preparation of the site began. During these preparatory works, soil pollution was detected, which is being remediated in accordance with regulations.
The project, carried out by Belgian companies, generates significant societal returns: job creation, development of economic activities, housing, and green spaces on the former NATO headquarters and Queen Elisabeth Quarter sites.
New Way of Working
The new headquarters will be located opposite the NATO Headquarters on a 11.4-hectare site, partially on the former NATO Headquarters site and partially on the current Queen Elisabeth Quarter site.
It will accommodate nearly 4000 employees and consist of several buildings, including:
- A main building with 2800 workstations for the Defense staff.
- A conference center on Leopold III Avenue, accessible to external parties.
- A daycare center and offices for the Central Service for Social and Cultural Action of Defense (CDSCA).
- Facilities for personnel, such as sports zones, showers, lockers, and a corporate restaurant.
The majority of the office environment will be arranged according to the New Way of Working (NWOW): a dynamic and flexible way of working that encourages collaboration between services.
Thus, the headquarters will be the first large-scale NWOW project within Defense, following successful pilot projects. Defense is investing in a dynamic, people-centered work environment where collaboration, efficiency, and well-being are central.
Soldiers are the beating heart of it. And soldiers, in turn, are nothing without solid infrastructure. That’s why the first stone I’ll soon lay is not just a stone. It’s a cornerstone. A foundation. A powerful symbol of the reconstruction of our Defense. The importance of infrastructure cannot be underestimated. Our barracks are the backbone of our operational strength. It’s the place where soldiers train and learn new combat techniques. But it’s also the place where they, in turn, pass on their experience and skills to new recruits and reservists.
Theo Francken, Defense Minister
Future-proof and sustainable
From the very design of this project, we have carefully considered military security principles. We have applied the “security by design” approach to ensure security is integrated into every aspect of the design from the outset.
We have also implemented layered defense to strategically position and protect critical parts. This means that each layer of defense provides an additional barrier against potential threats, thereby enhancing overall security.
Finally, we have applied the concept of “defense in depth,” which entails creating multiple layers of defense to ensure robust and resilient security. This ensures preparedness for various scenarios and optimal protection of our critical infrastructure.
The new headquarters will be a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB). By utilizing heat pumps, solar panels, geothermal energy storage, and high-quality thermal insulation, energy consumption will be drastically reduced. Fossil fuels will only be used for emergency generators and backup heating systems.
The project also includes:
- Rainwater recovery
- Reuse of demolition materials
- Sustainable building materials
- Thoughtful landscape design that promotes biodiversity
Thermal and acoustic comfort, air quality, and abundant natural light make this building a healthy and stimulating work environment.
This project is a strategic investment. It provides Defense with a modern and secure work environment adapted to the challenges of today and tomorrow. In the current geopolitical context, it underscores the importance of security, efficiency, and readiness. We are working here and now on the new strategic nerve center of Defense. From the design stage, we have integrated military security with a ‘security by design’ approach, layered defense, and ‘defense in depth’ to protect critical parts.
Frédéric Goetynck, Lieutenant General
The groundbreaking of the new Defense headquarters is more than a symbolic moment: it marks the beginning of a strategic construction project that will reshape the heart of Defense in the coming years.
Other news
Sweco and VLM investigate how rural projects can enhance biodiversity
Read more
Can we really build Net-Zero?
Read more
Renovation of Forest Park: from forgotten heritage to green hotspot
Read more
