New sustainable headquarters for Belgian Defense
Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) and high-security headquarters in a Design, Build & Maintain (DBM) constellation. Sweco provides all engineering studies for the design, realisation and technical maintenance.
- Client
- Belgian Defense
- Partners
- BAM, Jan De Nul, Eiffage, Cegelec, Assar Architects, Artbuild, ANMA
- Surface
- 11.4 hectares
Belgian Defense is investing in a new operational headquarters which meets the contemporary requirements in terms of functionality, safety, wellbeing, and sustainability. The BDM contract was awarded to the consortium Be Defence (Sweco, BAM, Jan De Nul, Eiffage, Cegelec, Assar Architects, Artbuild, ANMA), which is responsible for the design, realisation, and technical maintenance of the infrastructure during two years.
Nearly Zero Energy Building
This project puts a clear emphasis on sustainability in all aspects. The building will be nearly energy neutral (nZEB) and no fossil fuels will be used for normal functioning. The energy transition to a carbon neutral and sustainable infrastructure, in accordance with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is made possible by: a performant thermic isolation, the use of renewable energy sources such as soil energy storage, photovoltaic panels, and heat pumps.
Other sustainability aspects such as the use of sustainable materials, the reuse of rainwater and the reuse of demolition materials for building materials are included in the design as well. The landscaping design shall improve the local biodiversity considerably.
© Be Defense
Ready for the challenges of tomorrow
The more compact New Headquarters will be located straight across from the NATO Headquarters, also engineered by Sweco, on a site of 11.4 hectares, partly on the terrain of the old NATO site and partly on the current Queen Elisabeth Quarter. This new construction accommodates approximately 4,000 employees.
The main building itself consists of an office environment with 2,800 workstations where all services of the Defense Staff, the General Intelligence and Security Service (ADIV), and the Cyber Command will be housed. This environment will be designed according to the principles of the New Way of Working, which provides an extra stimulus for collaborations between the different services.
Through the main building, employees lead all military operations. Additionally, the design team also provides all amenities for the employees, such as a company restaurant, an indoor sports area, changing rooms, and showers. Furthermore, extra attention is given to the well-being of the staff with adapted thermal comfort, good air quality, acoustic comfort, and sufficient daylight entry in the offices.
