{"id":38094,"date":"2025-06-04T09:57:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T07:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&p=38094"},"modified":"2025-06-05T10:16:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T08:16:24","slug":"defense-builds-the-future-groundbreaking-of-the-new-headquarters","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/defense-builds-the-future-groundbreaking-of-the-new-headquarters\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense builds the future: groundbreaking of the new Headquarters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ceremony will be attended by Defense Minister Theo Francken, Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Goetynck, and representatives of the NHQ consortium.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Design, Build & Maintain<\/h2>\n

The current infrastructure at the Queen Elisabeth Quarter, dating back to the early 1970s, is highly outdated and energy-consuming.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.<\/p>\n

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, Gal\u00e8re, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

New Way of Working<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It will accommodate nearly 4000 employees and consist of several buildings, including:<\/p>\n