Aéropolis, Belgian Offices Building, Avenue Urbain Britsiers Brussels, Architect

Aéropolis Brussels : Office Building Belgium

Huis van de Arbeid, Brussels Building – design by sca Architectes Associés

5 Apr 2012

Aéropolis Brussels

Design: sca Architectes Associés sprl

Offices Building

Avenue Urbain Britsiers Brussels

Based on the architectʼs proposition following an open competition held end 2005, the « Huis van de Arbeid » has chosen to take up a new challenge, namely, building its new headquarters with sustainable development and the use of passive energies foremost in mind, all the while concentrating on a contemporary approach sensitive to its urban context.

Fully conscious of the impact that a project of this scope will have on social, logistic and economic fronts, a global, objective and rational approach was endorsed.

photograph : Marc Detiffe

An environmental project of this kind, cannot be carried forward without the inspired and tenacious motivation of all parties involved. And as in any novel situation, it pre-supposes fully committed clients, contractors and firms, as well as a re-modelling of usersʼ everyday habits.

photographs : Marc Detiffe

Above all, this approach must be maintained strictly within the contraints of its economic framework. For economic viability alone will substantiate the transformation of the environmental approach from an aesthetic option into a basic global solution.

Priority is given to investments and construction principles which reduce energy consumption and the use of other non-renewable sources. Major financial efforts are made to achieve highly effective thermal insulation values (façades, roofs, basements) and to insure proper natural (daytime) and forced (night) ventilations in all office spaces without resorting to the use of « energy-squandering » cooling systems. The compactness of the built volume wrapped around a central patio limits façade surfaces, thus lowering thermal loss.

photographs : Marc Detiffe

Aéropolis Brussels Office – Building Information

Architect: sca Architectes Associés sprl m. desmedt – m. lacour – s. leribaux – d. van Cauwenberghe
Description: Construction of an passive office building
2005-10
Site: Avenue Urbain Britsiers, 5 1030 Brussels – Belgium
Client: Groep Arco – KWB – KAV – KAJ
Collaborating: Structural engineer: Setesco
Service engineer: Cenergie and ingenieursbureau Stockman
Contractor: Jacques Delens and Vanderstraeten

Total surface: 7 388 m2 above ground level and 2 702 m2 below ground level
Budget: 11 500 000€
Honors: Batex 2007 : Exemplary Building concerning Energy and Environmental Performances by Brussels Environmental Commission (IBGE)
Nominé au Prix Belge de lʼArchitecture 2011
Nominé au Prix Belge de lʼEnergie 2011
Prix dʼarchitecture contemporaine Schaerbeek 2011

Aéropolis Brussels Office Building images / information from sca Architectes Associés sprl

Location: Avenue Urbain Britsiers, 5, 1030 Brussels, northern Europe