Real estate investor and developer Alinso Group has awarded BESIX the realisation of, among other things, the new headquarters of Domo Investment Group in Zwijnaarde (Belgium). The project consists of the renovation and expansion of the existing Polytoren into a business coordination center, including offices, meeting rooms, a restaurant, fitness room, auditorium and training spaces. Designed by POLO Architecten, the total project encompasses 19,496 m².
The Polytoren dates from 1955 and served as Domo Chemicals’ production building for chemical polymers until 2013. The existing tower will now be renovated and expanded by BESIX into a business coordination center. The building will be entirely refurbished respecting its old functioning. Two new levels and a service building will be added, creating room for additional office spaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium, exhibition room and practice rooms. Apart from that, a multifunctional parking with charging points and car sharing spaces will be added, as well as a closed cycle parking with room for 163 bikes and changing rooms.
The refurbishment of the Polytoren is an almost energy neutral project. On top of that, circularity is respected by giving the building a second life. Throughout the whole project, as well as when in use when finished, no fossil fuels will be used. Air and water pumps will provide the building of heating and cooling. During the summer, the cool air from outside will be used as well to cool down the spaces. Furthermore, solar panels are installed on the car park and the greenery on its façade will be irrigated by recuperated rain water. Lastly, energy efficient lightning is installed everywhere and corridors, parking spaces and sanitary spaces will be lit through motion detection.
Mark Beyst, General Manager BESIX Belgium-Luxembourg: “The Polytoren is a beautiful project in Zwijnaarde that BESIX will realise with full pride. I want to thank our client, Alinso Group, for putting their trust in us. They can count on our extensive experience in renovation to change this site into a first-class, smart and sustainable headquarters of the future.”
The teams already started the first demolition works in December 2021. The project will take 18 months to be finished and should thus be delivered in June 2023.