After four years of intense work, BESIX is delighted to be able to announce, together with Eiffage, the handover of the iconic new BNP Paribas Fortis headquarters building. The new headquarters is located on the Warandeberg in the heart of Brussels, covers an area of over 100,000 m² and is designed as a passive building that meets the highest standards of innovation and environmental performance.
Architectural gem
The architecture, signed by Baumschlager Eberle Architekten, Styfhals & Partners and Jasper-Eyers, consists of a daring and futuristic façade composed of vertical columns in white precast concrete made of green aggregates. This exoskeleton is a self-supporting structure covering a glass façade. The green minerals, from a Norwegian quarry, contribute to the uniqueness of each column, giving the façade its mineral appearance that evolves with the sunlight.
‘Bouwteam’ formula for increased efficiency
A building of this size naturally presents many challenges. One of these was the ‘Bouwteam’ mode of collaboration, with client, architects, engineering consultants and contractors working hand-in-hand at both the design and construction stages to optimise the project and the deadlines. It was a real success.
Sustainable construction
This project is also fully in line with the Group's ambition of becoming the leader in low-carbon construction. Solar panels on the roof and seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) underline the sustainable character of this project. The latter system guarantees the thermal comfort of the building, based on 14,000 m³ of water stored in the basements coupled with heat pumps. The excellent airtightness of the building envelope, coupled with the innovative thermal comfort system, eliminates the need for fossil fuels, with a considerable reduction in the carbon footprint. The building is certified BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and ‘Passive House’.
Sense of pride
We are very proud that the project was completed on time, and the client is fully satisfied.
Mark Beyst, General Manager Flanders-Brussels, BESIX Group: “The new BNP Paribas Fortis head office can serve as an example for Brussels, combining bold architecture and exceptional sustainability in the historic city centre. BESIX is very proud to have participated in this remarkable and demanding project. It also earned BESIX Engineering, our internal design office, and our partners, the first prize in the 2018 BIM Awards, recognising our digital approach to building design and construction processes. Finally, I would like to thank our partners, in particular Eiffage, and our client BNP Paribas Fortis for their trust and our excellent collaboration throughout the project.”
Christophe Van Ophem - CEO Eiffage Benelux: “We are very proud to have built this iconic building. Which strengthens our position as a major player in the Benelux. With it we confirm once again that we are ideally positioned to undertake large-scale construction projects with an extremely low impact on CO2 emissions, perfectly matching our ambition to become the leader in low-carbon construction. This success is the result of an excellent collaboration with the BNP Paribas Fortis bank, which I would like to thank for its confidence in us, with architects Baumschlager-Eberle Architekten, Styfhals & Partners and Jaspers-Eyers, and with all our partners, including BESIX. This project is proof that it is by collaborating in trust and transparency that we achieve the greatest achievements.”
Renaud D'Hondt - Project Director (Valens): “This project is a great source of pride. First of all in terms of its size, making it one of the largest office buildings in Belgium, but also the well-above-average level of technicity and finishing. I’m very proud to have led a project of such a scale and above all to have had a team totally invested in the task on a daily basis.”
About the project
- Details
- Surface area of 100,000 m²
- 5 underground floors and 9 above-ground floors
- 4,100 workposts - Execution
- Valens (40%)
- Duchêne (10%)
- Eiffage Construction Grands Projets (20%)
- BESIX (30%) - Architects
- Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
- Styfhals & Partners
- Jaspers-Eyers Architects