Foundation stone of new defense headquarters
Building to...
Security is at the heart of the project and has been integrated from the design on the principle of security by design. A security system with successive layers will protect sensitive areas. "This project is a strategic investment that will provide Defense with a modern and secure working environment," stressed Lieutenant General Goetynck.
He added: "In the current geopolitical context, security and operational availability take on particular significance. We are now working here on the new strategic nerve center of Defense."
A modern and attractive Defense Department
"The construction of the new quarter is just a first step. Other large-scale projects will follow throughout the country. Security systems, coverings, infrastructure: these are big contracts for Defense. We will invest hundreds of millions of euros, with a significant economic impact," the Defense Minister said.
Besides the economic aspect, they also aim to strengthen the attractiveness of Defense. "A workplace closer to home makes Defense more attractive. Outdated installations can have a negative impact on troop morale. Defense wants to be modern, professional and future-oriented," he added.
2,800 workstations
The current Defense Headquarters, built in the early 1970s, no longer met today's standards: outdated facilities, poor insulation, obsolete infrastructure. Fifty years after its inauguration, a thorough transformation was imminent.
The new headquarters embodies an evolution in work culture with the introduction of the New Way of Working, a flexible and more collaborative model. Thus, it will include a main building with 2,800 workstations for the General Staff, a conference center accessible to the public from Boulevard Léopold III, a crèche and the premises of the Central Defense Social and Cultural Action Agency (CDSCA). The collective facilities obviously include sports facilities, locker rooms and a company restaurant.
An ecological ambition
The site will also meet the most ambitious environmental standards, striving for the Nearly Zero Energy Building label. Thanks to a combination of technologies - heat pumps, solar panels, geothermal storage, reinforced insulation - energy consumption will be virtually zero.
The ecological approach also includes rainwater harvesting, the reuse of materials after demolition and the use of sustainable building materials. In addition, the landscape is thoughtfully designed to promote biodiversity.
"This project is a strategic investment. It provides Defense with a modern and secure working environment adapted to the challenges of today and tomorrow. In the current geopolitical context, it underlines the importance of security, efficiency and readiness. So here and now we are working on the new,strategic, nerve center of Defense. From design, we have integrated military security with a 'security by design' approach, layered defense and 'defense in depth' to protect critical parts."
said Lieutenant General Frédéric Goetynck.
