New Defense Headquarters

Antwerp - 16.02.2023

Defense is investing in a new operational headquarters that meets contemporary requirements in terms of functionality, safety, well-being and sustainability. The Design, Build & Maintain (DBM) contract was awarded for a total sum* of 499 million euros to the Be Defense group, which is responsible for the design, realization and technical maintenance of the infrastructure. The more compact New Headquarters will be located directly opposite NATO headquarters on a site of 11.4 hectares; partly on the site of the old NATO site and partly on the current Queen Elisabeth quarters.

The Chief of Defense, Admiral Hofman, emphasized:

"Today spread over a dozen buildings, tomorrow the General Staff will occupy only one, more ecological and secure, to better meet the challenges of the future."

On Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, approval was given by the Council of Ministers for the construction of a New Headquarters for the Defense Staff in Brussels. The new high-security site with several buildings will accommodate nearly 4,000 Defense employees. The main building itself consists mainly of the office environment with 2,800 workstations that will house all services of the Defense Staff, the General Intelligence and Security Service (ADIV) and the Cyber Command. The office environment will be designed according to the principles of the New Way of Working (NWOW). The environment will provide additional impetus for inter-service cooperation. All military operations will be directed from the main building. In addition, all functions for personnel will also be provided such as a company restaurant, an indoor sports area, changing rooms and showers. Great attention will also be paid to the well-being of personnel with appropriate thermal comfort, good air quality, acoustic comfort and adequate daylight in the office environment.

Modern conference center

In addition, a publicly accessible conference center located on Leopold III avenue will be provided. This center will consist of one large 300-seat conference room and several smaller meeting rooms. There will also be a separate building with a nursery and the office environment for the Central Defense Social and Cultural Action Agency (CDSCA).

Sustainability

There is a very strong commitment to sustainability in all its aspects for this project.

The building will be Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and no more fossil fuels will be used for normal operation. The energy transition to a carbon-neutral and sustainable infrastructure, in accordance with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP) is made possible by: high-performance thermal insulation, the use of renewable energy sources such as soil energy storage, solar panels and heat pumps.

Other sustainability aspects such as the use of sustainable materials, the reuse of rainwater and the reuse of decomposing materials as building materials were also incorporated into the design. The landscape design will significantly increase local biodiversity.

Global site development

Permit applications will be submitted during 2023. The start of the works is planned for the end of 2024 and the main part will be ready for use by the end of 2027.
The grouping Be Defense consists of the contractors BAM, Jan De Nul, Eiffage and Cegelec, the architects Assar Architects, ArtBuild and ANMA and the engineering firm VK Architects+Engineers. The project carried out by Belgian companies generates a significant social return, primarily through job creation.

The grouping Be Defense responds, "We are extremely proud to have won this landmark project. Together with our construction partners, we are already looking forward to realizing this new landmark in Brussels."

The overall site of 92 hectares, the Queen Elisabeth Quarter and the former NATO Headquarters, is currently the subject of an urban development by the Brussels Capital Region and the Flemish Region, with a built-up area in the northern part of the site, along Boulevard Leopold III, and a green zone in the south of the site

* initial investment and 2 years maintenance, renewable for an additional 8 years