About the Building

Quatuor is a four tower complex of more than 60,000 m² in the North area of Brussels. It benefits from a prime location close to the city centre, the metro and the Gare du Nord train station. Consisting of four autonomous office buildings (A – The Host, B – The Piano, C – The Cloud, D – The Bank) that form an architectural unit, the project is designed to ensure very extensive flexibility in terms of occupation.

The construction of the complex required some delicate and complicated preliminary work including heavy structural demolition works – of the Noord building and its 40,000 m² of offices – the removal of foundations, decontamination of soil and fine dismantling of the material to recover as much as possible. 40 tons of materials have been recovered. By giving cabinets, shelves, glass doors… a new life, circular economy is stimulated.

The building C, with the area of 18.742 m2 and 14 floors has been awarded by the Interim Design Stage Certificate BREEAM “Outstanding” with very high score of 91.0%. The other 3 towers are attempting to follow in its footsteps and achieve the same rating so that the sustainable impact of the  project will be on an even bigger scale.

Quatuor meets the highest quality, innovation and environmental performance standards to create a unique working experience in order to offer occupants a valuable, sustainable, healthy and comfortable environment.

To achieve that, Quatuor will create an urban link between different adjacent neighborhoods, with great access to public and alternative modes of transport and amenities. Jaspers-Eyers Architects have designed the building with rounded and soft volumes, a living fordable inner area and walkways connecting the 4 buildings and garden terraces above the base. The sloping roofs add dynamism and allow installation of photovoltaic panels facing south. Triple glazing,  aluminum joinery and Portuguese natural stone will be used for the facades and local blue stone for the skirting boards.

Befimmo emphasizes the responsible sourcing, and durability of the used materials, as well as environmental product declarations. In co-operation with VK Engineers and Jaspers Eyers Architects the design led to a great energy performance, with maximum aim to reduce water consumption, pollution and waste from the construction process as well as the operation of the building.

About the BREEAM assessment

Befimmo incorporated the United Nations SDG’s and BREEAM in its business strategy. The SDG’s were translated in Befimmo’s strategy by means of 6 strategic axes (integration in the city, the world of work, setting an example, mobility, dialogue and use of resources). Most of the buildings in its portfolio are BREEAM certified. When buildings are being refurbished or new projects are being developed the BREEAM certification is applied.
From a very early design and during construction phase of Quatuor, everything has been done to protect our valuable environment. All of this results in a ‘BREEAM Outstanding’, a certification which takes into account the entire lifecycle of a building, from construction until use, with a specific attention to the well-being of its occupants.
The building management, choice of HVAC systems and energy sources, materials and maintenance has been adapted to better control and reduce consumption in balance with improvement of the user comfort.

Environmental Challenges and Green Strategy

Befimmo has fully integrated the principles of Social Responsibility within its strategy and day-to-day operations by anticipating economic, societal and environmental evolutions. Throughout the years, it has constructed a Social Responsibility strategy based on the themes that are considered as material for Befimmo and its stakeholders. Befimmo has aligned itself with the most ambitious tools and frameworks in terms of sustainable development, through the adoption of concrete targets, codes of conducts and conventions. Both on environmental, social and governance level. In 2017, Befimmo integrated 15 of the 17 United Nations SDG’s within its strategy thanks to an in-depth analysis of the 169 sub-goals of the SDG’s. It has since then fully integrated its CSR policy in its Company strategy by means of 6 strategic axes that guide its day-to-day activities (integration in the city, the world of work, setting an example, mobility, dialogue and use of resources).The BREEAM scheme offers a tool in line with this strategy. Nevertheless it was a big challenge for Befimmo to integrate its strategy in all facets of the concept of the building. Choosing to achieve an outstanding performance of the building, implies a holistic analysis from the brief and design stage. From the very beginning of the project, Befimmo  was surrounded by specialists in the various societal fields involved in the construction of a new building in a city.

The other challenges were to;

– Integrate all aspects of work life fulfillment that are championed by forward-thinking businesses and organizations.

– Set up a multidisciplinary team to create  integrated, innovative architecture with rational use of materials and implementation of efficient techniques for energy consumption and occupant comfort.

– Create a public and private green environment designed by ecologists to strengthen the green network of the district by providing friendly spaces. The spaces are designed with native species to ensure the sustainability of the site.

– Follow the Cradle to cradle principle by recovery of materials from the demolished building for reuse in other buildings.

A team of BREEAM advisers (assessor and accredited professional) was set up at the early beginning of the project design to support all the stakeholders at each step and for each decision. The criteria of the BREEAM NC has been a crucial driver to ensure that all aspects to create a sustainable building and its environment in all domains.

Benefits of assessing to BREEAM

Befimmo’s Social Responsibility is fully integrated into its strategy. At operational level, the Environmental Technical Team consists of five specialists with the task of improving the environmental performance of the portfolio. It meets regularly and its responsibilities include implementing the CSR Action Plan. These specialists include the Green Adviser who plays an important role monitoring the effectiveness of energy investments on the ground while ensuring a high level of comfort for tenants. Befimmo is applying the principles of eco-design and the circular economy at each phase of a building’s life cycle. Quatuor is going to be one of Befimmo’s best performing buildings.  The high energy performance of the building as well as the production of energy on the building and the precise and continuous control of equipment and consumption will result in a reduction in operating costs, an important added value for the occupants. The numerous investments to reduce the consumption of all kind of resources; energy, water and materials, now and in the future, reduces the real consumptions and carbon emissions and will make the building more climate resilient. Apart from the lower running costs, the facilities will help the future occupants to reach their CSR objectives.

Furthermore, Befimmo also wishes to increase its indirect impact by further stepping up its tenant-oriented approach through the services and facilities that it already offers and that it will increasingly offer them in the future. Tenant satisfaction is Befimmo’s priority, and it strives to offer quality properties in good locations, that are flexible, environmentally friendly and efficient. Now, it will endeavour more than ever to provide them with comprehensive personalised services, provide the best facilities in its buildings and be even more proactive in raising tenants’ awareness of energy and environmental issues.