Alderman Steve Claeys of the municipality of Machelen gave the official go-ahead for the construction of the brand new Airport Business Center (ABC) that The House of Development (THODEV) has built together with Van Laere (CFE Group). The building will be home to various companies that respond to the proximity of the airport, as well as the good accessibility by bicycle, tram, train, and car. By obtaining the WELL Building Standard Gold and BREEAM Outstanding certificates, the ABC will focus on sustainability and the well-being of its users. The surface area of the building is 38,361m2 and completion is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
"We are immensely proud to be able to work on this great project. The demand for sustainable and high-quality office space in the periphery around Brussels remains very high. With the ABC, we are happy to contribute to the further development of Machelen. I would like to thank the mayor and aldermen for the good cooperation. Now that hybrid working is well established, companies no longer need entire office buildings. They are looking for smaller areas with shared facilities that promote collaboration and togetherness of their employees. With ABC, they get an important asset to convince people of their company and of their workplace, especially with the many mobility solutions that are provided here," said Luk Wouters, CEO of THODEV.
The ABC was designed by Jaspers – Eyers Architects and will consist of three towers that are connected by a central ground floor and can accommodate various companies. In addition to their own office spaces, the users of the ABC as well as visitors will have access to meeting rooms, an auditorium, co-working space, fitness, company restaurant, coffee bar, juice bar and brasserie. The building provides a tram stop in front of the door, a covered bicycle and fleet area with charging points for both, and in time also a private driveway to the bicycle highway.
THODEV appointed VK Architects & Engineers for the technical study. Advanced HVAC installations, solar panels and heat pumps and rain recovery were chosen for optimal comfort and sustainability.
For the realisation, THODEV chose Van Laere, with whom they had already collaborated on Airport Plaza. In addition, Van Laere, which is part of CFE, can call on all the sustainability expertise available within the multidisciplinary group.
"I would like to expressly thank THODEV for once again calling on Van Laere for the realization of this beautiful project. We work well together and share the same values and ambitions in terms of sustainability and user well-being. We are both active in a sector that is literally shaping the world of tomorrow and we can use our innovative construction techniques to ensure a better living and working environment for future generations," said Bob Rottiers, commercial director of Van Laere.
Image provided by Backstage Communication.
