Suites: Triple certified office complex

High-quality office space, a luxury hotel with 250 rooms, a fitness center, restaurants, an international co-working space for expatriates, a large lobby and a shared hall, distributed over a total area of ​​51,400 square meters and located in a triplex building located close to the airport and several important traffic hubs: That’s The Wings in a nutshell. Status and prestige are two keywords that immediately come to mind when beauty looms on the horizon. With its organic architecture with abundance of glass, rounded corners and horizontal facade sections in light gray aluminum strips, the futuristic complex is a feast for the eyes. It is therefore no surprise that EY Belgium, among other companies, is locating its new headquarters there, including its business centre, corporate restaurant and 600-space car park.

Nothing is left to chance

The Wings is divided into four transparent quadrants – two office volumes, a co-working space, and the hotel – which are organized around an orthogonal system of axes, with a collectively functional internal street connecting the main entrances on the Culliganlaan and the lower Kouterveldstraat. This created a rideable complex that provides a sensitive response to the natural contours of the terrain and the scale of the buildings in the vicinity. Given the specific orientation and tiered structure with continuous rooftop gardens and terraces, existing employees and hotel guests enjoy an abundance of views, experiences and inviting indoor and outdoor spaces.

“Ghilamco wanted to set a new standard with The Wings, so expectations were very high,” says Guy van der Kuijlen. “We received a very comprehensive specification for the hotel where everything was described to the smallest detail. In addition, the different tenants – in addition to EY Belgium but also Devoteam, Ordina, Pro League, etc. – had specific requirements in terms of design, technology, security and/or burglary resistance.” In the context of their fit-out, so during the implementation process we still had to make a whole series of changes and given the tight timing and quality of finish required, this was a huge challenge that left nothing to chance.”

Sky-high ambitions achieved

The latter also applies to the holistic sustainability approach used by the architects. Ghelamco wanted to make The Wings the first CO2 and energy certified office environment in Belgium. Mission accomplished, because the office building itself generates the energy needed for all indoor activities and facilities, without consuming any fossil fuels. This is rewarded with a unique triple certification, which also attests to the strong focus on health, comfort and well-being: BREEAM Excellent, WELL Gold and DGNB Gold.

“It was not easy to achieve such high ambitions, because there was something there,” explains Guy van der Kuijlen. “Everything had to be calculated down to the last detail, the specifications had to be designed accordingly, and a lot of additional consultation was required… The effect of this was noticeable in both the design and implementation phases. For example, we chose post-tensioning to make the floor slabs Thinner and reducing the use of concrete by 30% we also chose a façade of glass and aluminium, as it is recyclable. We have also made the most of rainwater recovery and energy efficiency, including by building three large valleys, over six hundred solar panels and fields. Extensive BEO As part of the BREEAM certification, we closely monitored our CO2 emissions and all materials used underwent an independent LCA and finally, we also took into account circular ideas, because the building is adaptable and equipped with demountable materials wherever possible We didn’t rush into this overnight and we’re glad our efforts paid off.

Feedback is commendable

At the turn of the year, most of The Wings users, including EY Belgium employees, were able to get acquainted with their new space. The first reactions were very positive, notes Guy van der Kuijlen. “The amount of glazing, the sweeping facades, the impressive atrium…: they clearly did not miss their impact. The ecological landscaping, terraces and indoor plants also contribute to the beautiful appearance of the whole. To achieve this, we worked closely with ‘flower artist’ Daniel Ost, who responded Excellent for the sloping forms of the building and once the numerous green spaces on the site begin to blossom next spring, the architectural goal – to create a perfect balance between function and luxury – will be fully reflected. In addition to the users, the construction company Ghelamco and the shell contractor Democo are also very satisfied About the end result and the way everything went and the mutual understanding and communication was excellent, which is counterintuitive in the context of such a progressive project. All this makes The Wings an absolute reference for Asar architects!