Since the corona crisis, the view of office work has changed profoundly. Being physically present every day is no longer an obligation. AG Insurance went in search of a new way to organize its offices so that they remain attractive even for employees who work from home more often. For this 'Reinvent The Workplace' project, the HR department carried out a survey of the needs and wishes of the staff, and engaged an interior designer to draw them out.
AG Insurance decided to reduce the number of office buildings in Brussels from 4 to 2 and to make the remaining locations more attractive to its "hybrid" employees. The 2 buildings that remain are located between Boulevard Emile Jacqmain and Rue Neuve in the heart of Brussels and are respectively more than 20 and 30 years old. AG Insurance asked us to tackle the technical installations. We proceeded step by step.
Working in phases
In the first phase, we made a rough assessment of possible avenues for increasing the value of the buildings with energy-friendly interventions. We did this in the summer of 2021 by means of an energy audit based on the as-built documents, a site visit with the maintenance company and an interview with the customer to identify the complaints of the office workers. At the end of 2021, we then made an effective feasibility study in which we look at the practical feasibility for each intervention in addition to the cost and gain in CO2 emissions. Among other things, we check whether the building is sufficiently large and stable to accommodate new installations, what the acoustic consequences are, and whether there is sufficient space for the pipes.
Based on the feasibility study, AG Insurance decided to tackle 1 floor per building as part of a pilot project. In early 2022, we therefore started the 3rd phase of our approach: the detailed study for these 2 type floors, with specifications and refined plans. On the technical level, among other things, we foresee a ventilation system that is dynamic enough to meet the requirements of a flexible work pattern, with a maximum capacity of /-200 employees per floor. For example, sensors are provided in several places to monitor CO levels.
This test case on the 2 type floors has since been completed and positively evaluated. The HR department of AG Insurance is now looking together with the interior designer at how they will furnish the other floors. Once this is clear, we will design the techniques that fit their requirements. This does mean that we are designing and engineering while the job is still in the design phase.
Payback period
In such large-scale projects - here with a total floor area of 45,000 m2 - it is obviously important to see within what time frame and in what way the total capex investment will be recouped. Because the building envelope is not being renovated, we estimate the CO2 reduction through better technical installations at 30 percent. In addition, the interventions also improve the comfort level for users. This increases the value of the building on the rental market. Based on these parameters, we can conclude that the investments will be recovered in just over 10 years.
But there's more. AG Insurance has about 4,400 employees. If these interventions increase staff job satisfaction, it will be an efficient, complete and sustainable investment.
Ensuring continuity
During the implementation of this project, 50 percent of the spaces will remain in use. This is no coincidence, because the transition to fossil-free energy consumption can never go fast enough if each time it is necessary to wait for the end of a rental cycle or the end life of a building. By working step by step in the study and design phase - first rough estimate after energy audit, effective feasibility study, detailed implementation study - and carrying out the works in phases, much more will be achieved.
Want to know more about this project and/or the possibilities to make your project sustainable? Contact our expert Sébastien Belpaire at sebastien.belpaire@ingenium.be or 050 40 45 30.
