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Construction entrepreneur Joost Callens' Camino group of companies is building new offices for the rental market next to the Durabrik headquarters along the E40 in Drongen. Not only will The Yard be one of the most sustainable office buildings in Belgium, it will also focus on a healthy mind in a healthy body.
Source photos: Olivier Salens Architecten
Sustainability bar is high
In The Yard includes 5,000 m² floor space for offices and 2,500 m² warehouse space. The offices are built according to the passive house principle, with thorough insulation and airtightness. Geothermal energy in combination with heat pumps and a solar panel park with a capacity of 250 kVA makes the use of fossil fuels unnecessary. With as many as 40 charging stations for cars and 70 for electric bicycles, there is also a strong commitment to making mobility sustainable.
WELL-ness of users is central
The comfort and well-being of the users is the starting point of the project. The building owner is therefore striving to obtain WELL certification. This takes into account 7 focal points:
air quality (absence of pollutants, filtration, ventilation)
water (drinking water quality and access, filtration)
nutrition (healthy food and mindful eating, HACCP)
light (daylighting and adjustable lighting)
comfort (thermal, acoustic - both external and internal - and ergonomic)
fitness (active building design, ergonomics, fitness room, active mobility)
spirit (views of greenery, feedback, social equality and altruism).
As for the latter aspect, the large courtyard garden on the second floor will already be an eye-catcher. And with a padel court and gym, office workers will have every opportunity to match that healthy mind with a healthy body.
So this project will be one of the first WELL projects in Flanders.
Flexible design
The design by Salens Architecten of Bruges was conceived to be particularly flexible. The facade is repetitive, with glass sections and wall surfaces that are the same size each time. Inside, a non-load-bearing wall can be placed on each column. Turning 4 small offices into 1 large one, for example, or vice versa, can be done without having to modify the techniques. This allows the operator to respond flexibly and quickly to the needs of new tenants.
Sustainability advice
Ingenium is involved in this project in several ways. We coordinated the WELL trajectory and guided the client in the process toward certification. In addition, we provided advice on various aspects of sustainability: together with the architect, we studied various forms and layouts of the building, performed simulations related to daylight and comfort, and examined the sustainability of the materials that will be used. Finally, we designed the technical installations and are responsible for BIM coordination.
Collaborating around BIM model
Therefore, with a building owner that uses BIM on a daily basis for its own business activities, it is evident that this project will be developed entirely in BIM. This will also involve the contractors. The building owner was able to take advantage of the virtual opportunity to "walk around" the design of the building and also already indicated that BIM will continue to play a central role in the management of the building in the operation phase.
Vlaanderen besliste dat vanaf 2026 enkel nog fossielvrije bedrijfswagens – volledig elektrisch of op waterstof – fiscaal aftrekbaar zullen zijn. Een leasewagen op diesel of benzine zal voor 0% aftrekbaar zijn. Daarnaast moeten gebouwen die niet voor bewoning bestemd zijn en een minimaal aantal parkeerplaatsen hebben, tegen 2025 of bij nieuwbouw of ingrijpende renovatie zelfs onmiddellijk laadpalen voor elektrische voertuigen voorzien.
In today's rapidly changing world, managing real estate is more challenging than ever. The industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, confronting unique obstacles and changes that require our full attention and adaptability.
The decision to make a building intelligent is best made as early as the concept phase of a construction or renovation project. Yet technology can also be integrated incrementally afterwards. While this approach requires an accurate inventory of the possibilities, followed by a conscious choice of focal themes.
