In Geel, the nonprofit organization Astor has established a residential care complex comprising a total of 116 assisted-living units and 52 group rooms.

‍Theproject is a winner of the “healthcare pilot projects” initiative launched by then-Minister Vandeurzen. What makes it unique is that the buildings were constructed using a timber-frame structure (CLT concept).

The residential units are spread across a total of four buildings: one high-rise and one low-rise tower, a row house, and eighteen detached homes. Beneath the buildings is an underground parking garage and most of the mechanical and electrical systems. A central heating plant has been provided for the entire site, which distributes heat to the various buildings via a district heating network.

Particular attention was paid to comfort studies and the impact of the timber-frame structure on thermal comfort in the summer, with the facade design and the associated limitations on solar gains being analyzed in detail.

The entire project includes:

• 52 assisted living rooms for 1 person
• 98 apartments (assisted living units) for 2 people
• 2 hotel rooms
• day center for 20 guests daycare center for 18 children
• 2 commercial properties
• service center for events with up to 50 people
• restaurant for 100 people

Ingenium was responsible for the design of the mechanical and electrical systems, the energy concept, the feasibility studies, the EPB reporting, and site supervision.