Solvay

The Solvay group is not short of ideas These ideas needed a fertile environment in which to germinate, and enough space to take root. The company therefore decided it was time to overhaul its headquarters in Neder-Over-Heembeek, creating a new research and innovation centre and welcoming new entrepreneurial and academic initiatives to its Neder-Over-Heembeek site.

The idea was to create a prestigious and accessible campus for visitors and employees alike, with clear signage, reasserting Solvay’s roots in Brussels. This gargantuan project called for specialist support.

A regional round table

hub.brussels organised various meetings in order to gather all regional stakeholders involved in the project around one table.

This gave project managers from Solvay the chance to speak to the Plan Canal team, coordinated by the SAU (Urban Development Corporation), as well as Bruxelles-Mobilité, public transport operator STIB, the Port of Brussels, Innoviris, waste collection service Bruxelles Propreté, Bruxelles Urbanisme Patrimoine (Brussels Urbanism and Heritage), Bruxelles Environnement and Citydev.

A Project worthy of 22 hectares

The future Solvay headquarters reflect the company: ambitious and innovative.

The plans, drawn up by the consortium consisting of Danish architecture practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Belgian firms Modulo Architects and VK Engineering, bring all employees together in a single building, fostering cooperation and co-creation.

The vast windows are a glittering reflection of a small family business which, over the course of 150 years, became a world leader in advanced materials and specialist chemicals.

Solvay’s forward-thinking science and aspirations in terms of sustainable development become increasingly clear as you explore the building’s 8 skilfully interconnected, carbon neutral floors.