The Université libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel today launched a call for project designers for the renovation and the conversion of seven buildings on the site of the former National Gendarmerie barracks at the corner of Avenue de la Couronne and Boulevard Général Jacques in Ixelles. This operation will be one of the first steps in the physical implementation of the Usquare.brussels project. Specifically, it will involve converting these historic and architecturally distinctive buildings to house various university facilities and local public amenities.
- Building A, the main structure fronting onto Boulevard Général Jacques, with more than 4,000m2 of floor space, will house an international reception centre, a sustainable development visitor centre and a new interdisciplinary and inter-university research centre focusing on urban issues of sustainable development.
- The corner buildings between Boulevard Général Jacques and Avenue de la Couronne at one end and Rue Juliette Wytsman at the other (Buildings B, C and C'') will be used to create the first Institute for Advanced Study in Brussels and will thus constitute a key element in Usquare.brussels’ attractiveness to international researchers.
- Finally, a space devoted to sustainable food will be created in the former riding school right at the heart of the site. The plans for this building focus on sustainable and green consumption issues, with the creation of a space used to raise consumers’ awareness of the impact of their eating habits on the environment, a sustainable and organic market and a sustainable food court (a warm and friendly restaurant area offering local, organic and seasonal products).
Sustainable development and the circular economy will be cross-cutting themes throughout this project. Candidates will be expected to develop innovative practices promoting circularity of resources in an environmental and socio-economic approach with a view to developing a model site in this respect.
The call has been launched within the framework of the International University Campus project implemented by ULB, VUB and the Brussels Region in the context of the ERDF Operational Programme 2014-2020 of the Brussels-Capital Region.
The budget for the execution of the work is 10,300,000 euros plus VAT.
The gross above-ground floor space of the buildings concerned is approximately 8,400 m².
- The official documents for this public procurement procedure are available here.
- The deadline for receipt of applications is 12 midday on 22 January 2018.
Fees are set at 14%. Expenses of 15,000 euros will be awarded to each invited team that submits a regular tender and scores 50% of the points in light of the award criteria.
The Chief Architect of the Brussels-Capital Region will supervise the project and sit on the advisory committee for the selection and award of the tender.
