A new headquarters for the Brussels Fire Brigade

Cramped in buildings that no longer meet the requirements of their missions, the Brussels Fire Brigade has embarked on an ambitious project: the construction of a new headquarters for the Fire and Emergency Medical Service (SIAMU) of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The Fire and Emergency Medical Service (SIAMU) of the Brussels-Capital Region currently operates from eight fire stations from which emergency services are deployed: a headquarters, located on Avenue de l’Héliport in Brussels, which serves as the true nerve centre, as well as seven Advanced Fire Service Posts (PASI) distributed across the entire territory.

The current headquarters station had become too small (22,000 m²) in light of the steadily increasing number of interventions, the growing specialization of missions, and the new responsibilities to be taken on in the future (environmental interventions, civil protection missions, etc.).

The project began in June 2020, when the project management mandate was officially entrusted to the SAU. The development will take shape on a 1.7-hectare site located along the future Drève Maritime, near Tour & Taxis. The aim is to create a modern and functional infrastructure bringing together the services of SIAMU, currently located on Avenue de l'Héliport, including spaces for emergency response, dispatching, administration, logistics, as well as training facilities for the safe.brussels school, in order to maximize synergies.

A DBFM public contract

To deliver this ambition, the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region opted for a DBFM-type public contract, launched by the SAU in March 2022.

In 2025, the two bidders submitted their Best and Final Offers, which were jointly analysed by the SAU and the Brussels Fire Brigade services. The contract award decision will be validated by the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region in 2026, marking the official launch of this major project.

The timeline foresees preparation of permit applications in 2026, the start of construction works in 2028, and delivery of the building in 2032, marking the project’s operational completion.

The project involves numerous stakeholders, whose actions are coordinated by the SAU: the Brussels Fire Brigade, of course, but also safe.brussels, urban.brussels, the BMA, the City of Brussels, Brussels Environment, as well as private consortia.

The new SIAMU headquarters project is thus gradually taking shape, promising to modernize Brussels’ emergency services landscape and provide infrastructure that meets the region’s challenges in terms of safety and protection.

Did you know?

A DBFM public contract refers to a Design, Build, Finance and Maintain agreement. It is a type of public-private partnership (PPP) in which a public authority entrusts a private company with the design, construction, financing, and maintenance of infrastructure over a defined period. The contracting authority gradually repays the investment and maintenance through a payment mechanism (e.g. annual fees), based on performance and compliance with contractual conditions.

Timeline:

• A ‘Design, Build, Finance & Maintain’ public contract was launched in April 2022. Several applications were received in May 2022.
• Several initial tenders were submitted in July 2023.
• The contract award is scheduled for 2026.