After the Vandemoortele HQ building obtained the BEN (near-energy neutral) building certificate in 2019, it has now also received the BREEAM certificate with score 'Excellent'. Whereas the previous Belgian and Flemish certificates were mainly about energy efficiency, the internationally recognised BREEAM certificate rewards sustainability criteria in no fewer than 9 areas including management, energy, health and well-being, transport, water, materials, waste, pollution but also land use and ecology.
9 sustainability criteria
Whereas the previous Belgian and Flemish certificates were mainly about energy efficiency, the internationally recognised BREEAM certificate rewards sustainability criteria in no fewer than 9 areas including management, energy, health and well-being, transport, water, materials, waste, pollution but also land use and ecology.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the most widely used method worldwide for determining the sustainability performance of buildings.
The Vandemoortele Food Experience Center is a design by Thomas Rau from Amsterdam, specialist in circular design, in cooperation with stability agency VK Engineering from Brussels and with Ingenium from Bruges for the sustainable techniques. The building was realised with more than 100 (sub)contractors and has been in use since 2019.
Marc Croonen, Chief Human Resources, Sustainability & Communication: "This BREEAM certificate fits perfectly in our ‘Protecting Nature’ strategy and is another confirmation of our consistent approach to be a leader in sustainability on all fronts."
Pleasantly sustainable
During the design phase in 2016, great importance was placed on flexibility and a pleasant, healthy working environment, among other things. This is achieved through plenty of daylight and greenery in the building's atrium and offices. A roof with numerous PV panels supplies the building with electrical energy, and heating and cooling is provided by a ground storage system, minimising the need for high-efficiency boilers.
Vandemoortele has gone one step further: with the help of landscape architect BUUR from Leuven and landscape engineer France from Lier, we have created a car park where rainwater is not accelerated into the sewer system but infiltrates into the soil on site. The parking places and the forecourt are landscaped with water-permeable pavements and the existing forest and biodiversity have been taken into account.
This BREEAM certificate fits perfectly in our strategy of Protecting Nature.
BIM-visible app
In addition, Vandemoortele is also working on the integration of BIM-visible app, linking 3D drawing models with active data - Augmented Reality (AR). The application, which Vandemoortele & Ingenium developed together with Savaco and In The Pocket, displays the various drawing models in actual size 'on top of' the real situation via AR.
How does it work?
By pointing a smartphone, you see which technical parts are at that specific location (without having to dismantle or disassemble building components). The information linked to each component - real-time info from sensors and other interesting information such as installer contact details - is centralised in the app. This means huge time savings in solving comfort & other technical problems. The test case in 2021 and 2022 at the Vandemoortele Food Experience Center in Ghent was already a success.
BIM-visible at the Food Experience Center. Watch the YouTube video.
