Helping Brussels Airport Company to build sustainably and strategically

A single sustainability framework for a future-proof property portfolio

Brussels Airport comprises a wide range of properties, from airport buildings to offices and a hotel. As sustainability plays an increasingly important role for investors, tenants and other stakeholders, there is a growing need for a uniform approach that goes beyond simply obtaining certifications.

One principle is key: sustainability studies should not produce reports that end up gathering dust in a drawer, but rather provide concrete insights that enable buildings to perform better and increase their long-term value. Certifications such as BREEAM are not an end in themselves, but a tool for developing property in a smarter, more efficient and future-proof manner.

At the same time, market expectations are rising. Investors are demanding greater transparency regarding sustainability performance, tenants are setting higher standards in terms of comfort, health and energy efficiency, and certifications are becoming increasingly important for the market value of property. Brussels Airport therefore wishes to adopt a scalable approach that combines technical feasibility, financial optimisation and strategic added value.

From sustainability studies to better assets

Our collaboration begins with pre-assessments and GAP analyses for various property developments. These analyses are not merely theoretical exercises, but practical tools for making informed decisions and improving the performance of the buildings.

For each project, we determine which sustainability ambitions are achievable, what investments are required to achieve them, and which measures will have the greatest impact on the performance and value of the property.

For the logistics developments in the cargo zone at Brussels Airport, we translate the ambition to achieve BREEAM Excellent into a concrete action plan with clear priorities, measures and cost estimates. For the other developments, we guide the sustainability strategy within the framework of BREEAM. In doing so, we take energy efficiency, user comfort, health and future-proofing into account as an integral part of the process.

The insights gained from these projects then form the basis for an overarching sustainability framework. Together, we are developing a set of sustainability guidelines that now serve as the standard for all new BAC property developments. We continually align the guidelines with new market developments, including the requirements of BREEAM v7. They include, amongst other things:

• clear technical requirements and recommendations for each sustainability theme;
• minimum requirements and preferred solutions;
• uniform quality criteria for design and construction teams;
• a replicable framework that speeds up decision-making and minimises risks.

Thanks to this standardisation, new projects are launched in a much more focused manner. The sustainability requirements are already included in the tenders, ensuring that design teams work to the same quality standard from the outset.

In this way, the scope meets both Brussels Airport’s sustainability ambitions and BREEAM’s requirements from the outset. This delivers significant internal efficiency gains.

Throughout the design and construction phases, we continue to support Brussels Airport with technical analyses, optimisations and risk assessments. As a result, all project teams have a clear scope and can work in a targeted manner towards the set certification ambitions.

Greater performance, less complexity

The new approach delivers more than just successful certifications. By defining the most impactful measures right from the first project phase, rework is kept to a minimum, risks are more manageable and projects run more efficiently.

Thanks to this integrated strategy, Brussels Airport now has a single, future-proof sustainability framework that not only supports certifications but, above all, delivers sustainable buildings. A framework that instils confidence in investors, offers added value to tenants and sustainably strengthens the property portfolio for the long term.