KU Leuven: Development of new ‘Living Campus’ at Brussels Botanical Garden can start

Brussels State Secretary for Urban Planning Pascal Smet confirms that the Brussels Region has granted a building permit to Belfius Insurance for the thorough renovation and transformation of the Pacheco building. The today deserted plinth of the building will become a dynamic student campus of KU Leuven with an open view to the neighborhood and the city. The modernist Pacheco building from 1969, which originally included bank offices and a shopping arcade, is given a wonderful new future.

A year ago, Brussels State Secretary Pascal Smet, Belfius Insurance and KU Leuven announced that they had found a solution to preserve the stately Meyboom building on the corner of Zandstraat and Broekstraat. The future campus of KU Leuven would no longer be located in Zandstraat, but on the plinth of the Pacheco building, which is owned by Belfius Insurance.

Today, a year later, Pascal Smet, KU Leuven and Belfius Insurance jointly announce that the entire project has now been designed and that the Brussels Region has granted a building permit. The reconversion of the building can therefore start. This makes it an example project on many levels. Clear agreements lead to high-quality projects and therefore to an efficient permit process.

“I love it when a plan comes together,” says Brussels State Secretary for Urban Planning Pascal Smet. “This new ‘ Living Campus’ is excellent news for Brussels in many ways and combines many of our ambitions. Thanks to a strong collaboration with Belfius Insurance and KU Leuven, we were able to safeguard the stately Meyboom building last year and now we are giving a wonderful future to another iconic Brussels building. We consciously opt for renovation and for a design that shows great respect for the original modernist architecture. We make use of the roof by providing a beautiful roof garden with a view of the Botanique. We combine numerous urban functions so that there will be 24/7 activity in and around the building. And we give a huge push to a neighborhood in full development. In short, a showcase of how we are doing urban planning in Brussels today.”

“We are of course delighted that the Brussels Region agrees with the plans for the site,” says Rector Luc Sels. ‘With this transformation, we are also taking a solid step forward in Brussels. The renovation of the Pacheco building provides us with the necessary educational and research space for the increasing number of colleagues and students who find their way to KU Leuven in Brussels. In addition, we also want to use this project to work with our partner university colleges Odisee and LUCA to focus on new forms of education and work, something that this area is also ideal for.”

Frédéric Van der Schueren, CEO of Belfius Insurance: “With the transformation into a dynamic student campus, we are pleased that the plinth of the Pacheco building is getting a beautiful new destination. A destination that once again highlights the social role of Belfius. Because investing in young people, in today’s talents, is investing in tomorrow’s society.”

“At one time, Passage 44 was a popular cultural and commercial pole in the city. After years of vacancy, the place is now being given a new meaning. The KU Leuven project is the first in a long line of developments that will breathe new life into stately administrative buildings on Pachecolaan. At the same time, the city of Brussels is working with landscape architect Bas Smets on a master plan to tackle public space,” says Brussels Alderman for Urban Planning and Public Space, Ans Persoons.

Belfius Insurance called on the Belgian team of architects a2o-WIT for the architectural design. This team was selected after a public architecture competition organized by the Brussels Architect.

The current building will be preserved and upgraded. The plinth, which is now extinct, the former ‘Passage 44’ will be given an active function and, unlike today, will be much better integrated into the surrounding public space.

In addition to the renovation and conversion of the plinth, two new volumes will be provided on the plinth and René Pechère’s famous roof gardens will be restored.

A Living Campus in the plinth
The beating heart of the project will be the Living Campus of KU Leuven in the plinth of the building. In this contemporary education and research environment, auditoriums, classrooms, a learning center with library, practice rooms and meeting rooms will be built. Together they account for a university building of approximately 21,000 m².

This Living Campus aims to stimulate and facilitate encounters, which is also reflected in the design of the interior spaces and in the interaction with the surrounding public space. For example, the access to the parking garage on Pachecolaan disappears, as well as the ‘glass cube’, so that much more attention is paid to pleasant living space with trees and plants.

Two new volumes with student housing, common areas and offices
The two volume extensions on the plinth have a total surface area of ​​approximately 7,000 m². Here, among other things, landscape offices, student residences and communal dining and living areas can be provided.

On the one hand, a new building volume is being realized on the Kruidtuinlaan that will be limited to the space above the current parking entrance. The large open space on top of the plinth will therefore be preserved and will be transformed into an accessible new roof garden, with a view of the Botanical Garden.

On the other hand, a new volume is planned on the side of Ommegangstraat, which is aligned in height with the height of the adjacent buildings, creating a harmonious whole in Ommegangstraat.

The existing volume on the plinth, together with the underground Interparking garage, will be retained in its entirety.

Beautifully renovated roof gardens and ‘The Nine Provinces’ by Jacques Moeschal
In addition to the attractive Living Campus in the plinth of the building, the beautiful roof gardens by René Pechère will undoubtedly become the eye-catchers of the entire project, including various works of art, including the emblematic work of art ‘The Nine Provinces’ by Jacques Moeschal, as well as the Culot Wall.

Strategic and future-oriented location
The new KU Leuven campus will be located in a very easily accessible location. Just think of the Kruidtuin metro station and Congrès train station, which are located a few meters from the campus; the North Station; the Central station and the city center within walking distance; and the separate cycle paths that are currently being constructed along the entire inner ring road.

In addition, the new campus will also be located in a very strategic and forward-looking location in the heart of the European capital. Under the impulse of State Secretary Smet, the nearby gray Noordwijk will be transformed into a lively district in the coming years with new homes, offices, hotels and restaurants, public space, leisure facilities and a new tram line. The presence of KU Leuven and its students, as well as those of the partner colleges of higher education Odisee and LUCA, will enhance this metamorphosis and the interaction with the big city will be an important asset for KU Leuven.

In parallel with the development of the Noordwijk, landscape architect Bas Smets is currently working out a master plan for the City of Brussels that will restore the fault line of the north-south train connection and better connect the high and low city again.

Thanks to the solution that State Secretary Pascal Smet, KU Leuven and Belfius Insurance found last year, the stately Meyboom building on the corner of Zandstraat and Broekstraat will be preserved. Belfius is currently planning for the future of this property.