Work starts on NATO Headquarters to replace 'temporary' facilities from 1967
A ground breaking ceremony has been held to mark the commencement of construction of NATO’s permanent Headquarters in Brussels at a cost of €460m. The new 245,000 sq m building replaces the existing facilities which were originally constructed on a temporary basis in 1967 and have been in service for 41 years.
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: “A modern NATO needs a modern building.” The design of ‘interlaced fingers in a symbolic clasp of unity’ has been designed by international architects and engineers Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) with Belgium architect, Assar.
The new headquarters is scheduled for completion in 2015 and will bring enhanced working and support services for delegates of all 28 NATO allies and 50 partner countries. BAM are the General Contractor for the project.
The sustainability features of the headquarters will be based on low and zero carbon technologies including geothermal boreholes; cogeneration; natural ventilation; thermal mass cooling; passive solar shading; green roofs and solar hot water heating. Recycling of materials and resources will also be incorporated including rain water harvesting
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