The new head office of Belgian BNP Paribas Fortis bank on Mount Warande in Brussels won an award on Thursday at the MIPIM real estate fair in the French seaside resort of Cannes.
The building received first place in the “Best Office and Commercial Development” category against fierce competition from over 171 candidates from 42 different countries.
“We are extremely proud to have contributed to the achievement of this iconic award,” said Christophe Van Ophem, CEO Eiffage Benelux, one of the contributors to the Montagne du Parc project.
“This success is the result of an excellent collaboration with BNP Paribas Fortis bank, which I would like to thank for its confidence, with the architects Baumschlager Eberle Architekten, Styfhals architecten and Jaspers-Eyers, and with all our partners, including Besix. The greatest achievements are made when we work together in a spirit of trust and transparency, and this project is proof of that.”
Prestigious competition with strong competitors
The internationally renowned MIPIM Awards have been held since 199 and are presented each year in Cannes at a trade fair that brings together the most influential players in the international real estate sector. The awards were cancelled in 2020 and then held in a slimmed-down, partially online fashion in 2021.
Among Montagne du Parc’s competitors were Gioia 22 from Milan, One Vanderbilt from New York and Southworks from London.
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The awards recognise the world's most outstanding real estate projects and are considered “the crème de la crème” of the industry.
“The fact that a project located in Belgium won the gold medal is therefore an outstanding achievement,” BNP Paribas Fortis said in a statement.
Sustainable construction
The building has 4,100 workplaces spread out over 100,000 m2 that covers nine floors above ground and five underground, with a massive green roof and a large number of photovoltaic panels.
When the previous building was demolished, the foundations were retained and materials were reused and recycled as much as possible. Underneath the building, 14,000 m³ of water (enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools) are stored. The heat stored in the water during the summer months can be used to warm the building in the winter, without using fossil fuels.
“Our new building is the very symbol of our mission: building a positive future together,” said Max Jadot, CEO of BNP Paribas Fortis.
“Designed to evolve with the times and at the cutting edge of technology, it is above all a model of sustainability. The building was made possible by the expertise of our national suppliers and contractors. I am very proud that our sustainable project has received the prestigious MIPIM award.”
