Brussels Airport 2040 - Connecting with the future

The Airport Business District is part of the Strategic Vision 2040 to develop the airport further into an economic centre with the best airport in Europe. The aim is to develop economic activities within an urban context, complementary to airport activities, and connected to a mobility hub, the intermodal hub.

According to this vision, this economic centre will become a vibrant ecosystem where large companies mingle with startups, where business people, academics and members of the airport community meet each other.

What and where?

The zone which the airport now wishes to develop further, as referred to in the tender procedure, is the following: the drop-off zone, the bus station and one of the buildings currently used by Swissport on the other side of the bus station, as well as the road leading from the terminal to the Ringlaan.

The Airport Business District should have all the characteristics of a city with a mobility hub. A coherent look & feel and quality architecture must be created for the buildings and streets. Where there is room for biodiversity and greenery. Where there is room for innovation and new activities that create their own dynamics and community.

Specifically, it involves:

1. An office building of c. 25,000 to 35,000 m² with supporting retail and parking functions;
2. A 4/5 star hotel with c. 150 rooms;
3. An intermodal hub with the long-term potential of being integrated with an extension of the terminal;
4. A boulevard for public transport;
5. Construction of outdoor space, including the plaza in front of the departure hall. 

Brussels Airport Company considers the work from concept to realisation to be a medium-term project (realisation 2022-2025) that will further increase the added economic value and the 64,000 jobs linked to the airport.

In search of an interdisciplinary consortium 

With the European tender procedure, Brussels Airport Company launches the search for an integrated design team that can provide an innovative mix of sustainable office and mobility developments, complemented by services for the users of the zone. 

Brussels Airport Company expects the design and the team to focus on quality and innovation, with (at least) the following disciplines: architecture, landscape and public space architecture, special techniques, stability, mobility and sustainability. For the selection of the consortium, BAC will rely on the Quality Room, which was created to assist and supervise the urban development of the airport.