Home > Redevco lays the first (façade) brick of its mixed-use redevelopment project in Schaerbeek

A modern, multi story apartment building with balconies, seen from a landscaped garden with greenery and walking paths. a person sits on a bench in the foreground under a partly cloudy blue sky.
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Redevco lays the first (façade) brick of its mixed-use redevelopment project in Schaerbeek

August 25, 2025 4 min read

Redevco, one of Europe’s largest private real estate investment managers, has laid the first façade-brick of its sustainable redevelopment project on Avenue Britsiers in Schaerbeek. The event was held together with its main contractor Van Laere and future tenants of the project.

The selected brick –Pirrouet®, produced in Belgium with a negative carbon footprint– symbolises the project’s strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

On the former Brico site, opposite the Brugmann Hospital, a multifunctional urban development is taking shape to meet local socio-economic needs. The project includes:

  • 49 rental apartments managed by ASIS (Agence Immobilière Sociale Schaerbeekoise), available from spring 2026.
  • A Lidl supermarket (2,287 m² GLA) with underground parking, scheduled to open in November 2025.
  • A medical center, currently being marketed.

Filip de Bois, Portfolio Director at Redevco Belgium, stated: “This project embodies our ambition to future-proof cities. By transforming a single-use retail asset into a mixed-use, vibrant urban environment, we are not only generating value for investors but also enriching the local community. This contributes to a more pleasant living environment for Schaerbeek residents and supports our long-term climate goals.” Gilles Bourgoignie, Head of Development adds: “We extend our sincere thanks to the municipality of Schaerbeek and the Brussels-Capital Region for their constructive collaboration throughout the development process. Their support highlights the public value of repurposing outdated retail sites into dynamic urban spaces. We look forward to building on this momentum with future projects in Brussels.”

Justine Harzé, Alderwoman responsible for Housing and Urban Planning in Schaerbeek, states: “This project perfectly illustrates the vision we promote for Schaerbeek: transforming monofunctional sites from the past into accessible living environments. By providing affordable housing through the Social Rental Agency, a neighborhood supermarket, and a future medical center, this redevelopment meets the needs of residents and showcases a beautiful collaboration between private and public actors.” Naïma Belkhatir, Chairwoman of Asis, adds: “With the Britsiers project, we are laying the foundations for a supportive neighborhood where families and children can thrive. Together, we are building much more than walls: we are building lives.”

Laurent Eeraerts, CEO of Van Laere, concludes:“The choice of a façade brick with a negative CO₂ footprint is no coincidence. It symbolises conscious decisions we make together with Redevco and other partners to reinforce the sustainability philosophy. By placing this particular brick as the first step of a new milestone within the project, we proudly emphasize our ambition to build with respect and with an eye on the generations to come.”

Four people in safety gear and hard hats pose at a construction site, with one person laying bricks. two flags with van laere and redevco logos are displayed beside the unfinished building.

Sustainable Construction
This project is fully committed to sustainability and energy efficiency. The building aims for a BREEAM “Outstanding” certification and an A+ EPC rating for the residential units. The construction site operates entirely without fossil fuels and runs on electricity via battery packs. Energy consumption and waste are actively monitored. Solar panels will be installed to power the common areas.

Construction materials are carefully selected, including low-carbon CEM III concrete and a façade brick with a negative carbon footprint. Finishes are chosen according to the Cradle to Cradle® principle of circular construction.

Water management
Rainwater is collected and reused—up to 30,000 liters—for purposes such as irrigating green roofs and supplying the supermarket. Thanks to infiltration zones and green roofs, the site’s permeability will increase from 0% to 18% upon completion, improving the urban microclimate.
Innovative techniques are also applied to sanitary installations, including heat recovery from shower water and limescale prevention using chemical-free and salt-free systems.

Quality of life
Redevco builds not just buildings, but communities. Two shared gardens, a playground, and a covered bicycle parking area with over 100 spaces will be available to residents. The soil was fully remediated before construction began, contributing to a safe and healthy living environment. The building is fully accessible to people of all abilities.

ASIS will manage the leasing of the apartments. The offering includes 1 studio, 15 one-bedroom apartments, 15 two-bedroom apartments, 12 three-bedroom apartments, and 6 four-bedroom apartments.

Partners
This project is the result of close collaboration made possible by our partners, including Urban Nation Architect & Associates, ARIES consultants, Wery Legal, Van Roey, Van Laere, ACMG, Stabitec, MK Engineering, AVG Consulting, Tractebel, Sanitechniek, EMS, S.air, ABO and Sura impact.

For more information and the weekly construction schedule: www.projectbritsiers.be

Aerial view of a large construction site with cranes, unfinished building structures, construction materials, and equipment. the site is adjacent to a road lined with trees and nearby residential buildings.