The Pachéco building

At the end of 2018, the political asylum services moved out of the WTC-II building near Brussels North Station. They moved into 3 other locations, 2 of which were renovated in a very short timescale in 2018 by Beddeleem nv.

The registration desk is now at the Klein Kasteeltje or Petit Château. In the Pachéco building near the Finance Ministry's office tower, asylum seekers are invited for an initial interview. For the in-depth interview, they are invited to the Eurostation building at Brussels South station. 

The Immigration Office

From January to November 2018, The Belgian Buildings Agency, which manages the portfolio of government buildings, commissioned the works to bring the building into line with the requirements of the Immigration Office.

The major challenge was the timing: the renovation absolutely had to be completed by October 2018, in order to give the staff of the Immigration Office the time necessary to move in.

Main contractor

Beddeleem was the main contractor for the finishing, including the adaptation of the facilities in the building (THV Beddeleem nv – Les entreprises Louis De Waele sa).

The JB 2000 solid partition was combined with the JB 4000 glass partition in the building. The same partitions were used elsewhere with the JB QBE glass cubicles, which are eminently suitable for the new way of working. There are lockers on every floor for storage of personal possessions. Besides the partitions, new solid walls, interior joinery and doors were fitted. The facilities are incorporated into the raised floors and climate ceilings to create a pleasant working environment.  

Fitting-out

The building consists of 12 storeys, a ground floor and 3 basement floors. The various storeys were completed refurbished and adapted to the new way of working. The basement floors and the ground floor were given a complete facelift, combined with structural works and complete renovation of the electrical, cooling and HVAC systems.

Basement floors

The first basement floor was equipped with an entrance reserved for asylum seekers. They enter a large waiting room where all the necessary amenities are available: toilets, playroom for the children, smoking room, baggage room, dispatching and scanning system.

Ground floor

The impressive lobby of the building is on the ground floor. That is also where the largest meeting room in the building and the staff cafeteria are located.

Layout of the upper floors

The first floor contains a press room and meeting rooms for meetings with external guests. One of these rooms has a moveable partition, which means that the space in the room can be divided to meet the requirements.

The 2nd to 12th floors have been thoroughly refurbished and adapted to give the Immigration Office staff modern workspaces. By adopting the principle of the new way of working, the office spaces are now flexible and dynamic, which promotes mobility within the building. About 900 completely modernised workplaces have been made available.

Sources:
Belgian Building Agency
http://www.regiedergebouwen.be/nl/projects/dienst-vreemdelingenzaken, consulted on 16/01/2019
Temmerman, M (2018). Vrt NWS
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/12/03/asieldiensten-verhuizen-naar-uiteenliggende-plaatsen-in-brussel/, consulted on 16/01/2019

scroll to top