Compagnie d'Entreprises CFE : WOOD HUB receives awards, sale to Ethias finalised

Press release

WOOD HUB receives awards, sale to Ethias finalised

Brussels, 22 December 2023 - WOOD HUB, Brussels' most sustainable office building, was put into service in November and immediately won some remarkable awards. For instance, it received a Belgian Construction Award and was named 'Project of the Year' by PropTechLab. Moreover, the sale between BPI Real Estate and Ethias was successfully completed, making Ethias the official owner of this Near-Energy-Neutral Building as of today.

In December, BPI Real Estate was awarded the silver Climate Future Project Award at the Belgian Construction Awards for the realisation of WOOD HUB. This prize, organised by Bouwkroniek, was awarded by a jury that praised WOOD HUB for the building's thorough innovation and sustainability. In addition, WOOD HUB was recently named 'Project of the Year' at the Belgian Proptech Trophy which celebrates innovation in the construction and real estate sector.

Press release

This week also saw the completion of the sale of Wood Hub to Ethias, which can now call itself the owner of the most sustainable office building in Brussels. The awards reinforce Ethias' commitment to a sustainable and responsible investment policy. The acquisition is an essential part of the diversification of Ethias' real estate portfolio and fully meets its strict standards in terms of quality, occupant comfort and environmental sustainability.

Isabelle Vanderkelen, Head of Real Estate of Ethias: "This office building marks our ambition to invest in the future. Everything must ultimately be sustainable. We are therefore very happy to work with the CFE group, which shares our values of well- being, sustainability and innovation."

For CFE, WOOD HUB is a new realisation in its growing portfolio of highly sustainable buildings. For example, it is also currently building 'Zin in No(o)rd', the most sustainable renovation in Benelux, and in Brussels it has already realised the office building 'Monteco' and 'Gare Maritime', both references in the sector. In the coming years, the CFE Group will also realise the 'Kronos' building in Luxembourg, which will house the new head office of KPMG, among others. The common thread in each project is the use of sustainable materials and techniques and energy optimisation through the use of smart technology.

Jacques Lefevre, CEO of BPI Real Estate: "We are very proud of our growing number of highly sustainable buildings. And especially that partners like Ethias believe in the same future.It is with strong partners like them that we can challenge the status quo and change what is unsustainable."

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About WOOD HUB

WOOD HUB, a 7,300 sq m office building, was developed by BPI Real Estate, a leading developer operating in Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland. Construction was carried out by BPC Group together with WOOD SHAPERS, experts in large-scale prefabricated bio-based materials. VMA was responsible for the installation of all technologies, including the VMANAGER software that centralises all building technologies in a single platform. Thanks to its mixed wood and concrete support structure, "fossil free" and "smart building" energy management, as well as its BREAAM® Outstanding and WELL® Platinum certifications, WOOD HUB sets a new standard in sustainable and innovative construction.

For more information : www.woodhub.be

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About Ethias

Ethias' unique business model is based on direct, digital and public services as well as on the commitment of its 1,900 employees, the trust of its customers (1,200,000 individuals and more than 40,000 public sector customers and private), the support of its shareholders, its 100 years of experience and its financial solidity. All of this makes Ethias a remarkable Belgian insurer today.

Backed by a solid group strategy, Ethias is constantly innovating to create value and meet the needs of tomorrow. Its innovations materialize through ecosystems in areas such as health, the aging population, mobility and public services.

With a "phygital" and socially responsible approach, Ethias is committed to being the everyday partner, beyond insurance, accessible to all.

For more information on our sustainability strategy click here

For further information or to request an interview with one of our experts, do not hesitate to contact our press officers:

• [e-mail]
• Albane Lairesse ([phone])
• Serge Jacobs ([phone])

About BPI Real Estate

BPI Real Estate is the real estate division of the multidisciplinary group CFE. With a wealth of expertise acquired over the past 35 years, BPI Real Estate's ambition is to challenge the status quo and bring about positive change in real estate development in order to deploy innovative, inclusive and eco- responsible urban planning aimed at increasing the well-being of future generations. BPI Real Estate develops this know-how in the residential, office, retail, services and special products sectors.

About CFE

The CFE Group is a multidisciplinary player that develops total solutions for complex challenges in the markets of sustainable buildings, smart industries and the energy transition. Its subsidiaries are active in the segments of real estate development, construction & renovation, multi-technics and investments. CFE's 3.200 employees and workers aim to challenge the status quo and change what needs to be changed for the next generations. The Group is active in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and The Netherlands.

Press contact

Ann Vansumere, Communication Manager Group CFE [phone] || [e-mail]