INSIDE #118 : simplebooklet.com

SummaryEditoDear Colleagues,Welcome to this new edition of INSIDE.Octobre 2023: some of us have entered the fall season, some others the spring season, both periods of transformation and changing landscapes. In the same way, several developments are unfolding at BESIX, detailed in this edition. We're continually adapting to evolving markets, addressing climate change, and meeting client demands. Embracing change isn't just necessary, it's essential for our collective success.Instrumental to our transformation is BESIX Technology, a new business initiative complementing our core divisions Contracting, Real Estate Development, and Concessions & Assets. Through investments in PropTech start-ups and venture capital funds, we prioritise innovation to diversify our revenue streams (pp. 6-9).Sustainability as cornerstone of our strategy and operations, is woven into every aspect of our value chain (pp. 10-11). Explore our involvement in green hydrogen and third-party solar ﬁnancing (pp. 12-13 and 17) and discover how sustainability threads through many of our projects, highlighted on pp. 18 to 34.Our adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a data management tool drives a broader, data-driven approach to our business (p. 16). Additionally, our safety and quality management has evolved with OASIS, launched about a year ago, making signiﬁcant progress (p. 14).All these strategic elements support our projects worldwide. Yet, BESIX is not just about strategy and projects, it's also about people. Read about the crucial role of an HSE Manager in the success of a project (p. 15), and discover how BESIX offers career opportunities in our supportive, collaborative environment (p. 35).Enjoy this new issue and embrace the changes and challenges ahead. Remember, change isn't just inevitable. It's an opportunity to do better, to grow, and to achieve shared goals. Together, we can navigate the season of transformation and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.Johan BeerlandtExecutive Vice-ChairmanMILESTONES 04STRATEGY BESIX Technology: our commitment to a diversiﬁed future 06The 7 start-ups in our portfolio 08SUSTAINABILITY & ESGThe decarbonisation of building materials 10Hydrogen, an essential key to preserving the climate 12QHSE1,400 users on OASIS: what’s next? 14Safety culture on Dubai Uptown Tower 15ENGINEERING From BIM to information and data management 16INSIGHTBESIX and third-party solar ﬁnancing 17PROJECTS All aboard the Rail Baltica journey (Latvia) 18Introducing the magic of Dubai Uptown Tower (UAE) 22BESIX Watpac relocates to award-winning Poly Centre (Australia) 24Preserving the past, while building a sustainable future (Belgium) 26LEAN methodology helps with renovation project (Belgium) 28LégiaPark, Liège’s new ﬂagship (Belgium) 29Amazing renaissance of Fierens housing complex (Belgium) 30Socogetra’s new sand quarry at Chatillon (Belgium) 32Complex foundation project at Groeninge Abbey (Belgium) 33Renovation of De Gavers water station (Belgium) 34OUR PEOPLEBroaden your horizon at BESIX 35NEW CONTRACTS 36NEWSFLASHES 38 PERSONALIA 39Published byFlorence BribosiaWriters E. Blaney, F. Bribosia, I. Buysse, P. de Truchis, H. El Nammari, P. Henee, C. Karels, M. Maréchal, G. Modena, E. Perard, O. Petry, A. Theunissen, H. Van Laer, D. van Rijckevorsel, C. Verloigne, K. Willems Graphic Design & ProductionTiltfactory.com29PROJECTSLégiaPark, Liège’s new ﬂagship projectSUSTAINABILITY & ESG Hydrogen, an essential key to preserving our climatePROJECTSBesix Watpac relocates NSW HQ to Poly CentreBESIX GroupAv. des Communautés 100B-1200 Brussels, BelgiumT +32 (0)2 402 62 11communication@BESIX.comwww.besix.com@BESIXOcial www.linkedin.com/company/BESIX@BESIXOcial@BESIXGroup_ocial1224

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JANFEBMAR APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC2023JuneJANFEBMAR APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR APRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC08JUNE2023BESIX Watpac holds a sod-turning and smoking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the third stage of Saint George Hospital’s redevelopment (Australia).09JUNE2023LuxTP and BESIX Environment inaugurate two wastewater treatment installations at Putscheid and Nachtmanderscheid (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg). 09JUNE2023Project team on Triangle removes the last horizontal strut elements of the foundation works of the tower (France). 10JUNE2023As part of the works on State Road 318 in Valfabbrica, BESIX colleagues reach the 500-metre mark in the excavation of the 1,545-metre-long Casacastalda tunnel (Italy).01JUNE2023The sea launching, towing, and installation of the ﬁrst 300-ton and 17-meter-high structural steel dolphin encapsulation jacket successfully takes place at Ras Laan (Qatar).11JUNE2023BESIX and BESIX Infra teams place the second and ﬁnal bridge section over the Brussels Ring Road in Zaventem (Belgium). 15JUNE2023BESIX Watpac celebrates its 40th anniversary (Australia).01JUNE2023BESIX Radio, a unique all-day radio show made by and for all colleagues within BESIX Group, reaches 1,950 employees from all over the world.07JUNE2023In Dubai, the Shindagha Corridor is reopened to trac further to the completion of works on two ﬂyover bridges (with six lanes in each direction!), a one-lane ramp, and a two-lane tunnel (UAE).01AUG2023The labyrinth spillway on top of the main dam of the Nachtigal Hydropower Project is activated (Cameroon).02AUG2023A total of six Y-shaped columns are installed to support the future Rail Baltica Central Station's waiting hall slab structure, while the beams for the railway bridge are successfully installed (Latvia).20AUG2023BESIX Infra enhances eciency and sus-tainability by introducing branded bicycles for on-site mobility (Belgium).29AUG2023Vanhout and partner Houben NV deliver a new state-of-the-art wooden cycling track at the Circuit in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium).07SEP2023SO/ hotel formally opens in Dubai Uptown Tower, built by Six Construct (UAE). 12SEP2023The construction of the new Scheldt Tunnel is progressing well. The ﬁrst two elements, out of 8, are now completed. Built in a dry dock in Zeebrugge, they will be towed to Antwerp and sunk later on (Belgium).15SEP2023The BESIX rebar production plant near Brussels celebrates its 50th anniversary (Belgium).13JULY2023The Guggenheim Museum reaches a remarkable safety milestone of 10 million man-hours without a single Lost Time Incident, while the Zayed National Museum achieves 15 million a few weeks earlier on 22 June (UAE).17JULY2023The Abidjan Exhibition Centre is ocially inaugurated in the presence of Ivorian ocials (Ivory Coast).19JULY2023BESIX Group introduces BESIX Technology, a new business venture that complements its existing core divisions of Contracting, Real Estate Development, and Concessions & Assets, by strengthening its diversiﬁcation eorts through investment in start-ups. 30JULY2023The Huccorgne Viaduct, located on the E42/A15 motorway between Liège and Namur, fully reopens to trac after undergoing a remarkable transformation (Belgium).21JULY2023LuxTP celebrates its 50th anniversary (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg).JulyAugustSeptember21SEP2023The global BESIX Clean-Up Day takes place for the ﬁfth time. No less than 11 tonnes of waste were collected by 6,000 participants, making our sites and oce surroundings cleaner and more agreeable.MILESTONES C. Karels20JUNE2023BESIX and its partner Hitachi Zosen Inova announce the successful ignition of the ﬁrst ﬁre at the Dubai Waste-to-Energy project, and welcome HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai (UAE).20JUNE2023BESIX Watpac celebrates the successful lift of the ﬁrst major steel structure for the Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch (New Zealand).29JUNE2023The BESIX Group 2022 Sustainability and ESG Report is published.07JULY2023Jacques Delens marks the completion of structural work at their Waterloo 543 social housing complex in southeast Brussels by placing a traditional ﬂower bouquet on the building (Belgium).4 5INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118

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Discover the world of BESIX Technology, where innovation meets investment in a quest for diversiﬁed, sustainable revenue streams. In this engaging Q&A with Thomas Vandenbergh, we unveil how BESIX is nurturing PropTech startups and how you can be a part of this transformative journey. Let's dive in!BESIXTechnology:Our commitment to a diversiﬁed futureHow do we, as industrial investors, benefit from these investments?TV: Excellent question! Our approach diers from that of traditional ﬁnancial investors who seek short-term exits. They invest at a certain value in a company and aim to resell their shares at a higher value within a few years, with a focus on quick returns. That’s why their focus usually lies on boosting the company value as quickly as possible.This approach applies to the VC funds we have invested in. However, what’s interesting is that we also have direct or co-investment rights. If one of the funds identiﬁes an interesting opportunity, and both the startup and BESIX Technology see value in a direct investment, we may join next to the VC participation.And where we dier from the VC funds is that we are in it for the long haul. Our goal is to generate recurring, stable revenue. We won't rely on one-time windfalls from selling shares. Instead, we'll earn from dividends – that's the proﬁts generated by these companies' operations. At BESIX, we're committed to being strategic, long-term investors, relying on dividends rather than share sales.Got it. That covers future investments, but what about the direct investments we made in the past?TV: Over recent years, we've made direct investments in seven startups. These include BuildUp in o-site construction, aug·e in energy management, Neanex in asset information management, CIRCL, a digital contractor, Conneqtr, Square Sense (currently based in Paris), and Litobox. (Editor’s note: For detailed overviews of these startups, see the following pages.)How do we support these startups?TV: It's essential to remember that each of these startups already has a commercial product and clients. Obviously the ﬁrst thing that comes to mind is to provide projects to these startups. But that should not necessarily be the only support we can provide. The purpose of our diversiﬁcation initiatives is also to tap into completely new market segments and hereby establishing new client relationships.Beyond providing potential projects and funding, we also help them by being active board members who challenge their strategies and business models. We also share valuable resources, such as commercial contacts, and oer support services like legal, insurance, ICT or HR. Additionally, our Engineering department assists startups with speciﬁc engineering-related matters. We're also sharing talent. Currently, eight former BESIX employees are working in our startups in various capacities, which helps startups navigate within our group. Finally, articles like this one serve as platforms to enhance their exposure, both internally and externally.How can our readers contribute to this initiative?TV: Firstly, get to know the seven startups already in our portfolio. If you see opportunities to collaborate, whether inviting them to your management meetings, construction sites, or team events, don't hesitate.Secondly, think beyond solving immediate challenges in your current role. Consider how these startups' solutions can create added value for your clients, partners, and suppliers. As industrial investors, we're here to share our expertise and create opportunities for our startups. If we can delight our clients in the process, it's a win-win-win situation—for our clients, BESIX, and the startups! What is BESIX Technology all about?Thomas Vandenbergh (TV): BESIX Technology is all about broadening the horizons of our group's revenue streams. Our objective is to secure not just any revenue but to establish a stable, recurring, and sustainable income source. This initiative is an integral part of our strategy to diversify our sources of income.Could you break that down for us?TV: Absolutely! In simpler terms, BESIX is actively engaging with PropTech startups, which are rapidly growing technology companies operating in our industry. We engage with them by investing, both directly and indirectly.For indirect investments, we have invested in specialised funds, Venture Capital (VC) funds, which venture into the market to discover promising startups with high growth potential. These funds act on our behalf.Does investing in PropTech mean focusing solely on buildings?TV: No, it's not limited to buildings alone. It’s true that 'PropTech' stands for 'Property Technology,' i.e. technology that optimises the way we buy, sell, design, construct, and manage properties. This applies to oces and residential real estate, but also to sports facilities, water and road infrastructure, and industrial plants.What's crucial to note is that PropTech intersects with FinTech, ConTech, Smart Real Estate, and the Share Economy. It involves construction technologies that enhance bidding, estimating, modelling, and jobsite management.STRATEGY F. Bribosia6 7INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118

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The7 start-ups in BESIX’s portfolioSTRATEGY F. Bribosia Localisation: Aarschot,BelgiumSta:41Since: 2021Turnover 2022 (k€): 5,560BESIX’s stake: 40 %Domain: Osite constructionConcretely: BuildUp is a sustainable construction company that is changing the way buildings are built and retroﬁtted. With their osite construction process, they can build high-quality, energy-ecient buildings faster and more aordably than traditional methods. BuildUp's osite methods also allow them to quickly and eciently produce and install new, energy-ecient components to retroﬁt existing houses, turning older buildings into more sustainable ones.Concrete case: BuildUp has transformed 160 energy-dwelling buildings into zero-energy housing, providing them with osite-produced façade panels and roofs in Wattrelos (France).Contact: Hélène de Troostembergh www.builduposite.comBuildUp Concretely: Square Sense is a PropTech company that uses data to help real estate asset managers make better decisions. They do this by collecting data in real time from real estate assets, such as occupancy, energy consumption, comfort & tenant satisfaction, and maintenance data. This data is then used to create insights that can help asset managers improve their operations by reducing costs, improving energy performance, and increasing proﬁts and tenant satisfaction. Square Sense's data platform is designed to be easy to use and scalable to meet the needs of dierent real estate asset managers.Concrete case: Square Sense is used in a 27,000 m² oce and retail building in Madrid (Spain) to measure and optimise occupancy, electricity consumption, air quality, and comfort, generating an immediate reduction in asset electricity consumption and in vacancy loss.Contact: Emmanuel Verhoosel, Ruben Bouhnik www.square-sense.comLocalisation: Paris, FranceSta:35BESIX’s stake: 13.7 %Since: 2022Turnover 2022 (k€): 100Domain: Asset managementSquare Sense Concretely: Conneqtr is a startup that is developing a digital platform for all stakeholders in the construction process, from contractors to suppliers to subcontractors, to better communicate and collaborate, and stay compliant. Conneqtr's platform oers a variety of features to help the construction industry, including a digital marketplace to exchange documents, a project management tool to track progress and costs, a compliance management tool to ensure all regulations are met, etc. Conneqtr's platform is designed to be easy to use and scalable to meet the needs of dierent construction projects, from small contractors to large construction ﬁrms.Concrete case: A couple of BESIX project sites in Belgium use the compliance management tool of the platform, called Zen, to exchange required documents in relation to work regulations with their partners and subcontractors. Around 1,000 construction sites and 1,500 subcontractors across the Belgian construction sector are using Zen today.Contact: Steven Everaert www.conneqtr.comLocalisation: Brussels, BelgiumSta:7BESIX’s stake: 11.4 %Since: 2020Turnover forecast 2023 (k€): 1,000Domain: OnsiteinformationmanagementConneqtr Concretely: LITO is a company that develops and builds innovative modular HVAC systems for homes and other buildings. Their compact products encompass all necessary HVAC components, such as heat pump, buer tank, and battery pack, to improve eciency whilst saving valuable space. All this in... just one box.Concrete case: In the centre of Antwerp (Belgium), eighteen apartments were converted into zero-energy homes in less than one day, via the placement of 4 LITO boxes on the roof, hosting heat pumps, solar panels, and all required connections. Contact: Lieven Smeyers https://lito.beLocalisation: Arendonk, BelgiumSta:2BESIX’s stake: 5 %Since: 2018Turnover 2022 (k€): 434Domain: Compact HVAC,energy asa serviceLITO Concretely: CIRCL is a new housing concept based on homes built using sustainable materials, o-site construction, and digital technology, making them more ecient, aordable, and environmentally friendly. CIRCL's homes are designed to be ﬂexible and adaptable, so they can be easily modiﬁed to meet the changing needs of their residents. This makes them a more sustainable and equitable housing option for people of all ages and stages of life. Concrete case: Aliate Vanhout has built 2 model housings with CIRCL in Diest (Belgium). Contact: Wim Pieters https://circl.beLocalisation: Antwerp,BelgiumSta:4BESIX’s stake: 100 %Since: 2023Turnover 2022 (k€): NADomain: General contracting in osite constructionCIRCL Localisation: Antwerp,BelgiumSta:17Since: 2019Turnover 2022 (k€): 1,571BESIX’s stake: 52.4 %Domain: Information managementConcretely: Neanex is a data management company that helps large asset owners, engineers, and construction companies to be in control of information about their assets at all times. They do this by providing expertise in asset information management, helping organisations become data-driven, and bringing the worlds of systems engineering, BIM, design, construction, and asset management closer together.Concrete case: Their product ‘fundament’ has been recognised and qualiﬁed as a key innovator by the Innovation radar of the European Union. Their solution is used to support information management and control on the Oosterweel Link, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Belgium. Contact: Joseﬁen Vanhuyse www.neanex.com Neanex9INSIDE Magazine #118 Localisation: Diegem,BelgiumSta:46Since: 2021Turnover 2022 (k€): 2,195BESIX’s stake: 47.5 %Domain: Energy managementConcretely: aug·e is a smart energy management software company that helps businesses and individuals save energy, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. They do this by providing a software platform that collects and predicts energy production, consumption, and prices. Then, they use these data to steer energetical assets like electrical vehicle charging stations and batteries and hereby reduce energy costs. aug·e's platform can be used to manage buildings, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles.Concrete case: aug·e is collaborating with several partners, usually local authorities, to create energy-ecient and energy-neutral communities, where residents can share the beneﬁts of solar panels through a variety of mechanisms, such as solar leasing or solar co-ownership. aug·e already steers hundreds of batteries and EV charging points in Belgium.Contact: Lieven Kenis www.aug-e.ioaug·e8INSIDE Magazine #118

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The construction industry, including the use of the built environment, currently stands as one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. The production and use of materials like cement and steel carry a signiﬁcant carbon footprint. Surprisingly, our sector's focus has traditionally revolved around reducing operational carbon emissions, such as those from heating, cooling, and lighting, while addressing embodied carbon emissions originating from materials' design, extraction, production, and deployment has been slower. In this article, we’ll look at the issue of decarbonisation of building materials, as one of the areas where we can act to signiﬁcantly reduce the carbon footprint of our projects.Why decarbonise?“Tackling this challenge requires broad collaboration, rallying all stakeholders across the entire building life cycle”, says Geert Aelbrecht, Group Sustainability & ESG Ocer. From policy makers to investors, from manufacturers, builders, and engineers to architects and tenants, “we have a collective responsibility to develop and implement joint strategies to pave the way to a more sustainable built environment.”“One might think that our action is only fuelled by regulatory pressure”, adds Geert, “but that would be a restrictive point of view. One cannot deny the fact that the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal are behind our sector’s strive for greater sustainability, but far from the only one.” Another adjuvant in our journey towards sustainability is the increasing demand from our clients for transparency regarding the carbon footprint of speciﬁc categories of materials used in projects. “For instance, steel and concrete are being increasingly scrutinised for their environmental impact in the tender phase”, adds Jan Van Steirteghem, General Manager Europe. “Carbon footprint reduction has become a crucial consideration in our discussions with clients.”Lastly, and as prominently, “the urge to decarbonise our project also comes… from ourselves”, adds Geert. “Our employees, rightly so, are holding BESIX accountable to play an active role in this journey. It is our will and our responsibility to live up to what we believe, to live up to what is the core of our raison d’être: creating sustainable solutions for a better world.”How to decarbonise?A recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme addresses the issue of developing innovative cooperation models to decarbonise building materials. It could be summarised as: Avoid, Shift, and Improve.Avoid“The potential to reduce embodied carbon is at its highest during the conception and design phases”, explains Fabian Boucher, Engineering Director. “Our sustainability experts are learning to perform relevant Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). This includes evaluating the environmental impact of materials and products throughout the life cycle of the assets we build. It is paramount to keep a holistic approach and make sure that optimising one material will not negatively aect the impact in another stage of the life cycle!” Early involvement and cooperation with the project owner allow for crucial decisions, such as, for example, choosing between one material or another. “This is necessary if we want to impact the project's overall carbon footprint”, Fabian continues. “The collaborative eort between BESIX Engineering and Procurement ensures that the latest developments in the market are incorporated in the design and execution methodologies.” ShiftSpeaking of Procurement, Sylvain Sainton, Chief Procurement Ocer, conﬁrms: “Collaboration with our suppliers is paramount in this journey to shift to decarbonised building materials.” For Category Managers within BESIX Procurement, carbon footprint reduction is becoming a key consideration in their interactions with suppliers. This is even more crucial as traceability of CO2 emissions from products purchased outside the EU will be compulsory from 2026, under penalty of ﬁne. “Suppliers are expected to provide us with their Environmental Product Declarations, giving transparent information about a product's carbon footprint, which is essential for us for making informed choices”, adds Sylvain.“A comprehensive roadmap for the next three years is followed at Procurement to accompany our suppliers to develop common procurement strategies, as our ultimate objective is to make sure that procured materials for our projects align with our sustainability goals”, concludes Sylvain.ImproveThe steel and concrete industries are at the forefront of eorts to reduce the carbon footprint of their production processes. This involves signiﬁcant investments and improvements in their production plants. “Ordinary Portland Cement production is energy-intensive, but blended cement, incorporating waste products like ﬂy ash, a waste product from coal power plants, or slags from the steel industry, oers lower emissions”, illustrates Fabian. “Recycling concrete is challenging due to irregular ﬂows and varying qualities of aggregates, but ongoing research aims to integrate recycling into the production process.” Collective way forwardSustainable practices in the construction industry require a comprehensive approach to successfully decarbonize the built environment. Steel and cement manufacturers, contractors, clients and ﬁnancial institutions cannot achieve success independently in this crucial journey. Jan adds: “Financial institutions also play a role in this shared journey. Lenders and banks, for instance, should oer and promote ﬁnancial solutions that support sustainability, such as interest rates tied to GHG emissions.”In conclusion, implementing collaborative strategies throughout the life cycle phases of assets is the key to advancing a greener, more sustainable built environment, aligning with global climate objectives. SUSTAINABILITY F. Bribosia10 11INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118Joint strategies for thedecarbonisation ofbuilding materials

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Following the Paris Agreement, the European Union has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. To limit warming to less than 1.5°C, bold measures are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in many economic sectors. Hydrogen, when produced from renewable energies, turns out to be a promising solution for reducing our fossil fuel dependency. Explanations. Europe has taken up this challenge with enthusiasm, planning to invest some 430 billion euros and allocate 135 billion euros in subsidies by 2030 to support the development of green hydrogen! New national and European regulations have already kicked o many key projects to promote the growth of the clean hydrogen market.But what exactly is hydrogen?Hydrogen is a particular form of gas: it is odourless, transparent, and non-toxic. It consists of two hydrogen atoms. Despite being the most common atoms on our planet, they are not usually found in their pure state. There are two main methods for producing hydrogen: pyrolysis, which involves heating natural gases to break them down into hydrogen and carbon, and electrolysis, which separates oxygen and hydrogen atoms by passing an electric current through water. If this electricity comes from green sources, the hydrogen obtained is green!Hydrogen can serve as an energy source for a multitude of applications, like mobility (for example, to power fuel cell vehicles without CO2 emissions), industry (replacing fossil fuels in steel production), or even storage if reconverted into electricity.Promising, but still expensive Green hydrogen represents a promise for the energy transition. It is clean, sustainable and can potentially reduce carbon emissions in many economic sectors. But it remains relatively expensive. For green hydrogen to become competitive, it is essential that the price of green electricity continues to fall, that electrolysers become more cost-eective, and that economies of scale allow production costs to be reduced. Even if, currently, green hydrogen is more expensive than fossil fuels, the constraints linked to the use of the latter, such as the carbon tax, will encourage economies to adopt this more environmentally friendly solution. The future looks exciting for green hydrogen and anyone interested in it... like us!SUSTAINABILITY F. Bribosia, A. TheunissenDiving into the world of green hydrogen at BESIXIn this evolving environment, we have been active and committed. Since 2019, BESIX, BESIX Environment, and BESIX Concessions & Assets have joined forces to propel our group to the forefront of this booming market. Our solid skills – in project development and management, in civil engineering for power plants, and as a one-stop shop with a wide range of internal skills – have established us as a reliable player in this new universe. BESIX, more and more in demand In 2021, BESIX and BESIX Environment partnered with John Cockerill to build a green hydrogen production plant (see box). This showcase has opened the door to many other projects. Whether in the development phase or in the study phase as Contractor-Designer (EPC), with a technological partner each time, our prospects for new projects are increasing in Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, and the Middle East, each at their own stage of progression.Supported by our partner network, our project teams are being increasingly solicited as partners by the players in this transformation, both by electrolyser suppliers and project developers. Despite the relative newness of these developments, our expertise is already widely recognised and appreciated. And internally: ecological innovation in actionAt the beginning of 2023, BESIX Environment and the Sint-Pieters-Leeuw workshop launched a pilot project: to power the most powerful tower crane with green hydrogen using a fuel cell and battery. This advance opens new perspectives for urban or remote construction sites and other environments where pollution and electrical access are problematic. At the same time, a solid network of skills has come into being inside the group. Experts from dierent entities meet regularly to share and discuss group initiatives, oering a unique opportunity to stay informed of exciting new developments within the company. Hydrogen, an essential key to preserving our climateHyowind: game-changing green hydrogenIn December 2021, Hyowind contracted with the John Cockerill-BESIX-BESIX Environment consortium to create a 25 MW green hydrogen production unit in Zeebrugge. The plan is to power part of the Colruyt group truck ﬂeet (300 trucks planned) and the DATS fuel stations under development, thereby promoting environment-respecting mobility. It will also be possible is to inject this green hydrogen into the Fluxys hydrogen network for industrial customers. This capacity to mobilise 25 MW at any time will also allow electricity supplier Elia to guarantee a reserve of 25 MW for the needs of the secondary market, more speciﬁcally to cover demand peaks for renewable energy.ContactAdrien Theunissen adrien.theunissen@besix.comGreen HydrogenRenewable electricity generationGetting electricity to an electrolyserNet zero emissionsDistribution and storage of hydrogenH2 electrolyser12 13INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118

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Promoting a culture of safety: an HSE insight with Abdallatif Tanerah QHSE C. KarelsQHSE F. BribosiaOpen communication for safer constructionAbdallatif's role is multifaceted, involving regular discussions and comprehensive site assessments to gain invaluable insights into the workforce's needs. “By maintaining open channels of communication with site managers, I ensure that safety standards are upheld, and potential risks are expertly mitigated across projects”, he explains.Passion transformed into expertiseAbdallatif's journey from aspiring paramedic to safety engineering specialist is a testament to his passion for safety. With an impressive 26-year track record in the ﬁeld, he seamlessly combines his Safety Manager expertise with eective coordination.Safety campaigns that set BESIX apartAbdallatif continues: “As part of my job, I also proactively initiate safety campaigns, such as the ‘Make the Promise’ campaign. This campaign aims to promote safety leadership and culture in the workplace by encouraging workers to make a safety promise. The campaign provides resources and guidance on how to develop a safety culture and engage workers in safety leadership. These initiatives not only distinguish BESIX from other contractors but also showcase BESIX's unwavering commitment to safety and recognise and appreciate the dedication of our teams.”A multicultural safety ambassadorAbdallatif's cross-cultural proﬁciency and linguistic skills empower him to communicate eortlessly with his diverse workforce, spanning over 21 nationalities. “Open communication and mutual trust are the cornerstones of strong relationships, fostering collaboration and harmony within the company,” he explains.26 million man-hours accident-freeAn astounding safety record of 26 million man-hours without any lost-time injuries (LTI) on the Dubai Uptown Tower project stands as a crowning achievement in the ongoing safety journey. “This achievement ﬁlls me with profound pride and aligns perfectly with my core objective of fostering a safety-oriented culture through real-time risk assessments and meticulous preparation. Through these eorts, BESIX not only ensures the safety and well-being of its employees but also secures the ﬂawless execution of all its projects.” Then came OASIS, a game-changing digital platform for documenting and evaluating HSE data, no matter the project complexity, size, location, legal context, or even language. Today, with 1,400 users on board and 16 modules available in 4 languages, the transformation is evident: our HSE data is no longer siloed and is now maintained on one centralised platform, making it possible to share insights with teams around the world to help reduce incidents, share lessons learned, keep employees safer, and elevate our safety and environmental maturity on a global level.INSIDE sat down with Pimmie Aendenboom, QHSE Manger BU International and Project Manager for OASIS, to learn about her top 3 highlights from this journey.How was the OASIS platform received so far?The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Every new team introduction, whether for small or large projects, sparks interest and enthusiasm. Our colleagues quickly recognise the added value. When they realise that OASIS empowers them with real-time data analysis to identify potential issues, they eagerly embrace it. On some projects, like those in Tanzania or Latvia, our clients themselves have expressed interest in using OASIS for their observations. Even the external certiﬁcation body, which annually certiﬁes our processes, was impressed with how OASIS aligns with ISO 45001, 9001, and 14001 standards.What are the main hurdles?In a project of this magnitude, challenges abound. One that caught us slightly o guard is that not everyone is comfortable with digital tools. Some colleagues prefer the traditional pen and paper method. It's essential to acknowledge and accommodate varying adoption rates, even if the tool is exceptionally user-friendly. Another hurdle, as one might expect, is IT dependencies, especially when collaborating with joint-venture partners. Not all IT departments are equally ﬂexible or open to new solutions. Lastly, we've noticed that enthusiasm can wane if colleagues don't start using OASIS immediately after training. We encourage teams to integrate the tool into their daily routines promptly to maintain momentum.Is the project completed now?Not at all. We're gearing up for a new release in the ﬁrst quarter of 2024. Based on user feedback, we're focused on enhancing the existing 16 modules. Additionally, we're introducing three new modules: QHSE equipment, hazardous product management, and stakeholder satisfaction. The best is yet to come! In the world of construction, safety isn't just a priority. It's a culture deeply embedded in BESIX's DNA. Abdallatif Tanerah, the HSE Manager for the Dubai Uptown Tower project, is at the forefront of this safety journey. His mission? Safeguarding the well-being of every worker, client, subcontractor, and future user of BESIX buildings and infrastructures.In the not-so-distant past, we at BESIX Group used to rely on traditional methods to manage our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) processes: pen, paper, emails, and a mix of digital tools. The monthly data transfer routine was cumbersome, and it made maintaining data integrity a constant challenge. Manual data entry of incidents consumed valuable hours and introduced a margin for errors, rendering our data unreliable and making it dicult to spot trends and implement necessary safety measures.“Armed with this wealth of HSE information from all our projects, we can proactively focus our eorts on mitigating the highest risks before incidents occur.”transforming HSE management from manual to proactiveOASIS: 14 15INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118

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16INSIDE Magazine #118INSIGHT F. BribosiaIn today's world, the push for a greener economy has put renewable energy in the spotlight. Solar power, in particular, emerges as a cost-eective, eco-friendly solution to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The call for businesses to embrace solar energy grows louder. So, what's BESIX's role in this shift? We spoke with Pauline Dijon, Director New Business Ventures in the BU Concessions & Assets, to get the answers.Since 2010, BESIX has used Building Information Modelling (BIM) to create and manage project design and construction data. BESIX is gradually moving BIM from the engineer’s oce to the heart of our construction business. How does third-party solar financing work?PD: It's pretty simple. We oer all-inclusive ﬁnancing to clients considering solar PV installations on their premises. This covers everything from feasibility studies and installation costs to maintenance, spanning around 20 years. In return, clients sign an electricity purchase agreement with us at a ﬁxed rate for the same duration. They can choose between a pay-as-produced or pay-as-consumed contract, tailored to their needs.What role does BESIX play in this?PD: We've formed strategic partnerships with experienced solar developers in our domestic markets, providing clients access to a team of solar experts with a track record. BESIX brings its experience in development, ﬁnancing, installation, and maintenance to the table. Our extensive industrial network, especially in sectors like steel and cement, is a valuable asset, especially for those seeking decarbonisation solutions.What are the advantages for clients?PD: Firstly, cost savings. Regardless of the contract type, clients reduce expenses by switching to self-generated power, saving almost one-third on distribution and transmission costs. With high self-consumption, the savings can be even more signiﬁcant. Additionally, there's no upfront investment since we take care of it. Secondly, peace of mind. Third-party solar ﬁnancing removes worries. We handle supplier selection, cost optimisation, and maximise panel performance. Clients enjoy a ﬁxed (indexed) price for 20 years, shielding them from market ﬂuctuations. This hassle-free experience lets clients focus on their core business while beneﬁting from clean, renewable energy.Are there concrete projects in development?PD: We're excited about our collaboration with BESIX Infra, installing 1MWp capacity across three roofs and a parking facility with 170 charging stations in Schelle. We're exploring opportunities in Belgium and Luxembourg for the entire Group, large corporations, and public authorities. Partnering with experienced teams accelerates our learning curve and enriches our internal knowledge. Kristof Vandenbogaerde, Corporate BIM Manager, envisions a transformative shift: “By exploiting BIM's potential as a comprehensive data management tool, we want to use it in a more transversal way, expanding the usage of BIM beyond design and project-centric functions.” A notable application of BIM's expanded role is evident in the pre-qualiﬁcation process, where clients' demands are becoming increasingly detailed. By seamlessly integrating available data, including ﬁnancial and ERP data, with the existing BIM information, we can swiftly generate a list of projects aligning with a client’s precise requirements, helping us showcase our capabilities. Integrating project planning with BIM models enables the creation of 4D models, linking project activities with speciﬁc model elements, such as formwork, rebar, and concrete works. This integration serves several purposes, such as detecting unrealistic schedules and optimising planning and processes. Additionally, connecting planning to BIM models facilitates procurement planning and oers valuable insights into industry trends and price forecasts. Combining BIM data with corporate data and subjecting them to Business Intelligence (BI) analysis can create comprehensive dashboards. These dashboards provide valuable insights into projects and processes, aiding in informed decision-making and driving improvements, including safety.Consolidated data management“BIM is no longer a project-speciﬁc tool but a foundation for a broader data-driven approach. This forward-thinking approach involves consolidating knowledge and data from all projects, eortlessly merging them with ERP, cost, stang, safety data, and more. The aim is to create a 'linked data' environment accessible to all departments, transcending the boundaries of engineering and technical oces. This approach unlocks limitless possibilities, especially when integrating AI into the process, reducing risks, and enhancing robustness”, concludes Kristof.Fabian Boucher, Director Engineering & Methods, emphasizes the pivotal role of data-driven decisions in today's business landscape: "At BESIX, we are committed to leading the way in this domain. Achieving this requires adaptability and discipline from everyone involved. The BESIX Engineering team will guide us through this transformative journey."In conclusion, BESIX is embarking on a groundbreaking transformation, shifting from conventional BIM usage to a comprehensive Information & Data Management approach. This shift promises to revolutionize how data is managed, integrated, and analysed across all aspects of the organisation, ushering in a new era of informed decision-making and eciency. And the advantages for BESIX?PD: For BESIX, this strategic move oers several beneﬁts. Diversiﬁed investments improve our risk proﬁle. Investing in sustainability aligns with our decarbonisation goals. We're actively promoting this service within our group, assessing production potential for our aliates. Given the rapid development of e-mobility and unpredictable electricity costs, on-site production assets make sense for our aliates too.Sun power: BESIX’s new role in third-party solar ﬁnancingFrom Building Information Modelling to Information & Data ManagementENGINEERING C. KarelsThe Nordhavn Tunnel project beneﬁts from logistics planning using a 4D BIM model, making it possible to identify planning inconsistencies.17INSIDE Magazine #118

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18 19INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS C. VerloigneBESIX is thrilled to be a part of the Rail Baltica project, a deﬁning infrastructure project that’s changing the way Europe connects. This new high-speed railway will connect the Baltic States to the rest of Europe, providing a vital economic and strategic link. The entire project, of which the construction will be spread over 10 years, includes 7 international passenger stations, 3 multimodal terminals, and 870 km of railway track destined for both passenger and freight trac. Together with partners Rizzani de Eccher and SIA RERE BŪVE, BESIX is speciﬁcally in charge of the design and build of the Rail Baltica Central Station in Riga, including the new central station building, a major railway bridge on the Daugava River, the railway embankments and track works. Our colleagues in Latvia are literally laying down the tracks that will shape Europe’s future!Destination Europe Rail Baltica is a strategic project for the European Union for several reasons. First, it will improve connectivity between the Baltic States and the rest of the EU, making it easier for people and goods to move around. This will boost economic growth and create new jobs in the region.Second, Rail Baltica will help reduce Europe's reliance on foreign energy. By providing a new route for transporting goods to and from the Baltic States, Rail Baltica will help reduce Europe's dependence on foreign oil and gas.Third, Rail Baltica will strengthen Europe's security. By connecting the Baltic States to the rest of Europe, Rail Baltica will make it easier for NATO forces to move around the region. This will deter any foreign aggression and help keep Europe safe.One-way ticket to a more sustainable futureThe ambitious environmental goals set by the European Union for 2050 include a 60 % reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. To achieve this, cities and states must promote sustainable and low-carbon alternatives to conventionally fuelled transport. Rail Baltica will also connect seaports to airports, further enabling sustainable trade and transport. These reasons explain why the European Commission is heavily investing in the project through their Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). In the summer of 2023, the EU granted an additional 928 million euros to the Baltic section of the project, on top of 1.2 billion euros already received. Next stop: installing 8 huge arches BESIX and its partners hopped aboard the Rail Baltica project with the start of the works on the Riga Central Station in November 2020. Today, the construction works are on the fast track, with an important milestone reached recently: the installation of the ﬁrst arch in September 2023. This step marks the beginning of the construction of the station’s iconic glazed roof structure, further deﬁning its shape. Eight of these arches should be installed in the southern zone of the station by the end of fall 2023. To reach this milestone, the teams are burning the midnight oil, working primarily at night to minimise disruption to railway trac. The highest point of the station’s roof will reach almost 30 metres. Cédric de Biolley, BESIX colleague and Station Area Coordinator for BERERIX shares with INSIDE: “The Rail Baltica Riga Central Station is a very complex project, not only because it’s a European-funded project cut into dierent ﬁnancing stages, but also because of the complexity on site. In a very short time span, we need to erect dierent kinds of structures on top of each other: decks, platforms, the main concourse slab, the steel structure, and the roof. We are in the middle of the city, with half of the existing train station still operational. Logistic access is quite restrained, so it’s a big logistical puzzle. Because of the complexity and the limited space available on-site, we work with many precast elements that are then transported to the site. To be able to install these large elements as fast as possible, we brought a big crawler crane to the site from Poland. The crane is helping us lift and install big steel structures of 65 tonnes that are transported to the site on SPMT’s.”BESIX is proud to be a part of the Rail Baltica project, and we are committed to making this project happen. We look forward to seeing the beneﬁts of Rail Baltica for the Baltic States and for Europe as a whole. Return of the Baltics to Europe Initially, when railway infrastructure was built, all three Baltic states and Finland were part of the Russian empire, that ended after WW1. States got their independence, but railway systems stayed the same, using Russian gauge 1520 mm rails, except one line, that was built from Riga to Germany with the European gauge of 1435. This was the famous Nord-Express Riga-Berlin track (operated by the same company as Orient Express), where one would not need to change trains or wheels on the Polish border. During the Second World War that line was entirely destroyed and never reconstructed.Under the occupation of the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries’ railway system continued using Russian gauge 1520 mm rails. This meant, and today it is still the case, that it was easier for the Baltics to trade with CIS countries such as Russia. Rail Baltica will make up the missing link between the trac lines stemming from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, connecting Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania to the rest of Europe via Poland and Finland, through 1435 mm gauge infrastructure compliant with the European rail network standard. The Rail Baltica project is a symbolic return of the Baltic States to Europe after the Second World War. All aboard the Rail Baltica journey

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22 23INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS H. El NammariDubai Uptown Tower (DUT), brought to life by the remarkable team at BESIX Middle East, is on the brink of completion, and we couldn't be more thrilled to share the excitement with you.Imagine Dubai's mesmerizing skyline, known for its architectural marvels, getting an even more spectacular addition – the Dubai Uptown Tower. This 78-story gem nestled in Dubai's Uptown district isn't just a building; it's a symbol of Dubai's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and pure excellence – and that of our BESIX Middle East colleagues. Luxury and beyond Dubai Uptown Tower is a world within itself. Picture a 5-star hotel, exclusive restaurants, top-notch conference facilities, premium oces, and signature residences – all under one magniﬁcent roof. Its diamond-inspired design pays tribute to Dubai Multi Commodities Centre's (DMCC) trade in precious gems and gold. Green dreams come trueUptown Tower may not be the tallest, but it's a towering example of sustainability. It's a hub of eco-friendly brilliance, with LEED-certiﬁed marble, zebra stone, and acrylic accents adorning its construction. Water-saving systems are seamlessly integrated, while a smart division of spaces optimises energy eciency. What’s more, the tower's construction site has been powered by rows of solar panels since the beginning of the project, setting a world record for the largest solar installation on a construction site. Innovation unleashedUptown Tower isn't just a structure; it's a tech wonderland. Internet of Things (IoT) technology and platforms like WakeCap, ProperGate, and Sablono have optimised construction site eciency, organisation, and safety – particularly in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic.Soaring to new heights Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems might sound complex, but the Uptown Tower project team has managed them with ﬁnesse. The 27 elevators, including 9 Schindler 7000 double-deck elevators – a Middle East ﬁrst – are making accessibility and eciency a breeze.Safety firstUptown Tower exempliﬁes the importance of safety. With a remarkable 26 million man-hours without lost-time injuries (LTI), it's a testament to our colleagues’ meticulous planning and safety initiatives, ensuring the well-being of our workforce at every step.BESIX: shaping tomorrow, todayLet's applaud our colleagues from BESIX Middle East for their role in crafting Dubai Uptown Tower. By pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and prioritising the environment and safety, they are truly painting Dubai's skyline with brilliance. Introducing the magic of Dubai UptownTower

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24 25INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS E. BlaneyBESIX Watpac is thrilled to announce the relocation of its New South Wales oce to the prestigious Poly Centre located at Circular Quay in Sydney. The Poly Centre, a 25-story commercial tower, was designed and constructed by BESIX Watpac. The building is the jewel in the crown of Sydney’s Circular Quay, which provides an ideal home for the NSW team. This relocation marks a signiﬁcant milestone in the company's journey, coinciding with its 40th year of operations in Australia and New Zealand.The project has garnered acclaim for its architectural excellence and commitment to sustainable design principles. It included a meticulous design and construction phase, identifying value-added opportunities and employing ecient construction methodologies. The result is an impressive 17,000 m² of combined commercial and retail space designed to enhance the experiences of both employees and the public.The Poly Centre, classiﬁed as a PCA Grade A building, is pivotal in the ongoing transformation of Sydney's Circular Quay precinct. It harmoniously integrates with new ferry wharves, a bustling light rail system, and many commercial redevelopment projects, contributing to the vibrant evolution of this iconic area.Concrete methodology: safety and aesthetic excellenceA key aspect of the project involved the construction of six levels of exposed arched concrete panels on the western elevation of the building. To ensure safety, quality, and adherence to programme benchmarks, precast concrete panels were used eliminating a signiﬁcant safety risk associated with the in-situ ﬁbre-reinforced polymer.Constructing the precast panel façade required a high level of communication and collaboration with structural architects, the client, the City of Sydney, subcontractors, and suppliers. Achieving the correct colour for these panels was not only crucial but also presented a challenge.The project team conducted multiple tests and experimented with various oxides to ensure the desired colour was achieved. The façade, with its precisely matched colour, serves as a standout feature of the building. Identifying value-add opportunities Design and construct followed an ECI phase where value-add opportunities and eective construction methodologies were identiﬁed, including:• Developing a ﬂexible ﬂoor plan;• Redesigning the façade from GRC (Glassﬁbre Reinforced Concrete) to a bespoke, award-winning precast design in collaboration with Grimshaw Architects and Poly Global;• Conceptualising an innovative plant room approach and signiﬁcantly altering building services to achieve savings while maintaining the Net Lettable Area.BESIX Watpac relocates NSW HQ to award-winning Poly Centre

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26 27INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS I. BuysseIt’s no secret that the construction sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases. True to its purpose, BESIX is continuously looking for ways to minimise its projects’ environmental footprint. “In this perspective, we are delighted to work on two projects that incentivise renovation over new construction”, introduces Mark Beyst, General Manager Belgium-Luxembourg. Let’s have a look at The Hive in Brussels and the new school campus for Karel de Grote Hogeschool in Antwerp. Antwerp’s new sustainable landmark“Welcome to the heart of Antwerp, where we are turning a historic building complex on the iconic Meir shopping street into something truly special!” Through a combination of smart renovation and new-build, the complex will be transformed into a dynamic and sustainable urban landmark for the city, including a 29,000 m² higher education campus and 10,000 m² ﬂagship retail store. The project is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certiﬁcate for the retail component of the project, and a 'Better' certiﬁcate of the Flemish government’s new sustainability index for the campus. “To fulﬁl these ambitions, sustainable building materials, energy-ecient systems, solar panels, heat pumps, and advanced waste management systems have been incorporated in the design,” explains Mark. “On the one hand, we keep existing parts of the complex, reducing the need for new materials. On the other, we prioritise careful dismantling over demolition to support material recovery.”Cherry on the cake is the green courtyard on the second ﬂoor and garden on the rooftop, which not only serves as a pleasant gathering space for future users, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves insulation, cutting down heating and cooling costs. With Antwerp’s central station and various metro and bus stops within walking distance, the project strongly focuses on sustainable and multimodal mobility. To further encourage this eco-friendly commuting, the project also incorporates two spacious bicycle parkings, boasting a total capacity of more than 1,000 bikes.Circular transformation in BrusselsFast-forward to Brussels, where the renovation of the iconic The Hive kicked o this summer. In only 29 months, BESIX will transform this 60,000 m² oce building, owned by BNP Paribas Fortis, into a mixed-use concept where semi-public functions will blend with the original oce function. “And just like in Antwerp, the objective of the renovation is to signiﬁcantly reduce the building’s environmental impact,” adds Mark.To achieve this, a comprehensive material circularity approach was set up in which destinations were identiﬁed for every item dismantled on-site. “For example, dierent sorts of materials present in the existing building, such as marble ﬂoors and walls, are stored and will be given a new life in the new building,” illustrates Mark. “Others are sold or donated to external parties to be used as the source of materials for other sites. That way, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste and ensure an optimal use of the materials available – hence avoiding the extraction and use of new raw materials.“Furthermore, The Hive incorporates advanced energy-ecient technologies, such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and smart lighting solutions, to reduce energy and water consumption. These measures enhance sustainability while also oering long-term economic beneﬁts. To cap it o, The Hive boasts green spaces, communal areas, and ample natural light, setting new standards for oce environments in Brussels while fostering a sense of community and well-being.Heritage preservation as a common thread“In addition to reducing the environmental footprint, both projects also prioritise heritage conservation,” adds Mark. “In Antwerp, we are preserving the characteristic stately façade, high ceilings, authentic glass features and Brutalist architecture from the 1970s with respect for their historical signiﬁcance.” This ensures a harmonious integration with the surrounding historical buildings. Given the combination of renovation and new-build, this is a complex job, especially with regard to the façade for which up to 90 dierent materials are used.“Simultaneously, our teams in Brussel are carefully restoring The Hive's distinctive Brutalist façade, a unique feature of the building which has gradually lost its grandeur over the years.” To restore it in its glory of yesteryear, the façade will be sandblasted to remove all the dirt and grime, and the concrete repaired where necessary. Lastly, a water-repellent coating is applied to maintain its resplendent look for as long as possible.“We are very proud to showcase our experience in complex renovations, like these ones in Brussels and Antwerp, where sustainability, circularity and heritage preservation are central. Through these projects, we do not only create low carbon, energy-ecient buildings, but also pay homage to these cities’ magniﬁcent heritage… They are the perfect illustration that the most sustainable buildings are the ones already built!", concludes Mark with a smile. Preserving the past, while building a sustainable future

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28 29INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS O. PetryPROJECTS P. de Truchis & P. HeneffeIn the Marolles, an up-and-coming historic area of central Brussels, Jacques Delens is renovating several social housing blocks as part of the city’s Climate Plan. Logement Bruxellois, the public real estate company that manages social housing in Brussels, commissioned the company to renovate several of its social housing blocks around ‘Place du Jeu de Balle’. This work involved the building envelope, insulation, and modernising the technical services. Works began in July 2023 and are expected to be completed by September 2024. Complete renovation of indoor areasPierre Henee, Site Supervisor: “These homes will be occupied while our work is underway. We will work in several phases so we can minimise disruption wherever possible and keep strictly to the work schedule and the tenants’ timetables. We therefore plan to work in two homes at the same time, using two teams. For our indoor work, we have an allowance of twelve calendar days per apartment, split into three work phases.”An initial stage will cover the ventilation, electricity, false ceilings, painting, and replacing the extraction systems. A second stage will deal with replacing the window frames and joinery, while a ﬁnal phase will consist of snagging and ﬁnishing work.LEAN methodology to tackle challenging large-scale façade worksWork on the exterior envelope presents a particular challenge. The existing façade coverings on two whole buildings have to be removed. On one of these buildings, the whole roof has to be removed, leaving the building’s entire support structure exposed for several weeks in the depths of winter. Pierre Henee explains: “When faced with this challenge, we decided to work with our own teams wherever possible for joinery, electricity, logistics, and waterprooﬁng. This gives us excellent ﬂexibility. Subsequently, LEAN scheduling is used to make sure that we can be responsive on a daily basis and work completely collaboratively with the various parties. We are very proud of this project. It forces us to rethink our way of working. It makes a positive dierence to redeveloping the social housing in this area.”The City of Brussels’ Climate PlanThe project is part of Brussels city authorities’ Climate Plan, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan provides for renovating and insulating social housing on a large scale in various districts throughout the capital, thanks to investment from the city and the Brussels-Capital Region Housing Association (SLRB). LEAN methodologyhelps with renovation projectin BrusselsAfter the renovation:65 % reduction in energy consumption for heating61 % reduction in CO2 emissionsResidential units’energy rating improved from E to C+ (‘low energy’)Homes more comfortablefor residentsSite management team: From left to right: Mirko Trapani (Deputy Site Supervisor), Aris Afsar (Project Manager), Pierre Henee (Site Supervisor)On the heights of Liège (Belgium), Wust is ﬁnalising the construction of LégiaPark, an enterprise park intended for biotechnologies and life sciences companies. It's a particularly symbolic reconversion: the site of the former ‘Patience et Beaujonc’ coal mine, a jewel of Liège’s industrial past, makes way for a cutting-edge ecosystem gathering a wealth of scientiﬁc excellence in a single location.Concretely, LégiaPark is structured around two buildings over a surface of nearly 30,000 m², with 15,000 m² of underground car parks, oering technical premises (clean rooms, laboratories, production and logistics spaces), along with oces, meeting rooms, catering facilities, and co-working spaces for both internal and external users. Modular spaces for a better ecological impactThe quality of construction and the attention paid to the building’s ecological impact have resulted in BREEAM Excellent certiﬁcation for the design. The emphasis has been on providing modular spaces which can accommodate from a few to several hundred employees and be ﬁtted out according to their occupants’ very technical needs. Particular attention has also been paid to the working environment. 8,000 m² of green spaces are dotted around the site, while tree-lined patios bring natural light into the heart of the buildings, easily accessible from the nearby ‘Ravel’ (long-distance cycle path). Coordination by Bouwteam specialistsThe project was carried out in Bouwteam, by Wust in temporary partnership with Entreprises G. Moury, for LégiaPark SA, a company created at the initiative of Noshaq, the CHC health group, and Wallonie Santé. The architectural mission was entrusted to Bureau Valentiny Architectes. The stability, special technologies, PEB, BREEAM certiﬁcation, and health and safety coordination studies were undertaken by Bureau Greisch. The partnership could count on solid partners for the execution of the project, including colleagues from Franki Foundations, who drove the 870 piles necessary to ensure the stability of the buildings given the speciﬁcity of the soil linked to the site’s mining past. ACMP, a Wust metal construction subsidiary, also contributed ironwork and, above all, the superb footbridge that connects the two buildings.With LégiaPark, Wust enriches its many recent Bouwteam references showcasing an innovative project which actively contributes to its home region’s national and international reputation. LégiaPark, Liège’s new ﬂagship project

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30 31INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS H. Van LaerLocated near the Tropical Institute in Antwerp’s Sint-Andries district, the famous Fierens social housing complex has been renovated by Vanhout, with great attention paid to authenticity. The former 205 housing units have been converted into 110 apartments, while 4 working areas, 1 oce, communal roof terraces, 8 shops, and a courtyard have been created. Historical significanceThis magniﬁcent interwar building was the work of architect Gustaaf Fierens. When the city administration announced its intention in 2015 to demolish the Fierens complex, local residents and architecture enthusiasts took to the streets. This led to the City initiating a contest that was won by the Dutch architectural ﬁrms Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven and Molenaar & Co. Their plans showed great respect for the original design but also for contemporary living comfort.Attention to circularity and authenticityAfter standing empty for years, the building has been completely renovated, including the necessary concrete reinforcements. Characteristic details such as the façade made of smooth yellow perforated bricks, salt-glazed tiles, bluestone, and gravel coatings, and the terrazzo concrete ﬂoors in the stairwells were preserved as much as possible. Indeed, Vanhout had quite a job ﬁnding identical building materials for the renovation of these details and for the building’s extension. Moreover, 750 original interior doors were restored and reused. All window frames, metal gates, fences, entrance doors, and door frames were also repainted in their original colours.New building and courtyardNot originally part of the complex, the new corner building restores the complex’s symmetry. New porches allow easy access to the courtyard, built over a new underground bicycle storage area.Roof terraces with greeneryFrom the rooftop terraces, residents can enjoy beautiful views over the city. Three-quarters of the roof area is taken up by a green roof, while the rest is made up of terraces. Part of the green roof is planted with various herbs and mosses covering the rainwater retention basins.Sustainability To keep the original façades intact, the entire building was insulated on the inside. Technical facilities have been fully adapted to contemporary standards of living and with an eye to the future. The clients also chose to assign maintenance to ComTIS Services, part of Group Vanhout, for a period of 27 years. A superb example of our renovation expertise, this project seamlessly integrates circularity, sustainability, and a deep respect for the authentic essence of historic structures. The amazing renaissance of the Fierens housing complex

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32 33INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118PROJECTS D. van RijckevorselPROJETCS M. Maréchal & E. PerardFollowing a recent call for tenders, Saint-Léger municipality in the province of Luxembourg has given the Socogetra-Recyma consortium the contract to operate the Chatillon sand quarry. Socogetra and Recyma both specialise in operating yellow calcareous sandstone quarries and decided to work together here as their existing deposits were due to run out.Dating back to the late sixteenth century, Groeninge Abbey in Kortrijk (Belgium) breathes history. It is currently being transformed into an innovative exhibition site, with visual art as its driving force and identity as its central theme. 'Abby', derived from the Dutch acronym 'Anders Bekeken – by Kortrijk' (‘Looked at dierently in Kortrijk’), is set to be a unique blend of art gallery, museum, and urban living. Franki Foundations was responsible for the complex foundation works.The Chatillon sand quarry is located in Gaume, 25 kilometres from Virton; it is a calcareous sandstone deposit that forms part of the ‘Formation de Luxembourg’ rock formation. The workable area spans 24 ha, allowing for 3 million m³ or 7.5 million tonnes of marketable material. This equates to operating the quarry over 25 years (or more) at an annual extraction rate of 250,000 tonnes. This new sand quarry only produces a fat sand also known as building sand, plus a corrective sand (with Benor quality certiﬁcation) used when making concrete.Socogetra and Recyma already mine two nearby deposits, but neither produces corrective sand. Extraction at the new site should begin in early 2024 once the operating licence has been granted.A strategic investment Given the scarcity of these types of sand in both global and local markets, as well as constantly increasing transport costs, Socogetra needs to have a foothold in producing this type of raw material. This will in turn assist the concrete and hydrocarbons industries and help them stay on a competitive footing. What is more, the environmental impact of transport – particularly in terms of CO2 emissions – is increasingly a key criterion. The close proximity of this supply is a signiﬁcant beneﬁt to local customers, especially on the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg market.Two-stage operation Extracting this sand will not require a huge investment in equipment. Quarrying will take place in two stages: the ﬁrst is to remove a stripping layer 2 to 3 metres deep, then a mechanical digger and two screening machines can extract the sand. The sandstone deposit is around 20 metres thick but limited due to the water table.With this strategic move, Socogetra strengthens its position as a key player in the quarrying sector in the south of Belgium. It complements the company’s existing quarries at Carrière des Limites (limestone), Carrière du Mardasson in Bastogne (sandstone), Carrière de Stockem (limestone), Carrière CGR in La Roche (sandstone), and Carrière Bissot in Izel (limestone).Socogetra is planning a one-stop shop to sell almost 2.8 million tonnes of sand and stone each year across all its entities. Successful mission thanks to Franki Foundations “What makes this project so special is that part of the 8-metre-deep construction pit is under the existing abbey", says Sander Van Biervliet, Tender Engineer at Franki Foundations. “The available headroom in part of the construction pit was thus limited, making it dicult to realise the pile foundation. In the preparation phase, we performed a lot of drawing and calculation work to determine what was practically feasible and where we could or could not drill. Based on those ﬁndings, we worked out an alternative proposal. In the section of the construction pit where the full headroom was available, we drilled 180 soil displacement Atlas piles. Where the available headroom was limited to 7 metres by the abbey's walls and its trench foundation, we opted for screwed tube piles with grout injection. This meant that we had to use two dierent machines: a normal one and one with a mobile mast, the height of which we could adjust as required.” The foundation work obviously had to be done vibration-free, while the limited space on the site made it dicult to bring in foundation machines. It was a headache-causing challenge, but in the end, everything went smoothly. Franki Foundations demonstrated its expertise and ﬂexibility, as few other foundation specialists have machines that can work with such limited headroom. Mission accomplished!A blend of history and modernity The historic heritage is enriched by a monumental 500 m² park pavilion designed by the talented architects from Barozzi Veiga, Tab Architects, and Koplamp Architects. Reminiscent of the abbey's characteristic roof structure, this modern pavilion adds a contemporary twist to its surroundings. Moreover, two underground exhibition halls are being created, adding a further 600 m2 of exhibition space. A celebration of creativity and cultural identity, this prestigious project has overcome a series of challenges, starting with the foundation works that required a speciﬁc approach and specialised equipment. A ﬁne example of expertise and ﬂexibility helping to preserve our heritage. Socogetra operates new sand quarry at Chatillon For any project in the region, don't forget to consult your Socogetra colleagues as soon as you need raw materials! A complex foundation projectmastered for Groeninge Abbey

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34INSIDE Magazine #118OUR PEOPLE C. KarelsPROJECTS K. Willems35INSIDE Magazine #118"Engineering proﬁles are mainly sought after at BESIX." "I've been in the same position for ﬁve years, and I feel stuck." BESIX oers opportunitiesto evolve and broadenyour horizonsBoris Karenzi “With a degree in accounting complemented by a master's degree in taxation, the construction sector did not immediately seem like an option. Today, I’m the Finance & Administration Ocer of the BU International. BESIX challenges you to step outside your comfort zone through internal education and training. Those who are open to this get brilliant opportunities here and can gain dierent experiences. The atmosphere is one of openness. The best thing is that you can follow up on a project from start to ﬁnish. You see a project emerge and grow. It is also an international company that is open to other cultures, diversity, and inclusion, you feel appreciation and respect regardless of your background. If you like variety, this is your place”.Eva Heirbaut“I started at BESIX as a civil engineer 16 years ago. My internal career has taken me to Casablanca, Warsaw, Cairo, Paris, and Milan, but also to Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Brussels. For a year now, as Finance Director, I have led the team of cost controllers for some 60 construction sites in Belgium and Luxembourg. I mainly work from the head oce in Brussels now. The evolution of my dierent job functions always ﬁtted nicely with the dierent personal stages of my life. And when I became interested in the ﬁnancial side of projects, I could count on BESIX's support to follow an Executive Master in Business Administration at Vlerick Business School. Today my job is a perfect combination of my passions for construction and ﬁnance.” Sirine Ouniﬁ“I began my journey at BESIX as a technical engineer in the BU International. I joined the Mozambique site preparation team, marking the start of my expatriate experience. After the project was put on hold, I willingly transferred to the Abobo tunnel project in Ivory Coast, a role that exposed me to dierent aspects of engineering and a unique work environment. After two productive years there, I decided to return to Belgium to be closer to my family. Seeking to broaden my skill set and very interested in renovation, I accepted the position of assistant project manager on the Vandeuren project in Ixelles, at Jacques Delens. BESIX oers ﬂexible career opportunities and I truly value the diversity inherent in the group, with its various projects, countries, and cultures.”These statements might sound familiar, but they couldn't be further from the truth! Discover what some of our colleagues have to say about the career opportunities available at BESIX:Built in 1995, the De Gavers water production centre in Harelbeke (East Flanders, Belgium) was in need of thorough renovation. The plant’s operator, De Watergroep, awarded the lots for renovating the electromechanical works (ultraﬁltration, activated carbon ﬁlters, and high-pressure pumps) to a consortium consisting of BESIX Unitec, BESIX Environment, and Veolia. As part of the project, water production capacity is to be increased from 32,000 to 50,000 m³/day, while drinking water production will no longer be performed by open ﬁlters but by Ultraﬁltration Technology.BIM methodology appliedWorks began in the summer of 2021, with the client’s conceptual design being further detailed and construction inputs deﬁned. Given the size of the piping network, a tailor-made BIM methodology was implemented speciﬁcally for this project. Technologically challengingThe challenge of this project revolves around its technological complexity, with a very large number of components needing to work together perfectly. The increase in production capacity will be achieved through the construction of a new ultraﬁltration plant (UF building) and a post-treatment plant with a capacity of 50,000 m³/day. The activated carbon ﬁlter installation will be expanded, with the water being pumped through 6 instead of the current 4 ﬁlters. For the past two years, the main focus has been on engineering details and tailored installations. Everything is now coming together at the construction site. In September, the large chemical storage tanks and other large-scale components were assembled. The ultraﬁltration plant is expected to be operational by mid-2025. The entire project will be completed by the end of 2025. Focus on in-house resourcesFor the execution of the project, the consortium is working with as many BESIX Group resources as possible. For example, the electrical cabinets are being made by the in-house electrical panel construction department. With this project, young engineers will have the opportunity to gain experience under the guidance of experienced colleagues. The integrated approach applied to the project, together with the tailor-made BIM methodology and the expertise within the BESIX Group, have allowed us to design and realise this daunting project. As a group, we are thus delivering an integrated solution with the highest added value to our customers as well as doing our part to meet the challenges of climate change. Drinking water obtained viathe latest Ultraﬁltration TechnologyThe project in figures:• 3,000 pipe sections ranging from small to DN900• Approximately 2,500 valves• 100 km of electrical cables• 57 electrical panels• Approximately 4,000 technical drawingsView the installation of the chemical storage tanks via this QR code:If you're interested in exploring new career paths at BESIXPlease visit our Careers page on our website by scanning this QR code or get in touch with your People Department. Remember, there are countless possibilities at BESIX; all you need to do is take the initiative.

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Fit-out works in Triangle towerParis, FranceAdditional order for the fit-out works for the underground levels and all the office floors of the tower. BUILD: BESIX FranceMajor railway works on Line 125 Liège-NamurAndenne, BelgiumSuppression of three level crossings, construction of two passages under the tracks with stairs and ramps for persons with reduced mobility, and one upper passage, as well as new adjacent roads, for Infrabel. BUILD: SOCOGETRAConstruction of a new centre for contemporary eco-technologies for the University of MonsMons, BelgiumConstruction of a 7,300 m² building at the cutting edge of ecology, surpassing energy requirements imposed by the Walloon region, in the framework of the Walloon Recovery Plan and financed by the European Union programme, ‘NextGenerationEU’. DESIGN & BUILD: WUST in consortium with several partners (SMART-ECOTECH)Construction of an office building for the von Karman InstituteSint-Genesius-Rode, BelgiumConstruction of a new office building, exactly 100 years after BESIX built the first building for the same client in the early 1920ies.DESIGN & BUILD: VANHOUTConstruction of a district heating network Luithagen, BelgiumConstruction of a district heating network over a 1,600-metre stretch in the port of Antwerp for Fluvius.BUILD: BESIX UnitecExtensive renovation of 61 social housing units ‘General Jacques’Brussels, BelgiumComplete renovation of 61 housing units in the south-east of Brussels, including façade works, interior renovation, isolation, and renovation of technical installations, for the SLRB, an institution that aims at improving the housing quality in Brussels.BUILD: JACQUES DELENSRenovation of the ‘Site de l’Epargne’ for the University of MonsMons, BelgiumEnergy-efficient renovation of a 10,500 m² building on three different levels in the framework of the Walloon Recovery Plan and financed by the European Union programme, ‘NextGenerationEU’. DESIGN & BUILD: WUST in consortium with several partners (UMons-Epargne) Eastwood Private HospitalAdelaide, South AustraliaDesign and construction commenced on Adelaide’s 4 star Green Star Eastwood Private Hospital. It’s the first hospital project the BESIX Watpac team have undertaken in the state of South Australia.DESIGN & BUILD: BESIX WATPACBESIX EuropeRegional & specialised entitiesAustralia Main new contracts36 37INSIDE Magazine #118INSIDE Magazine #118NEW CONTRACTS C. Karels

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39INSIDE Magazine #11838INSIDE Magazine #118PERSONALIAFLASH G. Modena BESIX achieves global BIM certiﬁcation milestoneBESIX has been awarded the KitemarkTM Certiﬁcate by leading standards body BSI, after successfully renewing its Building Information Modelling (BIM) certiﬁcation in conformity with the standards PAS 1192 and ISO 19650. The KitemarkTM Certiﬁcation follows a veriﬁcation of all procedures implemented at BESIX and in the BESIX Engineering department, including client satisfaction and collaborative engagement, and covers all BESIX contracting activities executed, supervised, or managed by the BESIX Engineering department or using BESIX Engineering processes. The BIM approach, creating a virtual model of the asset to be built, signiﬁcantly improves information management throughout the asset's life cycle, from design and construction to operation and maintenance. BESIX RED and ATENOR have partnered up in PortugalBESIX RED has partnered up with real estate developer ATENOR for the WellBe project in Lisbon, combining their local strengths and expertise. Located in Parque das Nações, WellBe will oer 27,635 m2 of oce space, 1,250 m² of commercial areas, optimal connectivity, and 396 parking spaces with charging capacity for electric vehicles. WellBe is expected to be completed by the ﬁrst quarter of 2025 and aims to score highly in terms of sustainability, with BREEAM Excellent, Well Platinum, WiredScore Gold, passive house, and ADENE A certiﬁcations. Join hands with BESIX Foundation to make a dierence!At BESIX Foundation, we're on a mission to create lasting, positive change by addressing vital issues like poverty, unemployment, sustainability, education, and integration. Through impactful social economy projects, both in Belgium and worldwide, we're building stronger, more inclusive communities. Our goal is to boost the economy and foster sustainable societal growth. One of our key focuses is empowering marginalised and disadvantaged groups, helping them actively engage in economic activities and ﬁnd their place in society. Do you know of an organisation working on projects related to education, construction, or the environment? We're especially keen on those involving professional reintegration and waste recycling. Here's your chance to make a real impact! Reach out to us at info@besixfoundation.com. Our foundation's selection committee is eager to review project proposals. As long as the project aligns with our mission and operates in a country where BESIX is present, we're open to collaboration across all sectors!Time fora change!Starting today, you can access the ‘Personalia’ online via 2 QR codes. It’s simple, contemporary, and fun.Curious to know who's joined BESIX Group since the last issue of INSIDE? Wondering about colleagues who've transferred to other entities? Excited to celebrate a well-earned retirement? Eager to congratulate a colleague for their service awards?Just scan these QR codes:Staff MovementsYears of ServiceNew ColleaguesTransfersRetired

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