Living Tomorrow, Belgium

A hub where innovators explore the solutions of tomorrow

An icon of European innovation

In the city of Vilvoorde, Belgium, Frank Beliën, Founder and Chair of Living Tomorrow, and his team are helping make tomorrow possible, today.

The research organization – one of the largest innovation centers in Europe – cultivates an environment where new ideas, disruptive solutions and open innovation ecosystems can thrive. Here, innovators come together to solve the world’s most pressing challenges and work towards a brighter future.

Living Tomorrow’s first campus or “House of the Future” was built in 1995. In 2023, the organization opened its new, sustainable Innovation Campus, built with Holcim’s ECOPact low-carbon concrete and Hydromedia permeable concrete. By using our sustainable building solutions, the organization will be able to carry out its vital work for years to come.

3,000

m³

of ECOPact low-carbon concrete

reduction in CO₂ emissions thanks to ECOPact

6,700+

m²

of usable space across 14 floors

Sustainability

Environmental impact at the core

As a building of the future, sustainability was woven into the fabric of the Innovation Campus. ECOPact reduced carbon emissions by more than half compared to standard concrete.

Belgium experiences high rainfall, so water management systems are of the utmost importance. The parking lot uses Hydromedia to reduce the risk of flooding and improve the campus’ climate resilience.

219

tons

equivalent of CO₂ saved thanks to ECOPact

Innovation

The technology of tomorrow

The Living Tomorrow campus is a leading example of future-oriented design, featuring robots that deliver food and entertain guests, as well as innovative and sustainable building solutions including ECOPact and Hydromedia.

The cutting-edge campus also uses smart building systems like digital twins to monitor and optimize energy performance, improving efficiency and decreasing operational emissions. Using these systems sets this project apart in terms of forward-thinking design and technology.

Materials

Innovative low-carbon solutions

ECOPact is Holcim’s extensive range of low-carbon concrete. It provides emissions reductions of at least 30% without compromising on performance.

Hydromedia is a water management system that rapidly absorbs rain water off streets, parking surfaces, driveways and walkways – reducing the risk of flooding. This permeable solution combines the properties of concrete and advanced drainage technology.

LEGACY

Form and function align

The smart features embedded in the Living Tomorrow campus and the emphasis on climate resilience point the way towards the design of the future. The new and improved site can now better serve as a site of creativity, innovation, and future-focused thinking.

Thanks to Holcim’s ECOPact and Hydromedia concrete, the construction of the campus minimized carbon emissions and improved durability and resilience. With our sustainable building solutions, we are committed to future-proofing today’s projects to ensure they can flourish tomorrow.

“Building with a vision for the future means thinking ahead to reduce our environmental impact. This is why we like to work with Holcim, because they are always thinking about innovative solutions. We value the partnership because we know that Holcim continues to invest in research and development to further reduce its environmental footprint as well.”

Frank Beliën Founder and Chairman of Living Tomorrow

“Holcim has been chosen as the partner of choice by our customers for many notable construction projects in Belgium. The stunning and sustainable new Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus in Vilvoorde has our ECOPact low-carbon concrete and Hydromedia permeable concrete at its core.”

Morgan Malecotte CEO of Holcim Belgium

Learning