Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) has launched the design phase of the Palais Collectif, a new flexible and hybrid university facility located at the heart of the Plaine campus in Ixelles. Conceived as a new central hub, the project responds to the need for a unifying place on campus, capable of accommodating both academic activities and the informal uses of the university community.

The building, with an approximate area of 3,000 m², will comprise three main components: lecture halls designed to host classes as well as conferences and academic events; a generous and multifunctional foyer that will serve as a central meeting space, as well as a venue for exhibitions, informal work, and events; and finally, a research and laboratory hub. The ULB envisions this new facility as a covered public square, open to both the campus and the city, fostering exchanges between students, faculty, researchers, and external partners.

To deliver the Palais Collectif, ULB has chosen a procurement approach combining design and build. The selected team will be required to include a class 8 general contractor and a multidisciplinary design team covering architecture, building services engineering, structural engineering, energy performance (EPB), acoustics, fire safety, soil remediation, landscape design, inclusion expertise, and BIM.

This newsletter refers to a prior information notice for the contract, ahead of the full procurement notice expected to be published at the end of May.