In Molenbeek, Belgium, the former Saint-Michel tobacco warehouse has become a vast Dutch-speaking school campus, in an exemplary transformation that combines circular renovation, technical innovation and urban regeneration.
©SumProject
In Molenbeek, the former Saint-Michel tobacco warehouse has undergone a spectacular transformation. Where bales of tobacco were once stored, a new school campus has been welcoming over a thousand students since September 1, 2020. The contrast is striking: “We’ve gone from a very industrial site to an open and adaptable learning space,” emphasizes Vito Segers, project manager at Cegelec HVAC Commercial North (VINCI Energies Building Solutions).
This project addresses an urgent need: to create more places for Dutch-language education in Brussels. Located in the heart of the Maritime district, the Tour & Taxis site (a former, vast industrial complex in Brussels that has become a hub for experiences, art, and discovery) undergoes a major transformation with projects such as Tivoli Green City and the Suzan Daniel Bridge. The campus contributes to strengthening the social cohesion desired by the VGC (Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie, or Flemish Community Commission). Within its approximately 17,000 square meters of renovated space, it houses the GO! Martha Somers High School and the Imelda Institute, offering 80 classrooms, two gymnasiums, laboratories, and even rooftop playgrounds.
A tight schedule
The transformation is based on a circular renovation approach. The concrete structure of the former factory was preserved, allowing for the creation of flexible spaces between the existing columns. Cegelec Belgium was responsible for the HVAC and plumbing installations, a significant challenge given the tight deadlines. “The schedule was very tight: everything had to be operational by August 2020,” explains Vito Segers. “We started in August 2019 and had to prepare our construction documents in record time while mobilizing enough technicians to meet the deadlines.”
“From a very industrial site to an open and adaptable learning space”
Energy efficiency was central to the project. The air handling units incorporate natural cooling, while the chillers use R1234ze, “a fluid with a very low global warming potential (GWP), only 7,” emphasizes Vito Segers. In the classrooms, perforated ducts ensure even and quiet ventilation, designed to offer optimal comfort for students.
Completed just in time for the start of the academic year 2020, the new campus illustrates how the repurposing of industrial buildings can meet current urban needs while revitalizing a neighborhood. From a tobacco warehouse to a place of learning: a powerful symbol of Brussels’ capacity to reinvent itself.
Project on behalf of Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie (VGC), GO! Atheneum Caroline Pauwels, Imelda-Instituut
Developer: Kairos – Architect: SumProject, Architecture & Engineering cvba, BURO II & ARCHI+I – Contractor: BAM Interbuild
02/16/2026
