Solvay to transform hq and campus in Brussels

Belgian chemical firm Solvay says that its future headquarters will reflect its transformation into a global leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals.

“Over the past six years, Solvay went through one of the most profound business transformations in its 155-year history,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay.

In March this year, it revealed a transformation plan to simplify organisation and upgrade innovation capabilities. Part of this included upgrading its largest global research site in Lyon, France.

In Belgium, the expansion of R&I in advanced materials science will coincide with plans to revamp the Brussels headquarters, fostering collaboration among employees and with partners.

It has, thus, selected the project proposed by the consortium consisting of Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and Belgian firms MODULO Architects and VK Engineering to design a new building on the Solvay Campus in Neder-Over-Heembeek, north of Brussels, with works expected to begin mid-2019 and to end by 2021.

About 1,000 Solvay employees who work at the 22 ha Neder-Over-Heembeek site are spread across more than 20 buildings. The group’s vision is to bring its employees together in one building and to turn the site into a buzzing campus nurturing science, innovation, and attracting talent. The new site will be dedicated to high-technology innovations in chemistry and advanced materials.

Meanwhile, its transformation programme will also lead to about 600 redundancies, mainly in functional activities, including 160 in France, 90 in Portugal and 80 in Brazil.

Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 24,500 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were EUR10.1 billion in 2017, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top three leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%.

(PRA)

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