Bringing people, city and knowledge together: such is the ambition of Usquare.brussels, a future Brussels district that is diverse and dynamic, urban and welcoming, university-centred and international, sustainable and innovative.
The Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Rudi Vervoort, and the rectors of the ULB and the VUB, Yvon Englert and Caroline Pauwels, gave an on-location presentation this morning of the ambitions for this future new part of the city and the first concrete phase in the conversion of the former gendarmerie school where it will be created, at the corner of Boulevard Général Jacques and Avenue de la Couronne in Ixelles.
The presentation of Usquare.brussels took place in the presence of Ixelles alderman Caroline Désir and federal ministers Jan Jambon and Didier Reynders, as the Brussels Region acquired the former barracks from the State with the support of Beliris.
Local needs and international ambitions
The Regional Minister-President unveiled to the media the ambitions and the name of this bold regional project, conducted in partnership with the two universities, and explained how it serves two separate interests: the needs of the city’s inhabitants, and more particularly local residents, in terms of housing, welcoming and attractive public spaces and local facilities; and the desire of the Region to boost its international stature and its position as the Belgium's leading student city.
The rectors of ULB and VUB stressed the determination of their universities to become more integrated in the city and engage more in its development for the benefit of its people as they prepare to create together a new expertise centre of international significance specialising in sustainable development and consisting of different elements, including research, knowledge dissemination, entrepreneurship and innovation, and sustainable food.
The first concrete phase in the conversion process
The two rectors also announced the launch in the next days by ULB and VUB of the first concrete phase in the conversion of the site: a call for project designers for the renovation and the conversion of seven of the buildings – those which will house activities conducted by the two universities – with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Meanwhile, Ixelles’ alderman stressed the importance of this project for the surrounding neighbourhoods, where large numbers of students already have accommodation near the current university campuses.
The Urban Development Corporation (SAU-MSI) has been appointed by the Region as the developer which will coordinate the various operations to create Usquare.brussels. Responsibility for creating the master plan for the transformation of the former barracks in Ixelles into a new district lies with perspective.brussels; this must be done in a way that promotes the site's architectural heritage.
