Last Thursday, Flemish Energy Minister Annemie Turtelboom and ESP, a coalition of 25 forward-thinking companies and the environmental movement, visited SANGO, the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders' energy-efficient laboratory building.

With this visit, ESP wants to highlight the enormous opportunities in terms of energy conservation in non-residential buildings. In addition, Minister Turtelboom presented the official "BREEAM outstanding" plaque to the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, which is the highest possible certificate in the area of sustainable building. SANGO is the first non-residential building in Belgium that manages to add this certificate to its name.

SANGO, the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders' new laboratory building, was officially opened just before summer. The centre has acted as the Red Cross' throbbing heart ever since, but most people do not know that it is also an absolute pioneer in terms of energy-efficiency and sustainability.

For the realisation of this building, project developer Sustainable Development Mechelen NV collaborated with construction and real estate consultant BOPRO. POLO Architects delivered the design.

read more about the Red Cross Mechelen project
www.breeam.com