Accoya, the world-leading modified wood produced by Accsys Technologies, has been specified for a renovation project for one of Belgium’s top financial investment firms.
The Aktief Invest offices in Leuven in Belgium, has undergone a series of interior and exterior renovations due to expansion. Local architect firm, AR-TE were appointed to design and oversee the building renovations.
From the outset the design team had strong sustainability objectives for the project and as a result chose Accoya due to its eco-friendly properties and exceptional levels of durability and stability. Accoya boasts excellent environmental credentials, is made from FSC® certified wood from sustainable forests and is C2C Gold accredited.
The building renovations include a new outdoor façade, external windows and cladding – all made from Accoya. The ground floor of the office building has been equipped for conference rooms and the remaining floors have been designed to be used as office space.
The project also involved extensive insulation of the entire building and the application of high performance glazed units, which were designed and installed by Engels Joinery ensures that the building is energy efficient. As a result, the building has been awarded an E-level rating and has also been nominated in the first ever Belgian FSC awards.
Accoya offers unrivalled environmental advantages which far outweigh the use of alternative products such as scarce, slow growing unsustainable hardwoods. The product is carbon negative over its full life cycle, and is fully reusable and recyclable.
Accoya has been recognised for its environmental standards worldwide by independent assessors, and Accsys Technologies holds a host of ecolabels to demonstrate the green credentials of Accoya.
Laura Ladd, head of marketing for Accsys Technologies said: “Accoya offers outstanding durability and is guaranteed for 50 years above ground. Accoya is ideal for projects such as cladding, decking as well as windows and doors and requires little maintenance cycle. Aktief Invest’s finished renovation is impressive.”
Accoya is distributed through Van Steenberge in Belgium. The product has proved popular in the region, with recent projects including cladding at a large beach house in the town of De Haan, and for the facades, roofing, ceilings and floors for a home renovation project in Heusden. Accoya is highly durable and stable in a range of weather conditions, including the cold wet winters and warm dry summers which characterise the Belgian climate.
