ION and Belfius Immo present concrete plans for iconic Meyboom building
12/12/2025
After standing empty for 15 years, the long-awaited renovation work on the 19th-century Meyboom building in Brussels' Zandstraat will soon begin. The iconic office building will be transformed into a modern student residence with 219 rooms and studios and one concierge flat. ‘We expect to welcome the first students in September 2028,’ say project developers ION and Belfius Immo. ‘UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles has committed to renting the building for at least 15 years.’
The stately Meyboom building is part of Brussels' architectural heritage. It was designed in 1898 as an office for the Compagnie Mutuelle de Tramways, the predecessor of the engineering firm Tractebel. A few decades later, in 1926, it was expanded and renovated to a design by the renowned Brussels architect Paul Saintenoy. The Société Générale des Minerais then moved in. The Art Deco style added by Saintenoy certainly contributed to the building's fame. A few years ago, the building was on the verge of being demolished. It then became the property of Belfius Immo and ION, who proposed an ambitious plan to preserve the iconic building. That plan was approved by the Brussels authorities earlier this year.
We will soon start the necessary structural work, followed by the renovation of the façades. We will then transform the interior of the building into modern student rooms and studios. We will do this with the utmost respect for the original style. We are confident that we are creating a unique project, close to the bustling city centre. Students will have plenty of space here to study, live and discover Brussels.
With this initiative, we are emphasising our commitment to investing in sustainable solutions that respect historical character and meet future needs. The Brussels housing market is currently under pressure. The current shortage of student accommodation is estimated at over 10,000 rooms, and this number is still growing. With Meyboom, we are offering a high-quality response to this rising demand.
Space, light and tranquillity
The Meyboom building has been vacant for a long time, but is still in good condition. The empty spaces allow for a flexible layout, ideal for creating modern student rooms with high ceilings and plenty of natural light, according to LOW Architects. In total, Meyboom will house 90 rooms between 18 and 26 square metres, each with its own bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet). In addition, there will also be 129 studios ranging from 25 to 47 square metres in size, with private bathroom facilities and kitchenettes. A full-time, live-in caretaker will be responsible for the maintenance and management of the communal kitchens, sitting areas and study rooms.
The Meyboom building will be a carbon-neutral site, thanks to the use of green roofs, solar panels, and heat pumps.
UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles
UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles has committed to leasing the building for at least 15 years.
It is an exceptional location, a stone's throw from the Queen's Gallery, between KU Leuven and UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles. But this project offers so much more than just accommodation in a historic, aesthetic and sustainable location. It also fully embodies the “sense of community” and inclusive approach of our Saint-Louis campus, in the heart of Brussels. Between the diversity of Brussels, living together in the Meyboom building and the university approach, we see more than one similarity: we always look at what others value, change reference points and question things. Daring to approach someone who is completely different, showing empathy and daring to question yourself: that is already a significant step towards a scientific approach, in which critical distance and the courage to introduce nuances are respected. All these reasons make this project an essential part of our city campus, which is currently taking shape. What more could you dream of?
According to project developer ION, the commitment of UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles offers advantages to investors, who now have the security of guaranteed and indexed rental income.
Preserving urban identity
For its part, the government is also pleased with the way in which Meyboom is being repurposed.
This is a victory for Brussels as a student city and Brussels as a city of architecture. The stately Meyboom building is a piece of Brussels history that was in danger of disappearing a few years ago to make way for a new university campus. Through constructive cooperation, we were able to save it from demolition. Work on the new KUL Campus will start in a few weeks, a little further down the road in the Pacheco building. More than 200 students will be able to live affordably and comfortably in this renovated Meyboom building. In a city where there is a great need for student housing, this project is particularly welcome.
By breathing new life into this piece of Brussels heritage in this way, the building will once again take on meaning for our city. It will become a place where young people can develop to their full potential, where they can live, study and socialise in peace and quiet. And all this in an environment that exudes architectural history. The city council is particularly pleased with the decision to preserve this valuable piece of urban identity.
