The costs of the new administrative centre of the City of Brussels, for which the surroundings of the building will be redeveloped and taken over by civil servants, have been revised and face major additions.
Two additional costs have to be considered, totalling €1.78 million, which emerged from decisions adopted by the municipal council of the City of Brussels.
New building
The new administrative centre has been underway since 2018, since the current location "no longer meets the needs of the public", according to Smart City Bruxelles.
The modernised new building, titled Brucity, will accommodate 1,700 employees of the City of Brussels from autumn 2022. Centralising departments that are currently spread across different locations should increase administrative efficiency as a whole, as well as promote staff well-being and attend to the needs of city residents.
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The additional expenditure is planned for the redevelopment of the area surrounding the new building. It is located on the former site of car park 58 beside Place De Brouckère. The additional works aim to give the surrounding streets the same look as the pedestrian area of the central boulevards.
Inflation and cleaning
According to the Alderman of Public Works, Ans Persoons, the additional cost is explained by the rise in the prices of raw materials. The City dismissed the suggestion to look for cheaper suppliers.
In addition, the price of external cleaning services increased by €500,000 compared to the initial estimate. Over the course of four years, €2.77 million will be devoted to evening cleaning shifts.
