IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The building has a square podium block surmounted by an eight-storey superstructure in the shape of a symmetrical cross on plan. The four wings of the building extend from a central core and are supported on a substructure raised above the podium.

The four wings are supported over the reinforced concrete podium block by a substructure, which, under each of the four wings, comprises two longitudinal rows each consisting of three reinforced concrete columns extending down through the podium to the foundation. Each row of columns carries a longitudinal capping member comprising a pair of reinforced concrete girders, each 2.20 m deep and 1.25 m wide, spaced 1.44 m apart and joined together over each column. Built into these twin longitudinal concrete girders are ten pairs of transverse steel girders spaced at 3.50 m centres and comprising two welded channel sections spaced 300 mm apart. Each of these transverse girders supports an eight-storey rigid frame consisting of two external columns, arranged in front of the longitudinal faces of the wings, and two internal columns, all of which are rigidly interconnected at each upper floor by cross beams with spans of 8.05, 2.90 and 8.05 m. All these cross beams comprise twin channels U 300.

In the other direction, the rigid frames are linked by edge beams just behind the longitudinal facades and by floor beams between the internal columns. The cross beams of the frames in each storey carry an in-situ concrete floor slab.

Double glazing is fitted between mullions and transoms con­sisting of steel sections. The low spandrel walls and window heads are clad with bronze-tinted glass, so that the overall effect from the exterior is of glazing extending the full height of each storey. The edges of floors are faced with weathering steel sheet.

Notes:

capping member каптаж / обвязочный брус

spandrel wall подоконная часть стены

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be clad, behind, bronze-tinted, channel sections, cross (n.), facades, linked, low, mullions, over, pair, shape, square podium, storey, superstructure, transom, twin girder, weathering steel.