Open plan with over-structure extension

An existing 100 m long office building on the Noorderlaan in Antwerp has been given an extra storey of office space. Located next to the viaduct, this new structure was conceived as an interpretation of the existing industrial context and comprises a complex of fine steel porticos in different shapes that, in combination with CLT plates, give rise to three large, slightly sloping roofs. The combination of wood and steel with a total weight of 37 tonnes was an ideal choice and meant that the steel trusses could be anchored in the existing concrete structure. The new floor structure consists of steel girders on top of which a steel deck forms a substrate for the OSB and linoleum finishes. The exterior joinery is made up of a 265 m² steel curtain wall in which the vertical profiles run between the cladding, emphasizing the sense of rhythm. The steel porticos are finished with a fire-resistant coating.