Imposing Skyhall given a second life

Built for Expo 58, the transit hall at Zaventem airport was an impressive feat of engineering that involved completely covering a space 100 m long, 55 m wide and 18 m high with an arch-shaped aluminium roof structure. This roof structure has now been reinforced from above to give the glorious ‘Skyhall’ a second life. A steel truss construction with the same cantilever as the original aluminium structure has been integrated into the existing roof, making it possible to retain the original roof and ceiling. The A-shaped trusses have been reinforced to support the new roof structure, which comprises 521 tonnes of S355 steel, and also carry a walkway on V-shaped steel columns flanking a monumental staircase. Three rectangular steel tubes serve as stringers, with a horizontal span of 13 m and no intermediate supports.