ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE

The city’s public social welfare departments were situated all over the city. The location in Budastraat only served as accommodation to social services, in two historically valuable dwellings. The three neighbouring dwellings were also the property of the OCMW and were decrepit.
An obvious choice was made. The administrative services would relocate back to the city centre. The proximity of social services and the administration would be raised by housing these in an open and accessible building.

This fascinating assignment was given to us. Fascinating because of the historic site and its proximity to the convent and the hospital; due to the opportunity to inject some new blood into Budastraat; due to the relation between old and new.
The context provided for numerous boundary conditions, which encouraged our creativity.
The entrance hall was integrated in a streamlined facade in a regressed glass wall, which runs on behind the neo-Classic facades and thus creates an impression of unity.
Next to the connection with this facade architecture, an interesting interaction of planes and volumes was created, which led to surprising compositions, inside and outside alike.

By creating a central open space across three levels, all departments are now integrated, as well as the existing individual dwellings. All the departments are connected in a logical and functional manner via this space.
This space had to be sufficiently expressive and highly structured in order to be able to handle the integration and centralization function. Two massive concrete walls assure the structure. Steel stairs and landings serve as anchors to connect the dwellings.

The wood of the furniture used looks extremely warm next to the glass, steel and concrete.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

HEATING & VENTILATION
In the framework of the highly encouraged Rational Energy Use Policy, it was decided, in consultation with the Technical Department and the engineering consultancy, to rationalize all old heating systems, distributed across the various buildings, and to connect these with the main heating control room in the new hospital.
This new high-tech heating room is equipped with a combination of atmospheric and condensing gas boilers, which are controlled by a weather-dependent control system and which have been set up in a cascade.
Next to this, heat is also generated through the connection to the power/heat coupling system (Electrabel project).
The Administrative Centre is heated through a combination of floor heating at low temperature (50/40°-regime) and additional heating through architectonic steel radiators for accelerated water heating (80/60°-regime).

ELECTRICITY & LIGHTING
Following from the REG option for heating and ventilation, conscious choices have been made as regards energy consumption and peak power consumption for the electric installation.

Light fixtures in the offices and for the work stations have been equipped with energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs, with reflections with a very low luminance contrast, suitable for PC use. Moreover, all office lighting is controlled by daylight; the daylight level is taken into account and thus all light fixtures are proportionally dimmed electronically. The decision was made to use light fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs and high-frequency ballasts for all general lighting in the hallways and the secondary rooms.

DATA, NOTIFICATION, WARNING & ALARM
Throughout the entire building, on all floors, floor channels have been integrated in the floor for the distribution of data and phone cables (FTP-Level 5).
This provides for a flexible set-up and adjustment of the various work stations in the landscape offices. Power for sockets and the cabling for the notification, warning and alarm system also runs through this network of channels.
The entire building has been connected, as a supplementary group, to a central building management system, which is centrally located and which can be operated from a distance in the hospital.