Steel Applications Research Centre, Zelzate-Gent

The parabolic roof of the test halls is of cold formed stainless steel sheet elements at the outer face, a rockwool insulation, wooden spacers and a prepainted trapezoidal steel at the inner face. Buildings making up the Centre comprise office and laboratory accommodations as well as extensive workshops for running tests. The overall concept had to allow a balanced and functional extension of workshops, laboratories and offices without interfering with work in progress. Access to the various parts of the complex is via an entrance hall located in a cylindrical tower at the core of the building. It is therefore essential that the outer spaces extend inwards to the centre of the complex. Given this layout, the organization of the various functions was based on two orthogonal axes which permit autonomous growth. The laboratories are located on the first floor in a bridge structure, 162 m long and 19.5 m wide that covers that parking areas. This solution avoids spoiling the countryside with the sight of parked cars and also affords weather protection for visitors.