University of Liège Translation-Interpretation Center

Within the framework of the work on the Translation-Interpretation Centre of the University of Liège (ULg), various projects have to be implemented on the “Van Beneden-Pitteurs” site to create a major language training centre in the heart of the multicultural Outremeuse district of Liège. The project reflects the determination of the University to play an active role in the life of the city.

The studies concern the renovation of the University’s former Institute of Anatomy (building L3), the construction of a new university building with a surface area of around 2,000 m², a walkway connecting the two buildings and the landscaping of the area surrounding these buildings that overlook the park.

The new building consists mainly of lecture halls, a computer room, common areas and an area that is accessible during breaks with a student lounge, a work room, a reading room and a dining area.

Structuur

This academic building located in the Liège region meets the antiseismic criteria of Eurocode 8. The major horizontal stresses are absorbed by walls made of concrete cast on site and embedded in the foundations. Counterweights are placed to prevent any uplifting resulting from seismic stresses.

The structure of the building consists mainly of concrete elements. The floors are made using prefabricated prestressed slabs that permit large self-supporting spans to create space in the lecture halls.

The facades are load-bearing and made of reinforced concrete cast on site to adjust the load descent caused by the non-aligned arrangement of the windows. The internal load-bearing walls are also made of reinforced concrete cast on site to absorb any seismic stresses.

The walkway connecting up with building L3 is made of a light metallic structure that reduces its visual impact and footprint in the existing building. The floor consists of metal beams that support collaborative metal panelling and a concrete slab cast on site.

Thanks to special false pits, the foundations rest on the Meuse gravel a few metres further down.
One of the emergency stairways is an exterior metal structure. The internal staircase, which is made of reinforced concrete, ensures good fire behaviour.

Energieontwerp

The building’s energy design by Neo&Ides is based on concepts aimed at reducing energy needs, utilising natural inputs through passive design strategies and favouring the use of renewable energy sources (photovoltaic panels). The result is a “very low-energy” building: K24, Ew43.

Speciale technieken

The work on the former Institute of Anatomy (building L3) mainly involves converting the old dissection room into lecture halls, renovating the large auditorium, replacing the windows, replacing the HVAC installations, improving the acoustics, relamping, bringing the electrical installations into compliance and adjusting the regulation system.

The HVAC installations include low-temperature heating systems using high-efficiency gas condensing boilers, dual-flow variable volume ventilation systems with heat recovery and free-cooling (± 30,000 m³/h) and the air conditioning system of the data room.

Everything is controlled by a centralised technical management system that migrates all the data to Liège University’s centralised remote management system.

In addition to the conventional power sockets and data sockets, the electrical installations include dimmable LED lighting that is controlled based on the presence and the amount of natural light. A WIFI installation covers all the rooms that are accessible to the students and teachers. The new building features fire detection, access control and intrusion detection systems.

The lecture halls all have an electrical projection screen and a projector. Two lecture halls with a capacity of 98 seats and the auditorium in building L3 also have a sound system. All the equipment is centrally controlled, in the case of the lecture halls with 98 seats by a touch screen, and for the auditorium from the speaker’s lectern.