ZIN in No(o)rd in Brussels

The project consists of the conversion of the WTC I & II towers, for which our teams carry out a complete stability mission, in collaboration with the architects Jaspers-Eyers and 51N4E.

The new building, which will reach a height of 128 meters, will connect the two existing towers by a large volume made up of double heights, which implies a significant increase in wind resistance and wind forces. The structural connection of the two cores allows a joint behavior benefiting from the maximum capacity of each and the limitation of the necessary reinforce-ments. Taking the wind into account on the new structure was the subject of wind tunnel tests allowing precise modeling of the effects of wind and the dynamic behavior of the building.

The building rests on 5 existing basement levels, which requires local reinforcement of columns or prestressed deflection shells when the frame of the superstructure does not correspond to the infrastructure.

The structure of the «capable» volume has spans of 15 meters between columns in order to offer total flexibility in the use of the building and metal deflection structures are provided on the first levels so as to use the current foundations.

Circularity at the heart of the project
The existing structure (basement and core) is kept to the maximum. After a detailed analysis, it was decided to demolish the existing floors to meet the current comfort criteria (acoustic, technical). In order to reduce the impact of the project, chan-nels for the reuse of demolished materials (recycled concrete, recycling of steel beams, etc.) are integrated into its design.
The complex will house 70,000 m² of offices, 5,000 m² of coworking spaces, 127 apartments, 240 hotel rooms, as well as sports, leisure, catering and shopping areas.

Images © Jaspers-Eyers architects / 51N4E / AUC