World Trade Center (Brussels)
| World Trade Center | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Left World Trade Center III, right World Trade Center II | |
| Basic data | |
| Place: | Brussels |
| Construction time : | 1972-1983 |
| Opening: | 1972 (WTC I) 1976 (WTC II) 1983 (WTC III) |
| Status : | Built |
| Architectural style : | International style |
| Architect : | Groupe Structures SA |
| Use / legal | |
| Usage : | offices |
| Technical specifications | |
| Height : | WTC I & II - 102 m WTC III - 105 m |
| Height to the top: | WTC I & II - 102 m WTC III - 105 m |
| Height to the roof: | WTC I & II - 102 m WTC III - 105 m |
| Rank (height) : |
14 . Place (Belgium), 10 . Place (Brussels) |
| Floors : | 28 (above ground) 4 (below ground) |
| Building material : | Steel , glass , concrete |
| address | |
| Address: | Boulevard du Roi Albert II 26-28-30 |
| Post Code: | 1000 Brussels |
The World Trade Center is a building complex in Quartier Nord , the central business district of the Belgian capital, Brussels . The complex consists of three towers, each spread over two street blocks. It is a member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) in New York, a worldwide network of around 300 WTCs in 100 countries. The skyscrapers are among the tallest buildings in Belgium .
history
The idea of a World Trade Center in Brussels came from the politician Paul Van den Boeynants . Just like the World Trade Center in New York City , the one in Brussels was to be 400 meters high, making it the tallest building in Europe . However, this idea was rejected and a building complex made up of four 100-meter-high skyscrapers was preferred. Shortly thereafter, eight 100 meter high buildings were considered. The World Trade Center complex is located on the corner of Boulevard Albert II and Boulevard Simon Bolivar in the immediate vicinity of the Brussels North Train Station . Four of the originally planned buildings were realized in separate projects. At the northwest corner of the intersection, the Belgacom Towers were erected , each 134 m and 102 m high, and the 107 m high North Galaxy Towers at the southwest corner . The first two buildings of the World Trade Center were completed in the 1970s, and the third tower was opened in 1983. The fourth tower of the project was never built.
There have been plans for the construction of World Trade Center IV since 2010. However, it should be more modern, larger and more conspicuous in terms of design than the existing WTC buildings.
World Trade Center I & II
The first towers of the new World Trade Center complex were completed in 1972 and 1976, respectively. They were the first high-rise buildings to be built in the newly emerging Quartier Nord business district. Both towers are 102 meters high, making them one of the tallest buildings in Belgium. The towers stand on a base that encompasses the entire street block. The glass facade of the towers is dark brown, the approximately 10 meter high base is clad with reddish sandstone. Of the 32 floors, 28 are above and 4 below ground.
World Trade Center III
The third and, for the time being, last tower of the new World Trade Center complex was completed and opened in 1983. At 105 meters, it is slightly higher than the first two towers of the World Trade Center and is currently the 13th tallest building in Belgium. Like the other buildings in the complex, the tower stands on an approximately 10 meter high base that takes up the entire street block. Both the tower and the base have a light brown glass facade that looks golden depending on the time of day. Despite a slight difference in height, World Trade Center III has only 28 above-ground floors, and there are no further 4 underground floors as in World Trade Center I & II.
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 51 ′ 40 ″ N , 4 ° 21 ′ 25 ″ E