Hotel Palace in Infosteel

When façade and structure influence each other

For the renovation and extension of Hotel Le Nouveau Palace – DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels, Bureau Bouwtechniek is collaborating with the Italian architectural practices OnSiteStudio and PioveneFabi. The historic hotel, dating from 1909, is being extended with a new wing, increasing its capacity from around 350 to over 500 rooms. The new façade, with its distinctive bow windows, blends in with the Brussels streetscape.

An underground metro tunnel makes a conventional foundation impossible. The new volume therefore rests on deep foundations and a complex steel structure with large spans and cantilevers. A four-storey-high truss supports the column-free conference hall, whilst the hotel rooms are suspended from that structure. These structural choices have a direct impact on the design and detailing of the façade. infosteel-86nl-hotelpalace.

Facade and load-bearing structure as a single design challenge

In a lightweight steel structure, deformations caused by loads and during construction are considerably more significant than in traditional solid construction. At the same time, the weight and stiffness of the facade also influence the load-bearing structure. The two therefore cannot be designed in isolation from one another. Façade elements, glazing, joints and waterproofing must be able to accommodate sufficient movement without compromising their technical performance or the architectural appearance of the façade. After all, what is structurally acceptable is not necessarily visually acceptable.

This requires coordination from the earliest design stages. Expected deformations, tolerances, installation sequence and phasing of works must be investigated at an early stage and incorporated into both the structural and façade design. When such issues only arise on site, adjustments are often difficult or costly.

The added value of façade engineering

Hotel Le Nouveau Palace illustrates a challenge that is becoming increasingly relevant. Lighter steel and timber structures, hybrid load-bearing systems and circular construction methods mean that the interplay between façade and structure is becoming ever more crucial.

This is also where the added value of a façade expert lies for the designing architect: not simply taking over the façade, but integrating architecture, structural stability, feasibility and aesthetics. By asking the right technical questions early in the design process, risks can be anticipated and solutions developed that make the architectural vision technically feasible and ensure it is maintained right through to construction.