Not only do the striking glass roof and facades in ING’s new headquarters building in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium let in an abundance of natural light, but the roof also features discreetly embedded, energy-generating photovoltaic cells. All the glazing solutions used in the project were supplied by AGC Glass Europe and produced in Belgium.
Facade – balancing brightness and warmth
The facades feature 3100 m² of Stopray Ultra-60 double glazing. With a light transmission of 60%, a solar factor of 28% and thermal insulation UG value of 0.9, this AGC product was the perfect choice to meet the architects’ and client’s specifications. While it is very clear and delivers high levels of light transmission, it is not mirror glass, which means it helps occupants feel more connected with the outside world. In addition, the Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM Silver solar control coatings certainly played an active role in securing a BREEAM Excellent rating for the building.
Roof – a combination of two products
The stunning glass roof features 130 m² of double glazing with embedded photovoltaic cells as well as 800 m² of conventional laminated double glazing. The efficient photovoltaic cells in AGC’s SunEwat Vision Square capture maximum energy and then release it to generate electricity. They also provide a useful shading function. The conventional laminated double glazing– Stopray Vision-40T – delivers 40% light transmission and a solar factor of just 21%. The external glass element in these glazing units is toughened so they can support the weight of cleaning and maintenance personnel without breaking. The challenge lay in combining and assembling these two types of glazing to ensure that the final result was smooth, seamless and the same total thickness. By successfully combining these two products, AGC was able to meet the aesthetic, technical and budgetary requirements of the project partners.
Project details
Name: New ING headquarters
City: Louvain-la-Neuve
Year: 2022
Architect: Jaspers-Leyers
Applications: Facades and curtain walls, Windows
Country: Belgium
Products: Stopray Ultra-60 , Stopray Vision-40
Article courtesy of AGC Glass Europe