In the heart of Hengelo, next to the station, a new pop and cultural venue is now under construction. Part of the Hart van Zuid restructuring programme, it is the first component to be built. Contextually, Metropool locks into the south side atop the plinth of the surrounding development, to then rise a full 17 metres. Its facade, with the public entrance beneath a canopy and a café terrace that can be opened up, constitutes one urban elevation of the new station square. The three-storey building contains two pop auditoria, a grand café, practice rooms and offices. On the first floor, the small and large auditoria are two basic hermetic concrete boxes that can operate simultaneously thanks to the box-within-a-box idea. The foyer separating them accesses their public areas and doubles as a noise barrier. The curved roof plane is rendered as a so-called standing seam roof with metal strips. With the transparent facade of its public functions facing the square, the building enjoys an open relationship with the city. The grand café with terrace and the foyer ensure vibrancy and visual incident during the day and in the evening. With its roof design and siting, it is a striking and readily identifiable building.