The new Barco HQ serves as a central point of the campus as it connects different parts of the site. It is a hinge point, a 3D frame in which all functions collide. The unusual circular shape exudes dynamics and compactness: a powerful concept with a unique mix of materials. Concrete and steel play leading roles in the design, in addition to the glass façade. The circularity in the design and the sophisticated connections via passarelles stimulate encounters and creates a lively ambiance. The whole construction gets the maximum amount of daylight thanks to the transparent façade, which contrasts beautifully with the inset ramps that adds relief and depth to the building.

On the ground floor is located auditorium, reception area and a big restaurant, which serves also as an informal meeting room or a training location. Higher up are situated offices, R&D facilities, training rooms and oval meeting decks with meeting rooms and a boardroom. Those steel decks with slender support columns at an acute angle give the entire space a floating effect. New Barco HQ is a high-performance building in terms of insulation and technology as well.

International Property Awards 2016 : winner in category Best Office Architecture Europe

Text by Jaspers-Eyers Architects

Enter “The Circle”, the contemporary and transparent headquarters of Belgian technology company Barco. Designed by Jaspers-Eyers Architects, the building’s glazed aluminium façade and roof complement its open-plan interior. Enjoy a full 360 degrees of natural light incidence in this shiny centrepiece of the Barco One Campus.
 

“We chose a cylinder shape to make the headquarters the centre point between the surrounding structures on the campus. Its round design adds to the building’s social function,” says John Eyers, architect for Jaspers-Eyers Architects. In this social central building, transparency is key. Steel structures carry the weight of the impressive glass roof, which lets in a maximum amount of daylight. Next, slender aluminium profiles support the 25-metre-tall curtain wall façades. Add these solutions and the project blends in with its natural environment beautifully.

The round design of the headquarters adds to the building's social function.
- John Eyers (Jaspers-Eyers Architects)

Custom solutions in bulk

Reynaers Aluminium collaborated with contractor Cordeel and aluminium construction experts Belgo Metal BV to install façades. 7,900 square metres of glass and aluminium systems in total, half of which clad with a reversed curtain wall façade. With this bespoke solution, the structural element of the wall is positioned to the outside of the building. As a result, you get more transparency and less visible outward sightlines.
 

The façade of The Circle is a highly customised design solution. It includes re-designed ConceptWall 50 profiles in both the aluminium curtain wall itself and the glazed roof on top. Our standard ConceptSystem 77 windows and doors, along with “high intensity” panic doors can be found as well. Thanks to our tested-and-approved solutions, safety and aesthetics are no longer mutually exclusive.

Sustainable aluminium, the best choice

Aluminium is strong and malleable, but did you know it is also 100% recyclable? It is the perfect answer to the high sustainability standards of contemporary architecture. Guy Eeckhout, AHS & Facility Director at Barco explains his choice of materials: “In relation to sustainable building materials, we opted for aluminium as the most durable solution. And to keep out the heat, high-performance glass was applied as well.” With their endless life cycle, The Circle’s façades could be repurposed in later projects. Coming full Circle, as you will.

The sleek, curved surface of The Circle is the perfect metaphor for the smooth cooperation between the expert building team behind this project. Transparency, openness, and honesty are the underlying core ideas. The result is a circular, light-filled icon that will take centre stage on the Barco One Campus for years to come.