We planted the building parallel to the Miserikbeek flowing through the campus of the UHasselt. In contrast to the other campus buildings, the building is not set up independently of the other buildings, but a relationship is created between the building, the path, the passers-by and the rest of the campus.
The ACB2 is intended for carrying out failure tests on concrete. They must be able to take place in the most ideal circumstances. That is why we conceived a simple building: on the ground floor one enters the test hall via the entrance with airlock, staircase and lift. The inner space of the hall contains 6 bays, each measuring 6 by 18 m: 36 m long in total and 9 m high. In the middle is the test installation consisting of a 3-meter-thick test floor that is 24 meters long with two 7-meter-high 1.2-meter-thick test walls at the ends. Up to 40 m long concrete elements such as beams, facade elements or other structures can be mounted on this installation. The remaining space around the pilot installation will be used for a storage area, a materials lab and a mechanical workshop. Outside there are 2 additional bays for a covered storage space, along which the delivery of large test elements or material takes place via a large gate. To move these elements, the lab is equipped with a double tandem roller bridge that can drive across the entire building, including the outdoor storage. On the floor above the test hall, a floating beam-shaped volume hangs as a light structure containing the offices. The passerelle provides a view of the entire test hall. If you later wish to adapt the building to enlarge the test hall, the volume is easy to disassemble. The building is modular and can be extended or extended later if desired. The test hall is built in prefabricated concrete. Primary colors set accents in the building: the columns and TT-beams are painted in a blue – white “Buren pattern”, a sunshade made of bright red perforated lamellas, and technical volume on the roof with a striking green color! The longitudinal facades are partly glazed and partly built in translucent plastic panels. In this way we were able to realize a light and transparent building and the interior is abundantly provided with daylight. From the outside you get a view of the “experiments” in the lab, inside you have a beautiful view of the green surroundings of the Miserikbeek. Additional skylights have been provided in the roof to provide sufficient daylight. The best compliment on the completion we received from the concrete professor: he does not want to place his desk in the offices as planned, but in the beautiful test hall!