Madou Plaza Tower
Encyclopedia
Madou Plaza Tower is a high-rise building in Brussels
(Belgium
). It was built in 1965 and renovated between 2002 and 2006 and taken over by the European Commission
's Directorate-General for Education and Culture. It is located on the Small Ring
, in the commune of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
, at 1 Place Madouplein.
in New York City. There is a high voltage transformer in the basement for power, along with a 1360 kW emergency generator added during renovation. Two lift
s connect to the parking garage.
During the 2002-6 renovation, the building's height was increased from 112m to 120 m and office space was increased by 10,000m² to 40,000m², (100,000 to 400,000 sq ft) requiring the building to be reshaped and strengthened. The renovation won the MIPIM
Award 2006 in the ‘Refurbished Office Buildings’ category.
bought the building on 13 March 2006 inaugurating it on 19 April when its 1500 employees moved in. Based in Madou, as of 2007, are the Directorates-General for Communication
, Informatics
, and Education and Culture
and the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation. Staff were previously based on the Axa-building on square Schuman, which was to be demolished.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). It was built in 1965 and renovated between 2002 and 2006 and taken over by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
's Directorate-General for Education and Culture. It is located on the Small Ring
Small ring (Brussels)
The Brussels small ring or inner ring road is a series of roadways in central Brussels, Belgium, surrounding the historic city centre. It was built on the site of the Second walls of Brussels, built in the 16th century, after they were torn down....
, in the commune of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
Sint-Joost-ten-Node or Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium....
, at 1 Place Madouplein.
Architecture
The 33 story core of Madou was built in just over a month and has been compared as a smaller version of the MetLife BuildingMetLife Building
The MetLife Building, originally called the Pan Am Building, is a skyscraper located at 200 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
in New York City. There is a high voltage transformer in the basement for power, along with a 1360 kW emergency generator added during renovation. Two lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s connect to the parking garage.
During the 2002-6 renovation, the building's height was increased from 112m to 120 m and office space was increased by 10,000m² to 40,000m², (100,000 to 400,000 sq ft) requiring the building to be reshaped and strengthened. The renovation won the MIPIM
MIPIM
MIPIM is a trade show that its organisers describe as a "market for international property trade". It takes place annually in Cannes, France in March. In 2004, MIPIM attracted 15,157 participants from 67 countries...
Award 2006 in the ‘Refurbished Office Buildings’ category.
Commission
The European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
bought the building on 13 March 2006 inaugurating it on 19 April when its 1500 employees moved in. Based in Madou, as of 2007, are the Directorates-General for Communication
Directorate-General Communication (European Commission)
The Directorate-General Communication is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The mission of the DG Communication is:* To inform the media and citizens of the activities of the European Commission and to communicate the objectives and goals of its policies and actions.* To inform the...
, Informatics
Directorate-General for Informatics (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for Informatics is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The mission of the DG Informatics is to define the IT strategy of the Commission and to provide a modern and high-performance information technology and telecommunications infrastructure.The current...
, and Education and Culture
Directorate-General for Education and Culture (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for Education and Culture is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The Education and Culture Directorate-General’s mission has three main aspects:* Building a Europe of knowledge...
and the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation. Staff were previously based on the Axa-building on square Schuman, which was to be demolished.
See also
- Brussels and the European UnionBrussels and the European UnionBrussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
- Berlaymont buildingBerlaymont buildingThe Berlaymont is an office building in Brussels, Belgium that houses the headquarters of the European Commission, which is the executive of the European Union...
(Commission headquarters) - Charlemagne buildingCharlemagne buildingThe Charlemagne building is a high-rise in the European Quarter of Brussels , which houses the Directorate-General for Trade and the Directorate General for Enlargement of the European Commission....
(another Commission building) - Espace LéopoldEspace LéopoldThe Espace Léopold or is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union ....
(Parliament in Brussels)
External links
- Madou Plaza, Emporis
- News: European Commission moves to Madou Plaza, Emporis (2005-12-21)
- Tour Madou Plaza Nicolas Janberg's: Structure
- Madou Plaza, Glass Steel and Stone
- Official opening of Madou Plaza Tower, new EC building, European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
(2006-04-20) - Gallery: The Madou Tower, Office of the Obscure Passages – before and after images
- EUROPEAN COMMISSION : MADOU TOWER PHENOMENON BRINGS BRUSSELS FOLK CLOSER TO EUROPE.(Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud Unit inaugurates new building), Goliath (2006-04-20)