The recently inaugurated AGC Glass Building, an almost zero energy building at Louvain-la-Neuve, 25km south of Brussels, has a capacity of more than 500 people and houses the group's management and administrative services, which were previously scattered across various parts of the country. With a BREEAM certification rating of "excellent" in the design stage, the building has a practically neutral energy balance. The limited energy requirements for heating, cooling and artificial lighting are almost entirely offset by the electricity produced by 900 solar panels on the roof and heat drawn from ground heat pumps. In his inaugural address, Jean-Francois Heris, CEO of AGC Glass Europe and President of the Walloon Business Federation, welcomed the choice of advanced glass solutions (more than 13,000m2 of AGC glass), which played a crucial role in creating a sustainable, innovative headquarters. The building, which stands on stilts above a ground floor car park, has a double outside skin of glass. The first skin (on the inside) consists of double glazing in extra-clear glass with superinsulating and solar control coatings. The second skin (on the outside) is made up of movable louvres of screen printed glass with alternating white stripes on either side. The louvres automatically follow the movement of the sun to let in the maximum amount of natural light while protecting the people inside from glare and excess heat. Inside, the building has offices, a conference centre, a dining area, patios and gardens spread over two floors.
