Comprised of 4 million square feet, more than 2,500 offices and 78 conference halls, the European Parliament Building in Brussels, Belgium, was a massive platform to make an all-encompassing architectural statement. And this task was even more daunting when considering the classic architectural character of the surrounding buildings. But in the end, a collaborative effort resulted in an architectural scheme - and a stone materials palette - that represented the whole of the European Union.
Dubbed Espace L¿old, the facility is a two-building complex that was erected on a site of approximately 8.5 acres. Parliamentary work takes place at the facility for three weeks each month (other facilities are located in Strasbourg and Luxembourg), with additional sittings of parliamentary committees and divisions. All of the offices are located within the two buildings, which cover the area between L¿old Park and the station in the Quartier L¿old. The two buildings are interconnected by an elevated passageway.