Jürgen Mayer H.'s latest creation is about to officially swing its doors open to the public tomorrow, September 13th: the new Court of Justice building in Hasselt, Belgium was designed by a team comprising Berlin-based J. MAYER H. Architects and local firms a2o-architecten and Lensºass architecten.

The building's exterior skin already celebrated its completion in 2011, and the interior was completed in spring of 2013.

Project Description from J. MAYER H. Architects:

The new court of justice is an open, transparent building with direct public access, combining the Court of Justice with a university library and auditoriums for the faculty of law. In keeping with the building's logistical requirements and safety provisions, the structure is divided into three separate units: courtrooms, the library for students and an office tower with a 64-meters-high panorama restaurant on top from which offers a panoramic view of the city of Hasselt and its surroundings.

Based on a master plan by West 8, the former railway station site has been restructured with a park, public buildings, offices and hotels, as well as urban residential blocks. The team of J. MAYER H. Architects, Lens °Ass and a20-architecten have realized one of the two high-rise buildings, "the new court of justice", a structure that stands as a contemporary urban landmark of the new district. References in the design process point to both the image of the "tree", the hazelnut trees in the City of Hasselt's coat of arms, and steel structures in the once industrial- and Art Nouveau-influenced area.

Project Details:

Client: n.v. SOHA (Stedelijke ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Hasselt) - Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Hasselt + Euro Immo Star)
Architects: J. MAYER H. Architects, a2o-architecten, Lensºass architecten
Construction Company: T.H.V. Hasaletum nv (Democo nv - Cordeel nv - Interbuild nv)
Tenant: Regie der Gebouwen
User: Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie
Function: Courthouse including offices

Square Footage: 20,763 m² above-ground spaces (Offices, Meeting-Rooms, Library, Reception, Cafeteria, Court rooms) 4,694 m² Underground spaces (Archive), 3,384 m² Underground spaces Parking Lot
Site area: 3,640 m²
Building area: 3,200 m²
Total floor area: 21,600 m²
Stories: 13, Max. Height: 60 m

Construction Start: October 2008 , Opening: September 2013
Location: Monseigneur Broekxplein, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
Address: Parklaan, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
Project-manager: Eurostation NV
Structural Engineering: M. & A. Van Wetter BVBA
Technical Engineering: Eurostation NV
Controlling and Fire Protection: Seco CV
Construction Surveying: Eurostation -+ Regie der Gebouwen + Lens°ass
Preliminary Building Works: Interbuild
Facade: Democo NV
Metal Construction: Cordeel

Photographers: Filip Dujardin, Philippe van Gelooven, Bieke Claessen

Find more photos of the building as well as model photos and drawings in the image gallery below.