Palace of Justice, Antwerp, Belgium
The new, 78,000 m2 Palace of Justice (Justitiepaleis) in Antwerp, Belgium accommodates eight law courts, with 36 courtrooms, a library, offices and a central public area known as the Salle des Pas Perdus. All this is topped off with a breathtaking six-pointed crystalline roof in an allusion to the boats on the nearby River Scheldt. Here, the glass represents a transparent justice system resolutely focused on serving the public. In opting for glass, the architects sought to take advantage of its many benefits: heat and solar control, natural light, fire resistance, acoustic insulation, transparency and interconnectedness – but also privacy where appropriate.
AGC glazings can be seen everywhere in this project. Pyrobel was used for the double-glazed courtroom ceilings with their combination of EI60-rated fire resistance and outstanding acoustic insulation, while matt Pyrobel glass was integrated into the design of the partitions and doors for extra privacy.
![Belgium Antwerp palace of justice fire-resistant glazings](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1h%20Belgique%20Anvers%20Tribunal%20de%20premiere%20instance%20pyrobel.jpg?itok=Hrl4UFEq)
![Belgium Antwerp pyrobel fire-resistant glass](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1e%20Belgium%20Antwerp%20Rechtbank%20Eerste%20Aanleg.jpg?itok=QRRiu-Wm)
![Belgium Antwerp palace of justice pyrobel](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1i%20Belgi%C3%AB%20Antwerpen%20gerechtsgebouw%20pyrobel.jpg?itok=UNb_8Hn8)
![Belgium Antwerp Pyrobel](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1d%20Belgi%C3%AB%20Antwerpen%20Rechtbank%20Pyrobel_0.jpg?itok=rdtWHAm4)
![Belgium Antwerp Law Court Pyrobel](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1b%20Belgi%C3%AB%20Antwerpen%20Law%20Court%20Richard%20Rogers%20Pyrobel.jpg?itok=NZ2OkM_3)
![Belgium Antwerp pyrobel fire-rated glass](/sites/pyrobel/files/styles/large/public/2020-01/1a%20Belgi%C3%AB%20Antwerpen%20buitenkant%20rechtbank%20eerste%20aanleg%20brandwerend%20glas.jpg?itok=2X9pHPNG)