The first stone for the new Police headquarters and the extension of Charleroi/Danses has been laid on Wednesday 12th September in the presence of the Mayor of Charleroi, representants of the City Council, the Police and Charleroi Danses

End of 2011, the City of Charleroi commissioned the CFE group to design, build, finance and maintain this ambitious project conceived by the Ateliers Jean Nouvel and MDW ARCHITECTURE.

Beside preserving two remarkable wings of an existing cavalry building and adapting them according to low energy standards, this sustainable project includes a third vertical “wing”: a 75-meter new elliptical passive tower clad in blue bricks that accommodates very flexible police offices and facilities.

Charleroi/Danses’ extension houses dance studios and residences for artists, located in small brick buildings that help preserving a human scale. A tent on the roof houses the new foyer-belvedere. All the elements of the complex are connected by a large plaza directly accessible from the street and a public brasserie invites life to enter the plaza. The unusual ensemble creates a green landmark for the city of Charleroi.

Marie Moignot from MDW ARCHITECTURE comments: “This ambitious project is the fruits of Charleroi’s will to realise an architectural ensemble of high qualité that sets a benchmark for the future revitalisation of the City. We are proud to contribute to the creation of this new icon for Charleroi”.

The construction is due for completion in November 2014.

Developer: CFE