Triangle Building

he Triangle building (initially also known as The Capital) is the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS) since 1 December 2010. The office building is on Schuman roundabout in the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. The building was completed in 2009 and houses some other EU departments. The EEAS staff will move into the building in the autumn of 2011

he Capital building was built in 2009. It replaced an architecturally diverse complex of buildings that was previously located there, named JECL after the initials of the three surrounding streets: Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée, Avenue de Cortenbergh and Rue de la Loi. When it was decided that the old JECL complex was to be demolished, the European Commission signalled its interest in purchasing the property in order to build a new EU conference centre on the site. The negotiations between AXA and the Commission were tough and lasted for more than five years, but eventually failed in 2006 due to disagreement over the price. Axa instead built offices on the site, divided into distinct blocks.

Axa intended to split the complex between the Commission, national embassies and private companies. However the Commission refused to share the building. Negotiations became drawn out but as of August 2010 the Commission and Axa are close to a signature for the whole building. Since July 2010 European Personnel Selection Office (Epso) already gained a chunk of the building to move into and with three months outfitting it would be ready as the headquarters of the EEAS.

The triangular building is divided into 6 technically independent sections, named after the capitals of the six founding Member States of the European Union (EU): Rome, Paris, Berlin, Luxembourg, Hague and Brussels, respectively. In the centre is a large circular courtyard which is heavily planted and, in 30 years from its construction, the architect insists will look "magnificent".

The building will take three months to bring up to EEAS' needs, including security arrangements. As of August 2010 it hasn't been decided whether the High Representative's office will overlook Schuman roundabout, seeing all the comings and goings between the Commission and Council, or if it will overlook Parc du Cinquantenaire. Unlike the Commission and Council buildings, there is no helipad or private tunnel a car park. However Axa may reinstate a pedestrian tunnel to the Berlaymont so that the High Representative may leave without being seen. Rather than a helipad, the roof is covered in solar panels, as the building is outfitted to the latest environmental credentials. The street side retail units on the ground floor will have totally separate heating and electrical systems for tax and security purposes.