Discover our elevation project!
WHY should you
elevate with steel?
Steel frame elevation project in Leuven (BE) incorporating the renowned “Totem” artwork.
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Architect: AP/ART Architecten
Client: Immo Jan Stas
Status: Completed (2023 project)
How to solve housing shortage one elevation at a time?
A closer look at the design
beSteel played a key role in expanding a historic building on Ladeuze Square, home to the renowned “Totem” artwork. The challenge? Adding floors without overloading the foundations, requiring an innovative and lightweight solution.
How does steel frame enhance technical & aesthetic design?
This elevation project was designed to maximize space while preserving the integrity of the existing structure.
- Lightweight steel frame: Enabled the addition of new floors without reinforcing existing foundations.
- Efficient assembly: Prefabricated components facilitated rapid on-site construction.
- Integration with existing structure: Ensured seamless blending with the original building design.
What makes steel the ideal material for elevations?
In a dense city center like Leuven, expanding vertically without reinforcing the foundation required a lightweight yet strong structural solution. Traditional materials would have added excessive weight, increasing costs and construction time. Discover more advantages of light steel frame for elevations here.
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Foundation preservation: The lightweight nature of the steel frame prevented additional stress on existing foundations.
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Accelerated construction: Minimized disruption in the city center.
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Aesthetic enhancement: The extension complemented the iconic “Totem” sculpture, enriching the urban landscape.
Redefining urban expansion with smart solutions
This project showcases how steel framing enables sustainable and efficient city expansion. By building upward instead of outward, urban spaces can grow without compromising structural integrity or disrupting daily life. beSteel’s expertise in vertical extensions proves that modern construction can seamlessly blend innovation, efficiency, and aesthetics—shaping the cities of tomorrow.
Beyond structural benefits, vertical expansions using steel frame solutions open new opportunities for urban planning. Cities facing space limitations and heritage preservation challenges can leverage lightweight, prefabricated systems to increase usable space without altering the essence of existing architecture. This approach not only enhances functional capacity but also aligns with modern sustainability goals, reducing material waste and improving energy efficiency in construction.
Planning a vertical extension in a dense urban area?
Discover how beSteel’s lightweight steel framing can make it happen—efficiently and sustainably.