Atomium, Brussels, Belgium
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HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING SOLUTIONS CASE STUDY: THE ATOMIUM Popular Brussels landmark receives comprehensive overhaul City and country Brussels, Belgium Product* DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant Key participants • Architect Atelier d’Architecture QUATR’A SA (renovation) • Main contractors Jacques Delens and BESIX • Façade contractor Belgometal (Permasteelisa) *Prior to February 2018, products listed were branded as Dow Corning. Product The project DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant is a silicone-modified sealant specially designed A monumental contraption in the shape for weather-proofing sensitive porous stone and metal panel substrates for new build of an iron molecule enlarged 165 billion and refurbishment projects. times, the Atomium was never supposed • DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant is a technically advanced, high performance to last this long. Erected for the 1958 medium modulus elastomeric weatherproofing sealant, which can be used on porous World Fair, the building was destined to or non-porous substrates. It is particularly well suited to sensitive, porous materials be dismantled soon after the last of the such as natural stones, which are susceptible to fluid migration and contamination. 42 million visitors to “Expo 58’’ had gone By reducing the attraction of atmospheric contaminants and dirt pick-up on the back home. sealant surface, DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant eliminates fluid streaking, and The Atomium, however, had left such an long-term fluid run down, improving the façade’s appearance, leading to a reduction enduring impression with its nine shiny in building maintenance and cleaning costs. spheres, the panoramic view from the • DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant complies with global sealant standards restaurant towering more then 100 meters including ISO 11600 25LM. It cures to a flexible elastomer on exposure to above ground in one of the nine “atoms’’ atmospheric moisture with an attractive dry matt surface finish. It demonstrates good and the elaborate external adhesion to a wide range of substrates and exhibits a high movement capability lighting system mimicking making it perfect for sealing expansion and control joints, metal panel joints, curtain the flight of electrons, that wall joints, joints between natural stone and perimeter sealing around window frames. Belgium decided to keep it for good. • DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant is available in a range of colours as standard and can be produced in specially matched custom colours subject to a small minimum order. The Atomium has since become a popular landmark in Brussels. The Dow technical team worked closely with building envelopes Conceived by the engineer André Waterkeyn as a celebration of and cladding specialist Belgometal (Permasteelisa) to ensure scientific and human progress in post-war Europe – it housed an that the original vision of the Atomium’s designers could be kept exhibition on the peaceful uses of atomic energy – the Atomium alive well into the 21st century. They carried out complex design has come to symbolize a city that serves as the capital of the calculations to ensure optimum performance of the system. European Union. The product The challenge Meeting the toughest specifications, DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building The building’s shiny surface is an essential part of the Sealant cures to a dry, matt surface that is dirt resistant and symbolism of progress, one of three “imperatives’’ which, in reduces fluid migration and streaking. Users appreciate the new the words of André Waterkeyn, dictated the technical choices sealant’s excellent application and tooling properties, including made back in 1956. Today, the same imperative dictated the improved handling and reduced slump. Above all, the unique choice of a unique DOWSIL™ sealant designed specifically aesthetic qualities of DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant will for the weathersealing of prestige buildings where aesthetic allow the Atomium to retain a long-lasting, shiny surface. performance is of prime importance. André Waterkeyn unfortunately died a few months before the In recent decades, the Atomium had indeed lost much of its Atomium’s reopening in early 2006. But his brilliant engineering original good looks. The aluminium-clad spheres, 18 meters in lives on, and the Atomium’s shine will continue to grace the diameter, had become a lacklustre, dirty grey. Wind, rain and Brussels skyline for many years to come. atmospheric pollution had taken their toll. The team For more information The € 23 million renovation began in March 2004 under the Learn more about Dow’s full range of High Performance Building leadership of the joint venture Besix-Jacques Delens. In addition solutions by visiting us online at dow.com/construction. to a comprehensive overhaul of the Atomium’s welded steel Dow has sales offices, manufacturing sites and science and structure, the spheres’ original aluminium-plate coverings were technology laboratories around the globe. Find local contact replaced with more than 400 curved, triangular plates made of information at dow.com/contactus. stainless steel. Ensuring a lasting, glossy look, however, is tricky – particularly where the metal plates join each other. This is why the expert Belgian renovators selected DOWSIL™ 756 SMS Building Sealant. The sealant was used to fill 20-millimetre gaps between the curved stainless-steel plating and to mimic the original joinery over a total length of no less than 20 kilometres. 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