Triangle building
The Triangle building, viewed from Schuman roundabout (Cinquantenaire visible to the right).
Former names	JECL
General information
Type	Office building
Architectural style	Postmodern
Location	Brussels, Belgium
Address	1 Kortenberglaan / Avenue de Cortenbergh Brussels 1040 Belgium
Coordinates	50°50′33″N 4°23′8″E / 50.84250°N 4.38556°E / 50.84250; 4.38556
Current tenants	The EU diplomatic service (EAS) and personnel selection office (EPSO)
Completed	30 June 2009
Landlord	Axa
Technical details
Floor count	7
Floor area	60,000 m²
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Genval Workshop ELD

The Triangle building (also known as The Capital) is an office building next to the Schuman roundabout in the heart of the European Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission is expected to lease 50,000 m² of the 60,000 m² block for at least 15 years at a cost of around €10 million a year. The new European External Action Service (EEAS) will fill most of the space, with some room left for assorted Commission departments. The Personnel Selection Office of the EU institutions (EPSO), has in a separate contract already leased a 10,000 m² chunk from July 2010. The building is owned by the Belgian property company Axa.^[1]

History

The 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.^[2]

Design

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, The 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".^[2]

Tenants

If taken by the EU, it is possible it will become the base of the European External Action Service (EEAS).^[3]