In an effort to consolidate its departments around the main campus, BDL bought an existing, unfinished residential building to house the offices of the new capital Markets Authority. However, the building was deemed to be non-conformant with the new stringent fire and structural safety laws especially in case of seismic events. To accommodate the new program, the existing building was stripped bare to its concrete elements and a steel exo-skeleton was applied to its elevations. This skeleton plays a dual role, on one hand, it is a reinforcing structure that braces the building against earthquakes, on the other, it becomes simultaneously the architectural expression of the project whereby, its steel grid modules are reminiscent of BDL's classic institutional identity. Moreover, the steel frames allow generous glazed bays for all the offices opening onto small " smoking" balconies overlooking both the campus and Wardieh Read More