Metamorphosis for iconic former Philips Building TY

Construction bulletin 9 september - Cobouw

The iconic Building TY in Eindhoven, also called the Glass Cathedral, will soon undergo a major transformation. This building is part of Strijp-T, the former Philips site with an area of over 25 hectares. "The building is being developed for one, at most two parties originating from the high-tech manufacturing industry," says Boudie Hoogedeure of the Strijp-T Development Team.

Building TY was put into use by Philips in 1956 as a pilot plant and glass laboratory. Together with the adjacent Building TZ it formed for many years the development center for glass. In this pilot plant glass was pressed, blown or drawn and manufactured industrially by machines. The pilot plant consists of two stories with, on the ground floor, the workshop, storage and mixing room, canteen, cloakroom and toilets. On the first floor were the melting lab, drawing lines and offices.

Custom glass laboratory

Hoogedeure: "The glass laboratory awaits an ambitious company with its high ceilings and glass façade. We transform the building according to specific rental and user requirements. The fit-out begins as soon as a concrete candidate comes forward. This concerns a tailor-made solution.'' The building consists of an East and West side that a company can rent separately and as a whole.

Bert Dirrix of diederendirrix architects from Eindhoven is closely involved in the design of the transformation of the striking building. He had been familiar with the façade for some time, but once inside he was amazed by the amount of space and light. "You naturally want to preserve the original spaces and the unique shell of this historic building, as well as the traces from the past, such as on the magnificent floor. That keeps the rich story of Philips alive. We want the exterior to tell the same story as the interior. That's why we will ensure that the façade offers as much insight as possible into the activities on the work floor. The glass laboratory – one of the showpieces of Strijp-T – will receive the crown it deserves."

Industrial and new-build comfortStrijp-T consists of industrial heritage and appropriate new construction, according to Hoogedeure. It concerns striking, post-war buildings such as the power plant with two recognizable chimneys. "These buildings have been renovated with respect for the authentic atmosphere and architecture. The appearance of then is combined with the quality and comfort of now.

''The building – with a large rooftop terrace – is thus being transformed with respect for the architectural past and with the new-build comforts of today. In this way, according to Hoogedeure, a building comes into being that is an 'impressive calling card for the company that will soon be housed in it'.''

Doing business at Strijp‑T is, according to Hoogedeure, energy‑efficient, sustainable, authentic, safe and comfortable. This former Philips site is currently developing into a sustainable high‑end business park for companies that have passed the start‑up phase and are ready for the next step.

The transformation work on Building TY will take one and a half to two years.

Article on Cobouw