EDP II Headquarters

Description:

The EDP Headquarters in Lisbon is a landmark new build office complex designed to consolidate the client’s administrative functions and project a modern image on the city’s river-front. Located on Avenida 24 de Julho, the building occupies a reclaimed land strip between the city hill and the river. The design comprises two slender towers rising above a shaded public square, connected by ramped passes and positioned perpendicular to the Tagus River so as to preserve view-corridors and urban permeability.
The lower levels and underground house the lobby, auditorium, commercial and public amenities, while the upper floors are open-plan offices.
Architecturally, a prominent feature is the vertical fin-structure on the facade: metallic columns clad in glass-fibre-reinforced concrete panels (GRC) form a deep grid that provides structural modulation, solar shading and a constantly changing visual character of light, shadow, transparency and opacity.

Applied Effisus Solutions

The Effisus Ecofacade system, an EPDM-based interface sealing membrane, was applied at the facade interfaces between structural/glass/aluminium elements, particularly where the large glazed areas meet the vertical fin structure and where the GRC panels interface to curtain-wall elements. The system ensures both water- and air-tightness for the complex facade geometry and helps accommodate thermal and structural movement thanks to its high elongation capacity.

Our Added Value

The EDP Headquarters presented multiple facade-engineering and sealing challenges:

• A striking architectural ambition featuring deep vertical fins, large spans of glazing and material transitions (metal frame / GRC / glass).
• Complex geometry and articulation of facade interfaces, where high performance sealing is critical to long-term durability, building comfort and energy efficiency.
• The building’s positioning along the river-front, with significant exposure to weather, and the need to maintain high standards for airtightness, weather-proofing and maintenance reduction over time.

Selecting the Effisus Ecofacade system for facade interface sealing provided the project with a high-performance, durable membrane engineered for service temperatures from +140 °C to –40 °C, UV and ozone resistance, and elongation up to 300%, effectively accommodating building movement. This advanced sealing solution ensured a high-integrity envelope that reduced the risk of water or air infiltration, enhancing occupant comfort while protecting interior finishes and structural elements. It also improved the building’s energy performance by strengthening the facade’s resilience and helping maintain stable indoor conditions, all while minimising long-term maintenance requirements, fully aligning with the client’s ambition for a landmark yet efficient facility.
design without compromising aesthetics or structural expression.