Louvain-la-Neuve Cyclotron, Research cyclotron at Catholic University in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
The Louvain-la-Neuve Cyclotron is a research facility at the Catholic University housed within the De Hemptinne Building, featuring brutalist concrete architecture designed by Roger Bastin. The building contains laboratory spaces, control rooms, and equipment areas specifically arranged to support particle acceleration research.
Built between 1970 and 1972, the cyclotron was the first structure completed after the university relocated from Leuven during the linguistic separation crisis. The facility marked a turning point for Louvain-la-Neuve and established the university as a modern research center.
The cyclotron earned recognition from the European Physical Society as a historic research site, marking its importance in advancing nuclear physics. Today, the facility remains central to the university's scientific work and identity.
The facility is accessible via exit 8a from the E411 motorway or a 10-minute walk from Louvain-la-Neuve Université train station. Access is typically limited to organized groups with advance notice, and visits require specialized guidance from staff members.
The cyclotron was designed by architect Roger Bastin in brutalist style, exemplifying how scientific facilities and artistic forms merged in 1970s architecture. The striking concrete structure demonstrates the bold structural aesthetics of an era that valued both function and artistic expression.
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