The first phase of the major renovation project of Antwerp’s Sportpaleis kicks off this week with the replacement of the venue’s 10,000 square-metre roof with a new ecofriendly design. The Sportpaleis, which is the number two top-grossing concert venue in the world, opted for an energy-efficient roof covered with solar cell modules with an estimated production of 45,000 kWh per year. “In addition, the new roof is designed to absorb noise to reduce nuisance problems in the neighbourhood,” explained Sportpaleis manager Jan Van Esbroeck.