Burckhardt won first prize in the two-stage architectural competition in compliance with SIA 142 for the Center for Physical and Mathematical Sciences (CSPM) at the University of Geneva. One of the most prestigious universities in the world, it has produced several Nobel Prize winn ers, including in physics. The competition jury praised the sensitive urban integration of the Center, the intelligent architectural answer to the particular demands of the teaching and research program, and the way in which both are harmonized with the technical requirements of a t op-class scientific research center.
Science and the city
The new building is being constructed in a prime location in the center of Geneva, directly on the banks of the River Arve, and meets the desire to keep the university faculties in the city center, while also strengthening the close ties between education and society, and more broadly, between science and the city. The new Center is scheduled for completion by 2033.
Urban landscape
Although the surface area of the site is limited due to its urban location, the new Center’s high -rise design frees up the ground level for use as a hub to foster links within the university campus and with the adjacent city districts. The River Arve and its scenic appeal are a key featur e of the site, which is enhanced by a well-thought-out layout that embraces this setting.
Urban form and relationships
The building volumes meet the twin challenges presented by the new Center’s urban setting and its anticipated uses: First, by maintaining an appropriate distance to the proximate buildings, differentiated open spaces are created for the campus and the neighborhood. Second, the design ensures the Center is structured around its two main areas of activity – research and lecturing. The facility’s layout clearly reflects its three key elements – a high-rise building for research activities, a medium-height structure for lecturing, and a base building, the «common ground», which acts as a unifying factor between the various elements.
The base – a «common ground»
As a linking element, the ground-level base building creates a low, small-scale entrance which defines the relationship between the public spaces and the various buildings. It has a continuous internal walkway and creates a sense of permeability for interaction between the city and campus. This «common ground» connects the dedicated research and lecturing blocks in an extensive, fluid space at ground level. The multifunctional entrance hall is designed as a large social space and fosters interaction between the cafeteria, library and informal workspaces.
The tower
The 20-story tower is dedicated to research activities. Situated close to the river bank, it blends in harmoniously with the other high points on both sides of the river. From here, the view opens up over the city and the open Geneva countryside, the Jura, Mont Salève, Le Môle and even Mont Blanc on a clear day. Inside, the research departments extend over several levels, connected by staircases and double-height spaces to eliminate any silo effects in the research groups. They include highly specialized infrastructures such as vibration-free laboratories or climate-controlled experimental rooms.
The lecture block
Situated opposite the Cité Carl Vogt development designed by the Honegger brothers, the four-story classroom building faces more towards the city and ties in with the alignment and patterns of the urban Boulevard Yvoy and Boulevard Carl-Vogt. It contains lecture theaters, practical work spaces, and a cafeteria, and provides a second entrance on the city side at street level.
Façade and appearance
External technical installations are fitted on the outside of the tower, creating a beneficial bioclimatic gap. This design supports systems like fixed shading elements made of crystalline solar panels that harness the sun’s energy while protecting against it. The use of opaque strip sections enabled the ratio of glazing to be reduced to 55%, while meeting high technical standards. They are clad with extruded ceramic, ventilated, and represent a sustainable environmental solution thanks to their high mechanical strength and low carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly, responsible architecture
Besides the façade construction, numerous measures were devised to minimize environmental impact and optimize the energy performance of the project. These include the compact footprint and minimal use of sealed surfaces in favor of carefully designed open spaces that contribute to biodiversity; the reduced reliance on concrete in favor of timber, clay and recycled concrete; the use of lake water for heating and cooling.
Team:
Client Office Cantonal des Bâtiments (OCBA; Cantonal Buildings Office) in collaboration with the University of Geneva
Project team: Oliver Henninger, Nicolas Vaucher, Eric Proment, Simon Berger, Flavien Burri, Lina Chaabi, Enea Facoetti, Leonardo Vinti, Benoît Greiner, Mohamed Korrir, Clea Di Martino, Ana Montoro
Civil engineer: INGPHI SA, Lausanne
Landscape architect: MG Associés sàrl, Vuissens
Building Physics Engineer: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, Stuttgart
HVAC Engineer / AdB: Amstein + Walthert SA, Geneva
Facade planner: xmade, Basel, Barcelona
Vibration expert: Baudynamik Heiland & Mistler GmbH, Bochum
Acoustic expert: Batj SA, Geneva
Visualisations: Play-Time; Burckhardt Architecture; Laurent Chiu
