Transformation of the old mechanics hall and the central library of EPFL
TEACHING BRIDGE AT THE ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE REHABILITATION / EXTENSION OF THE MECHANICS HALL AND LIBRARY
The transformation of the old mechanics hall and the central library of EPFL was awarded to Karl Steiner company for the project of Dominique Perrault, author – among others – of the French National Library. The buildings will house the Neuroprothetic Centre, as well as administrative offices. The Neuroprothetic Centre was launched end 2008 and is cofinanced by the foundations
Bertarelli and Defitec(Borel family). The new «heart» of the Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne will show new adornments. Located just above the Rolex Learning Center,
the mechanics hall and the old central library will be completely transformed and extended. Following an invitation launched to several general construction companies, which called on famous architectes, the Swiss group Karl Steiner
was selected thanks to a project signed by the French Dominique Perrault.
Among Perrault’s works are the French National Library François Mitterand in 1995, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, EWHA University in Seoul, the Olympic tennis centre in Madrid, as well as the Fukoku Tower in Osaka. In Switzerland Dominique Perrault currently realizes the urban planning of the new station district FFS in Locarno. Construction started in summer 2011, and is financed by a budget of 60 M CHF, granted by the federal parliament end 2009. The project follows to a certain extent the construction of the Rolex Learning Center, since the contents of the central library was transferred to this new flagship building of the school, thus liberating important volumes. This will allow to regroup a part of the school’s central services and create several new laboratories for students of the Engineering and Science Faculties.
The Neuroprothetic Centre will thus have dedicated space and be perfectly equipped. « The selected project seduced us because it establishes a strong link between the old buildings of the campus and the new constructions in the South», explains Francis-Luc Perret, EPFL vice-president, in charge of real estate and president of the jury. «The architect created a new lively space, located between the Rolex Learning Center and the congress centre, currently under construction in the North. » In a second phase, an ambitious construction, the highest of the campus, could be built above Avenue Picard, which is crossing the site from south to north. Called « Teaching Bridge » by the architect, the structure will show several levels dedicated to teaching purposes. « In addition to giving life and consistency to a heterogeneous place, the new training space, puts forward modern pedagogical forms which our school wants to promote», concludes Francis-Luc Perret, who is happy to state that the architect has integrated into his reflexion a true urban planning approach «thus creating a new dynamic in the heart of the campus ».
competition, winning project February 2011,
beginning of construction summer 2011,
estimated completion 2017
client
Confédération Suisse represented by the Council of Polytechnic Schools, delegation for the operation : EPFL
Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne
projet en conception-construction avec Groupe Steiner
architect Dominique Perrault Architecture
engineering Felix construction (facades), Tecnoservice (CVC) Duchein SA (sanitary system), Daniel Willi SA (structure)
site area 15 500 m2
built area 5 100 m2 BI / 20 800 m2 ME / teaching bridge 16 000m2
built volume 19 890 m3 BI / 81 120 m3 ME / teaching bridge 62 400m3
