Building 140 CERN Meyrin
Building 140 will enhance the area's urban identity by gathering several of CERN's key activities in a state-of-the-art sustainable building. The design connects laboratories, workshops, learning and office spaces in a new modern hub for the Meyrin site.
Located on the French-Swiss border, CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, houses cutting-edge particle accelerators, including the renowned Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This facility enables groundbreaking experiments conducted by over 17,000 scientists from institutions worldwide. Since the 1950s, CERN has evolved into a vibrant campus. It is now entering a transformative phase under the CERN Master Plan 2040, and Building 140 plays a pivotal role in this process, serving as a focal point for redefining the Meyrin campus. Together with Building 777 on the Prévessin campus, it embodies CERN's commitment to creating a unified architectural identity, fostering collaboration, and setting a world-class benchmark for innovation and knowledge sharing.
Positioned prominently at the heart of CERN’s Meyrin site, Building 140 will serve as a central and highly visible landmark, strengthening the connection between key areas of the campus. Its strategic location near the main entrance underscores its role as a crucial gathering point for the CERN community and a symbol of the site's ongoing architectural evolution. Following a pragmatic approach, the design is compact, direct, and simple, focusing on optimising the shape for each function and integrating them into a unified structure. This project is a significant step towards enhancing the campus's character and replacing outdated buildings. With a gross floor area of approximately 15,600 m², the design accommodates expanding services while reflecting CERN’s commitment to scientific excellence and collaboration. KAAN Architecten’s approach prioritises flexibility, functionality, rationality, and integrating diverse activities within a consistent architectural form.
The project will be developed in two phases. Phase one focuses on the Experimental Physics (EP) Department, providing office space, laboratories, and workshops for the Detector Technologies (EP-DT) group. This phase is crucial for advancing research capabilities, ensuring that the EP department is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to cultivate innovation and adaptability. The office areas encourage collaboration and idea exchange, positioning the building as a centre for CERN’s scientific community. Phase two will begin after demolishing existing buildings. It will centralise the learning and training services, establishing the CERN Learning Center. It will also accommodate part of the International Relations (IR) sector, a Plenary room for the CERN Directorate (DG), and a cafeteria. The building’s facades are designed to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding landscape while ensuring future sustainability. The facade concept features a modular grid system that supports various programme types, enriching the flexibility and adaptability of interior spaces.
"This project presents an opportunity to establish Building 140 as a distinct landmark that embodies a multidisciplinary architectural approach, optimising resources and prioritising environmental sustainability. It reflects CERN’s excellence as a centre for research and innovation, extending the campus development beyond its traditional underground focus to create a meaningful presence above ground." concludes Kees Kaan, founding partner of KAAN Architecten.
Programme: Laboratories, workshops, offices, meeting rooms, classrooms, plenary room, cafeteria
Competition phase: 2024
Design phases: 2024 - 2026
Delivery (expected) Phase 01: 2029
Delivery (expected) Phase 02: 2033
Architect (lead design architects): KAAN Architecten, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Architect (lead project architect): FRES Architectes, Genève, Switzerland
Landscape Architect: B + B, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cost controller & quantity surveyor: TEKHNE, Genève, Switzerland
MEP engineer advisor: Gruner AG, Basel, Switzerland
Electrical engineering: BETELEC, Genève, Switzerland
Fire engineer: INEXIS, Paudex, Switzerland
Structural engineering: T-Group, Genève, Switzerland
Sustainability advisor: SuReal, Brussels, Belgium
Building physics: SuReal, Brussels, Belgium
Acoustics: PEUTZ, Grenoble, France
Façade engineering: EPPAG, Münchenstein, Switzerland
Geotechnical advisor: GADZ, Genève, Switzerland
Project team (KAAN Architecten): Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio.
Javier Cuartero, Sebastian van Damme, Renata Gilio, Narine Gyulkhasyan, Aleksandar Hrib, Sophie Ize, Aida Jalili, Bo Kuiper, Marco Lanna, Yinghao Lin, Jannik Niewiadomski, Amir Shokouhi, Joeri Spijkers, Jan Teunis ten Kate,
Project team (FRES Architectes): Sara Martín Cámara, Laurent Gravier, Miguel Andreu
