LIC - Learning & Innovation Center
A new Study Center has opened at the junction of two university campuses, forming a strategic and symbolic link within the academic landscape. Designed as a compact, transparent building that unites library facilities, auditoria, classrooms, workspaces, and offices, the project establishes a vibrant hub for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
The architectural concept is driven by clarity and spatial efficiency. All-sided, dynamic façades create an inviting presence in every direction, while a sunken central rotunda acts as a public square that anchors the circulation flows between the two formerly disconnected institutions.
The design encourages interaction through dual circulation paths: a slow, informal route that winds through communal areas and a fast vertical route for efficient movement. Warm materials, careful daylight management, and long sight lines ensure a human scale throughout the building.
Sustainability forms the foundation of the project. The nearly energy-neutral building combines passive design strategies with renewable energy systems, including natural night ventilation and heat pumps. A striking ecological feature is the on-site helophyte filter that naturally purifies wastewater, demonstrating a commitment to closed-loop environmental thinking. Durable and partly renewable materials, along with a flexible internal structure, support long-term adaptability and reduce lifecycle impact.
User comfort and well-being were central to the design process. Generous daylight, acoustic care, universal accessibility, and intuitive wayfinding create a welcoming environment for studying, teaching, meeting, and research. Developed in close collaboration with campus stakeholders, the Study Center goes beyond functional performance: it becomes a social catalyst and the new heart of the university, strengthening connections between students, researchers, and staff while shaping a forward-looking academic community.
