© Frank Kaltenbach

EPFL Rolex-Learning Center

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City, Country Lausanne, Switzerland
Year 2005–2010
Client Eidg. Finanzverwaltung EFW
Architect SANAA Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa
Services Structural Engineering
Facts GFA: 88,000 m² | NFA: 37,000 m² | Gross volume: 131,000 m³ | Certificate: Minergie | In collaboration with: Walther Mory Maier AG, Basel | Consultant engineer: SAPS Sasaki and Partner, Tokyo
Awards Prix Acier 2011, Recognition

The design of the new Learning Centre of the EPFL has an essential impact on the appearance of the campus. Smooth white waves with countless flowing volume variations create a special ambience with spacious areas for the public and intimate working zones. With a central library, lecture halls, study facilities and services, exhibition halls, conference halls, cafeteria and a restaurant the building is the centre of campus life.

The load-bearing shell consists of a perforated smaller and a larger-sized free-span reinforced concrete shell, spanning up to 90 metres. The edges of the shell are fully fixed to the pre-tensioned concrete ceiling slab of the lower level. The steel-grid structure of the roof consists of crossing continuous beams and aligned secondary girders. It bears on slender columns fully fixed to the shell.

Structural Engineering
Design Technologies
Education
Reinforced Concrete
Planning
© B+G
Construction
© B+G
Completion
© Iwan Baan