Frame and Form

Last Monday, February 22 , opened the last jewel from prestigious Swiss University Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL). The new building will embody the philosophy and style from entire institution. At the Rolex Learning Center, the structure and form melt together to create a setting that promotes collaborative multidisciplinary activities and research, laying the foundations for the new science and technology.

When Japanese architects SANAA presented its proposal was clear that maximizing the communication between disciplines and ideas' flow, a building should minimize barriers and maximize transparency. The final solution is characterized by a single structural element that governs the entire building giving its shape, its character and its functionality. A continuous post-tensioning concrete plate forged as a single undulating slab that rises to create folds of access and that is holed to create patios governing with its geometry the spaces use..

(c) mediatheque EPFL

The fluidity of structural forms and the virtual absence of pillars or walls allows a sense of continuity that enhances the flow of people and ideas between different parts of the building. Accessibility derived from being a continuous slab within a one-story building and its continuous glass façade invite students to enter and wander in the space.

open spaces (c) mediatheque EPFL

The building main component of was born from the close collaboration between SANNA and Japanese structural engineers SAPS,This three-dimensional curved plate adapts to the program and the spirit of the project optimizing stress diagrams and ensuring a static consistency . After winning the competition, specialists Bollinger and Grohmann and Walther Mory Maier entered the equation to optimize and detail the final form of slab.

structural fluidity (c) mediatheque EPFL

extreme thinness of the pillars (c) mediatheque EPFL

The omnipresent slab shapes in undulating ‘arch bridges‘ spanning 90 meters on which a family of extremely thin pillars support the roof formed by light steel frames and wooden beams. Under these lines we can see the calculation model of the plate with the impressive and vast clearances between supports.

calculation model of the slab (c) mediatheque EPFL

It is worth noting the excellent work done in the production phase. A structural element of this magnitude has required the resources of the most advanced design and construction, highlighting the formwork consisting of a puzzle of laser cut pieces that were assembled to achieve a millimetric structural shape that depends largely on the accuracy of the geometry for its correct behavior. Following, some interesting photos of different construction phases.

preparation of the formwork (c) mediatheque EPFL

(c) mediatheque EPFL

reinforcement setting (c) mediatheque EPFL

duct placement for post-tensioning cables (c) mediatheque EPFL

finished concrete detail (c) mediatheque EPFL

(c) mediatheque EPFL

concrete slab, steel frames and wooden beams (c) mediatheque EPFL

This great work is the result of an excellent relationship between architecture, engineering and construction techniques, enhanced and directed by exceptional customer who notice from the competition stage a winning solution between the numerous proposals with its scale models and rendered images. It is refreshing to see how the construction process has maintain the essence from the original idea.

digital image competition (c) mediatheque EPFL

digital image competition (c) mediatheque EPFL

mock tender (c) mediatheque EPFL

plans tender (c) mediatheque EPFL

To end this article we leave you with an interesting video about the building, its design, its structure and the philosophy of the people responsible for its creation.

Meta Information:
Competition: 2004
Construction timing: 2007 – 2009
Openning: 22 February, 2010
Budget execution: 110 million CHF (75 million € approx.)
Customer: EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne)
Architects: kazuyo sejima + ryue nishizawa / word
Base structural concepts: SAPS / sasaki and partners tokyo, japan
Structural engineering: b g Engineers Bollinger and Grohmann GmbH

Images taken from the mediateca the EPFL and official website of the Rolex Learning Center building

Video of the prestigious design magazine Wallpaper on the Rolex Learning Center building