Rolex Learning Center

(English) EPFL Learning Centre
(French) Centre d'études de l'EPFL

Construction of the building (mid-2009).
Alternative names (English) Rolex Learning Centre
(French) Bibliothèque de l'EPFL
General information
Type Library, workspaces, multi-purpose hall "Forum Rolex", café, food court, restaurant, offices, bookshop and parking
Location Lausanne campus
Town or city Écublens (1015 Lausanne)
Opened 22 February 2010[1]
Inaugurated 27 May 2010[1]
Cost 110 millions of Swiss francs[1]
Owner École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
Technical details
Floor count 1 basement + 1 main
Floor area 37,000 m2[1]
Grounds 20,000 m2 (166.5 m × 121.5 m)[1]
Design and construction
Architect Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA)
Known for Innovative architecture: large one-room space, floor undulations and curved patios
Website
rolexlearningcenter.epfl.ch
EPFL Learning Centre, in 2012.

The Rolex Learning Centre ("EPFL Learning Centre") is the campus hub and library for the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in Lausanne, Switzerland. Designed by the winners of 2010 Pritzker Prize, Japanese-duo SANAA, it opened on 22 February 2010.[2]

History

Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, partners of the Tokyo-based design firm SANAA, were selected as the lead architects in EPFL's international competition of December 2004. The team was selected among famous architects and even some Pritzker Prize Laureates such as Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Jean Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron and Ábalos & Herreros.

The construction took place between 2007 and 2009. It cost 110 million Swiss francs and was funded by the Swiss government as well as by private sponsors (Rolex, Logitech, Bouygues Construction, Crédit Suisse, Nestlé, Novartis and SICPA).[1]

The building opened on 22 February 2010 and was inaugurated on 27 May 2010.[1]

Library

The main library, containing 500,000 printed works, is one of the largest scientific collections in Europe; four large study areas can accommodate 860 students with office space for over 100 EPFL and other employees; a multimedia library will give access to 10,000 online journals and 17,000 e-books, with advanced lending machines and systems for bibliographic search; a study centre for use by postgraduate researchers will provide access to the universityʼs major archive and research collection, and there are teaching areas including ten "bubbles" for seminars, group work and other meetings and a Language and Multimedia Centre and associated administration offices.

Main functions

Interior of the building.

Events

The ministers of foreign affairs of France, Germany, the European Union, Iran, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as Chinese and Russian diplomats announcing the framework of a Comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme, in the "Forum Rolex" auditorium of the EPFL Learning Centre (2 April 2015).

On 2 April 2015, the press conference of Federica Mogherini (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs) and Mohammad Javad Zarif (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran) following the negotiations of the ministers of foreign affairs of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France, China, the European Union and Iran for a Comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme (in the previous days at the Beau-Rivage Palace) was held in the Learning Centre.[3][4]

Part of the 2014 film Love Is the Perfect Crime was filmed at the EPFL Learning Centre.[5]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Press kit of the EPFL Learning Centre, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (page visited on 2 April 2015).
  2. ↑ Architectural record: SANAA Designs Artificial Landscape, retrieved 11 March 2010
  3. ↑ Julian Borger and Paul Lewis, "Iran nuclear deal: negotiators announce 'framework' agreement", The Guardian, Thursday 2 April 2015 (page visited on 2 April 2015).
  4. ↑ (French) Frédéric Koller, "Thriller diplomatique au Beau-Rivage Palace", Le Temps, Saturday 4 April 2015, page 5.
  5. ↑ (French) Antoine Duplan, "Le loup déguisé en prof de littérature", Le Temps, 22 January 2014, page 22.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rolex Learning Center.

Coordinates: 46°31′06″N 6°34′05″E / 46.51833°N 6.56806°E / 46.51833; 6.56806

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