University of Applied Sciences
Fribourg, Switzerland
Herren + Damschen · Architects Inc.

A Swiss university draws on industrial design elements to convey its mission

© ARP SA, J.-M.Giossi

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This new university campus is the result of a 2-phased urban design competition. Located in a once industrial area at the edge of town, the building complex both attempts to fit in with its surroundings and alter them at the same time. The campus is sited alongside a main traffic artery that links town and countryside. Now prominently marking the entry into the town, a new image has been created to replace the neglected industrial, low quality sheds that previously occupied the space.

The complex consists of three groups of buildings, each one reflecting the nature of its inner function through its volumetric appearance. The first is an administration complex containing the school’s library, a large auditorium, and a student center. The second houses three classrooms and lab buildings. And the final is composed of an industrial laboratory complex that is linked by connecting bridges to the classroom buildings. The spaces in between buildings function as the main exterior circulation for students and faculty.

The architect chose concrete as the primary material to convey a simple, quiet, and neutral backdrop for the labs’ colorful machinery and complex array of technical equipment. In contrast, the exterior of the buildings are composed of hard-burned brick and premanufactured aluminum claddings. Concrete, steel, aluminum, and brick form the main materials of the building, reflecting the site’s industrial history, while maintaining an original, utilitarian design. The energy-efficient building sets standards of quality, cost efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Formal name of Project:
EIA-FR/UAS University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland in Fribourg

Location:
Fribourg, Switzerland

Gross square footage:
327,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$76.5 million

Owner:
Canton of Fribourg, represented by:
The Building Department and the State Architect

		Herren + Damschen · Architects Inc. Daniel Herren AIA.SIA Thunstrsse 95 – CH-3006 Bern, Switzerland Phone: 011 41 31 352 5051 Fax 011 41 31 352 1158 herren-damschen@bluewin.ch
Daniel Herren AIA.SIA