New Biel Campus Construction
1st prize in competition
South of the Biel/Bienne railway station, the new campus of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) is being built on the so-called Feldschlössli site to consolidate its various locations.
The structure consists of a five-story perimeter building in the shape of a three-leaf clover with three connected, horseshoe-shaped building volumes. Three cubic central buildings with four to seven stories are located in the inner courtyard. Architecturally, the campus is oriented towards commercial and industrial buildings; the industrially influenced facade emphasizes its character as a university of applied sciences and research facility. The departments of “Engineering and IT” as well as “Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering” will be located on the new campus.
Above ground, the building is constructed entirely of timber and finished in graphite black for aesthetic reasons. A total of 14,670 m³ of timber will be used. Generous, floor-to-ceiling glazing characterizes the ground floor and public areas.