Results of the architectural competition
Centre for Physical and Mathematical Sciences
The Centre for Physical and Mathematical Sciences (CSPM) is scheduled to open by 2033 on Quai Ernest-Ansermet, on land owned by the State and currently occupied by temporary University buildings. The development of this centre is essential both to strengthen Geneva’s scientific excellence and to address critical issues related to the deterioration of existing facilities and their unsuitability for today’s and tomorrow’s research and teaching needs.
This ambitious project will ensure that the University of Geneva (UNIGE) remains at the highest international level. It will also offer local residents direct access to the River Arve and the future park. Its scientific, economic, and social benefits will extend far beyond the University of Geneva and will positively impact the entire canton and its population.
Thanks to this new building, research and teaching activities in physics and mathematics will meet the technical demands of cutting-edge science and education, as well as current safety and environmental standards. According to the provisional schedule, construction is expected to take place between 2028 and 2033.
Following a consultation phase involving the university community and all users, an architectural competition was launched in spring 2024 by the Cantonal Office of Buildings (OCBA). On May 20, 2025, the winner of the architectural competition was announced. The jury awarded first prize to the team led by Burckhardt Architecture SA for their project Le théorème de Marguerite. The project stands out for its large-scale vision of public space, neighborhood design, and urban landscape planning. All submitted projects will be on display from May 21 to May 30, 2025, at Uni Mail.
The Law Proposal of the Republic and Canton of Geneva (PL 13190), passed on March 2, 2023, allocated a study credit of 17.6 million Swiss francs for the construction of the new centre. This includes the demolition of temporary buildings erected in the 1960s or deemed obsolete.
