Results of the architectural competition

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The jury awarded first prize in the competition to the team led by Burckhardt Architecture SA for their project Le théorème de Marguerite. This project showcases a large-scale vision for the design of public space, the neighborhood, and the urban landscape. It includes a central axis called the “Science Park,” connecting the city to the River Arve, and designed for both pedestrians and cyclists. The main entrance is located on the Quai Ernest-Ansermet side.

The winning project takes into account the continuity of the Arve green corridor and fits harmoniously within the constellation of high-rise buildings in the neighborhood. The site will be enhanced through a thoughtful layout that engages in dialogue with the surrounding environment.

The program is organized into four clearly identifiable functional entities. First, a shared base serves as a hub for scientists, students, and visitors. It hosts collective facilities and promotes openness to the outside world.

The section of the building along Boulevard d’Yvoy is dedicated to teaching and includes lecture halls, seminar rooms, and practical workspaces. The tower houses research units, structured into small, independent entities to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration while maintaining autonomy and flexibility for each team. Finally, the underground spaces are reserved for technical laboratories and activities that do not require natural light.

Numerous criteria were considered during the project selection process, including impact on users’ health and well-being, material choices, the goal of achieving a neutral energy balance, and compliance with the very high energy performance standard (THPE – 2000W). The project aims to deliver a low-carbon building capable of adapting to climate change.

The construction cost of the building has not yet been determined. With the winning project now selected, a study and detailed cost estimation phase has begun. Following this, the Council of State will present a draft bill, which will be reviewed by the Grand Council. The specific constraints of the site will be taken into account in this legislative process. A final building permit application will then be submitted, with the building expected to be operational by 2033.

Exhibition

All submitted projects will be on display from Wednesday, May 21 to Friday, May 30, 2025, at Uni Mail.

Public Information Session

A public information session will take place on Thursday, May 22, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the main hall of Uni Mail.
The session will be attended by representatives of the contracting authority (State of Geneva), the University of Geneva, and the consultation management team.
This will be an opportunity to discover the competition results, the winning project, and how the citizen-led guiding principles were integrated.

As a reminder, these citizen-led guiding principles represent the key wishes expressed by local residents and users of UNIGE’s science site for the CSPM and its surroundings. They were gathered during the participatory process carried out between 2023 and 2024, which included field surveys, street interviews, participatory workshops, and a public questionnaire that generated nearly 450 contributions.

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