Rolex Learning Center

The Rolex Learning Center is a public library and multidisciplinary learning facility at EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. Although its name derives from a major sponsor, it is not a watch product or a conventional consumer brand; it functions as an institutional architectural and educational destination within the EPFL campus. The building combines the university’s main research library with student work areas, teaching rooms, digital-learning services, cultural and administrative functions, food and hospitality venues, and spaces for public events. The project was conceived as part of EPFL’s development as a major international science and technology campus. In December 2004, EPFL selected the Tokyo-based architectural partnership SANAA, formed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, through an international competition. The architects were chosen from a field that included several prominent European and American practices and multiple Pritzker Prize laureates. Their design rejected a conventional arrangement of separate rooms and corridors in favor of a large, continuous interior landscape shaped by gently rising and falling floors, courtyards, and enclosed meeting areas. The result is an open building in which circulation, study, collaboration and informal interaction overlap. Construction took place from 2007 to 2009. The project was reported to have cost 110 million Swiss francs and was supported by the Swiss government together with private sponsors including Rolex, Logitech, Bouygues Construction, Crédit Suisse, Nestlé, Novartis and SICPA. The center opened to users on 22 February 2010 and received its formal inauguration on 27 May of the same year. Its completion coincided with SANAA’s growing international reputation; the architects were awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2010. The library is the building’s principal institutional function. It holds more than 500,000 printed volumes and provides access to a large collection of scientific and technical material, online journals and electronic books. Four principal study zones can accommodate approximately 860 students, while office and service areas support more than 100 EPFL and other employees. The facility also includes a postgraduate study center, seminar and group-work rooms, a Language and Multimedia Center, a digital-education center, and research activity related to human-computer interaction in learning and instruction. Beyond library services, the building operates as a campus hub. Its program includes the 600-seat Forum Rolex multipurpose hall, student-association and alumni offices, a career center, a bookshop, dining and café areas, a bank, publishing activities, and access to EPFL’s precious-book collection. This mixture of formal and informal uses supports EPFL’s aim of connecting research, teaching, technology and social exchange in a single environment. The center has also served as a public-facing venue. In April 2015, it hosted a press conference involving Federica Mogherini and Mohammad Javad Zarif following negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program. Parts of the 2014 film Love Is the Perfect Crime were filmed at the EPFL Learning Center. Its distinctive wave-like roof, broad glazed surfaces and interior topography have made it an architectural landmark as well as a working university facility.

The Rolex Learning Center emerged from EPFL’s effort to expand and modernize its campus learning infrastructure. Rather than treating the library as a conventional enclosed repository, the project sought to create a shared academic landscape where research, teaching, individual study, group work and social interaction could occur in close proximity. EPFL held an international architectural competition for the project, and in December 2004 selected SANAA, the Tokyo partnership of Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. The choice placed the commission with architects known for restrained forms, transparency and innovative approaches to public space. The competition field included internationally recognized practices such as Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Jean Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron, Ábalos & Herreros and Xaveer De Geyter. The building was constructed between 2007 and 2009. Its design is organized around a broad, undulating floor plate and roof, with gently sloping surfaces, courtyards and enclosed “bubbles” for seminars and meetings. Instead of a rigid corridor-and-room plan, the interior offers a visually connected sequence of study, circulation and collaboration zones. Extensive glazing and the building’s continuous topography reinforce its identity as an open campus forum. Reported project expenditure was 110 million Swiss francs. Financing came from the Swiss government and a group of private sponsors, including Rolex, Logitech, Bouygues Construction, Crédit Suisse, Nestlé, Novartis and SICPA. The building opened on 22 February 2010 and was officially inaugurated on 27 May 2010. SANAA received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2010, the same year the center became operational. The principal institutional component is EPFL’s main research library. It contains more than 500,000 printed works and provides access to approximately 10,000 online journals and 17,000 electronic books. Four major study areas offer seating for about 860 students, with additional office capacity for more than 100 employees. A postgraduate study center supports advanced researchers and provides access to important archival and research collections. Teaching and collaboration facilities include ten seminar or group-work bubbles, a Language and Multimedia Center, and associated administrative areas. The facility’s wider program includes the 600-seat Forum Rolex, a café and bar, food-court and restaurant spaces, a career center, student-association and alumni offices, a bookshop, a bank, publishing operations, parking, and the EPFL precious-book collection. It also accommodates the Research Laboratory for Computer-Human Interaction in Learning and Instruction and the Center for Digital Education. These functions make it both a library and a broad campus-services complex. The center has periodically operated as a public event venue. On 2 April 2015, it hosted a press conference by Federica Mogherini and Mohammad Javad Zarif after negotiations involving the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France, China, the European Union and Iran concerning a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The building has also appeared in popular culture: portions of the 2014 film Love Is the Perfect Crime were filmed at the EPFL Learning Center. Today, the Rolex Learning Center remains an active EPFL facility and an internationally noted example of contemporary educational architecture.

1. 2015International diplomacy event

   The Forum Rolex hosted a press conference connected with multilateral negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

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2. 2014Film location

   Parts of the film Love Is the Perfect Crime were filmed at the EPFL Learning Center.

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3. 2010Building opens

   The center opened on 22 February, and SANAA received the Pritzker Prize later that year.

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4. 2010Formal inauguration

   EPFL formally inaugurated the Rolex Learning Center on 27 May.

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5. 2009Construction completed

   The building’s construction period concluded after approximately two years of work.

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6. 2007Construction begins

   Construction of the new EPFL library and learning center began.

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7. 2004SANAA selected as lead architect

   EPFL selected Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA through an international architectural competition.

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Architectural landmark and integrated academic learning facility

• EPFL Main Research LibraryAcademic library2010

  The center’s core service is EPFL’s principal research library. It houses more than 500,000 printed works and supports scientific and technical research through physical collections, electronic resources, bibliographic-search systems and automated lending infrastructure. Its collection and services are designed for students, researchers, faculty and other library users across the EPFL community.

• Student Learning and Study SpacesLearning facility2010

  Four large study areas provide approximately 860 seats within the building’s open interior landscape. The spaces support individual work, informal collaboration and student use throughout the academic day. Their arrangement reflects SANAA’s concept of a continuous learning environment rather than a sequence of conventional classrooms.

• Forum RolexEvent and conference venue2010

  Forum Rolex is the center’s principal multipurpose hall, with capacity for approximately 600 people. It supports conferences, public presentations, institutional events and other large gatherings. Its use for a 2015 international-affairs press conference illustrates the building’s role beyond everyday library operations.

• Language and Multimedia CenterEducational support service2010

  The Language and Multimedia Center provides teaching and learning support within the broader library and education program. It complements the building’s digital resources and study areas by offering facilities associated with language learning, multimedia work and technology-supported instruction.

• Center for Digital EducationDigital education service2010

  The Center for Digital Education is one of the specialist functions housed in the facility. Its presence reflects the building’s role in supporting technology-enhanced teaching, digital learning practices and the integration of educational innovation with EPFL’s research environment.

• 2007Construction of the integrated campus facilityStrategy

  The selected design required a large, continuous structure combining library, study, teaching, research, event and support functions.

  What changed. EPFL proceeded with construction between 2007 and 2009, supported by public funding and private sponsorship.

  Aftermath. The completed facility opened in 2010. The reported project cost was 110 million Swiss francs.

  Reported construction cost. 110 million Swiss francs (Construction period 2007-2009; reported in reference material for the completed project)

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• 2004Selection of SANAA for an open learning landscapeStrategy

  EPFL sought a major library and learning facility that could combine research collections, teaching, study and social interaction rather than operate solely as a book repository.

  What changed. Following an international competition, EPFL appointed Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA as lead architects.

  Aftermath. The resulting building became a prominent example of contemporary educational architecture and an important public face of the EPFL campus.

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• 2015Rolex Learning Center hosts Iran nuclear negotiations press conference

  On 2 April 2015, the center hosted a press conference involving EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after multilateral negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

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• 2010Rolex Learning Center opens at EPFL

  The new EPFL library and learning facility opened to users on 22 February 2010 and was formally inaugurated on 27 May 2010.

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1. Rolex Learning Center
2. Rolex Learning Center official website