HIC ETH Zurich Construction Project

In a new building northwest of the Hönggerberg campus, ETH Zurich wants to bring together student organizations and entrepreneurial projects and foster their cooperation. The "ETH Center for Students and Entrepreneurs" creates a joint platform with flexible offices, multi-purpose rooms and workshops geared to their needs.

The new building reacts to the context by enclosing the campus on the west side towards Hönggerbergring and entering into a direct dialogue with the HIB building on the east side. A field-like outdoor space is created along the length of the building. The restriction on the building site due to the existing HIN subterranean garage results in a unique section in which the ground floor cantilevers over the underground garage without load-bearing. The topography of the terrain is employed to provide the building with a volume that floats slightly above the ground and to create a public effect. On the north side, the building extends over the Othmar-Ammann-Weg, so that the supporting structure clearly stands out on this side. In doing so, one of the load-bearing elements becomes apparent, the action of the forces is translated into a sculptural gesture.

A number of meeting places and lounges are intentionally designed to contribute to a lively exchange between the various users. The spatially complex needs also lead to a specific structural solution that combines function, material and construction method in a symbiosis of forms and gives the building its own distinctive character. On the ground floor, Vierendeel beams carry the vertical loads in the transverse direction, allowing the ground floor to cantilever. On the other floors, a frame structure of wood and concrete takes over. Large-format sliding windows with balcony-like metal walkways and protruding awnings create additional outdoor spaces. The five storeys are crowned by an open pergola structure with a green roof garden.