A new advanced research building redefines the standards for precision testing, integrating extreme insulation, flexibility and sustainability.

In the global landscape of basic research, competition is no longer based solely on the quality of researchers or the power of digital infrastructure. Increasingly, the decisive factor is the physical environment in which experiments are conducted. It is from this awareness that theAdvanced Science Building, the new building that will be built on the EPFL campus in Lausanne, designed to meet the needs of science working on atomic and subatomic scales.

The project represents a strategic investment in ultra-precise basic research, an area where even the most imperceptible external interference can compromise the experimental results. The ASB will be built on the area offormer Colladon car park, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026 and completion estimated for 2029. A long timeframe, because it is consistent with the ambition of creating an infrastructure destined to remain relevant for decades.

A building designed to isolate science from the outside world

Quantum physics, nanotechnology, advanced chemistry, molecular biology and materials science share a common challenge: the need to operate under conditions of extreme environmental isolationAcoustic noise, mechanical vibrations, electromagnetic fields, and micro-variations in temperature or humidity are all potentially distorting factors.

“If we want EPFL to remain at the forefront of research and development, we need a building that can offer scientists the conditions necessary to conduct advanced experiments, today and in the future,”

has explained Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, delegate president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and head of interdisciplinary research centers in the initial project definition phase. Her statement summarizes a key shift: architecture as a scientific infrastructure, not a mere container.

The international call launched in 2022 required a solution capable of hosting 26 research groups, up to 600 people, in highly specialized laboratories and also open to external researchersA setting that reflects the collaborative vocation of the Swiss university.

The central “silo” and the functional separation of disorders

The tender was won by a consortium led by KAAN Architecten e Celnikier & Grabli Architectes, whose project introduces a solution as simple as it is radical. At the centre of the building will be placed a decoupled technical silo, mounted on springs and physically separated from the rest of the structure.

This core will house the noisiest systems, such as HVAC and technology, while laboratories and experimental preparation areas will be arranged in concentric layers around it.

“We believe this is the most effective configuration to ensure optimal working conditions, meeting extreme requirements such as keeping external vibrations below a tenth of a micron per second,”

explain Jacob Celnikier and Marco Lanna, on behalf of the project consortium.

The result is a building that applies the principle of functional separation of interferences, reducing disruptions at the source rather than limiting them with subsequent corrective solutions. This approach has developed through iterative workshops with EPFL researchers and technicians, demonstrating an ongoing dialogue between architectural design and scientific needs.

Flexibility, comfort and quality of the workspace

While isolation is the technical prerequisite, quality of daily life remains a decisive factor in attracting and retaining talent. The ASB will be spread over seven floors, two of which are underground, with modular offices featuring wooden materials and wide views towards the campus, Lake Geneva and the Alps.

Gathering spaces, passageways designed as meeting places, and a tree-lined plaza at the entrance will contribute to an open and inclusive work environment. The goal is to transcend the idea of ​​the laboratory as a closed and isolated space, without compromising the technical requirements of experimentation.

“There are very few research centers in the world equipped with facilities of this type,”

observes Ambrogio Fasoli, former Associate Vice President for Research at EPFL.

"We visited them all, studying their strengths and weaknesses, to build a more mature synthesis." This benchmarking effort influenced design and organizational choices.

Sustainability as a structural and not an accessory criterion

ASB's innovation is not limited to the scientific dimension. The project integrates ambitious objectives of environmental sustainability,, in line with EPFL's strategy. The building is designed to achieve the DGNB certification of the Swiss Sustainable Building Council, a standard that evaluates the entire life cycle of buildings.

The concrete structures will use recycled materials wherever possible, while the above-ground sections will be largely made of wood. This choice combines a reduction in the carbon footprint with the quality of the interior spaces. The estimated overall cost, approximately 200 million Swiss francs, reflects the high technical complexity and the desire to create a durable infrastructure.

A strategic infrastructure for European research

With theAdvanced Science Building, EPFL strengthens its positioning as a central hub of European frontier scientific researchIn a context where experimental precision becomes increasingly critical, the building represents a systemic response that integrates architecture, engineering, and research organization.

The public consultation, ongoing since 2025, and the start of construction the following year mark the project's entry into its most visible phase. But the value of the ASB extends beyond the construction site: it points the way for universities seeking to compete at the cutting edge of knowledge, where silence, rather than noise, becomes the essential condition for innovation.

Here are three insights that might interest you:

Switzerland's most modern innovation park opens
In Lausanne, the EPFL Innovation Park gives an encore
The innovative Sports Sciences building inaugurated in Switzerland