Client
ETH Zurich, Abteilung Immobilien
User
Swiss National Supercomputing Centre CSCS
Architects and general contractors
Itten+Brechbühl AG
Start of construction
2010
Start of operation
2012
Floor area
5400 m2 computing centre
2600 m2 office building
Photos
Roger Frei, Zurich / Marcelo Villada Ortiz, Lugano
Back
Lugano, Switzerland
Swiss Center for Scientific Computing (CSCS)
| Program | New construction of a Data center and office building | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Client | ETH Zürich, Abteilung Immobilien | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct comission | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planning / Construction | 2009-2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services provided by IB |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surface area | 6'800 m2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction volume | 73'000 m3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Building costs | 64 Mio. CHF excl. VAT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ETH Zurich operates its supercomputer network, CSCS, in Tessin in order to be competitive on the global stage in cutting-edge science and research. The centre enables research to be conducted on the environment, climate, health and business. The 1991 building no longer met energy specifications as supercomputers produce enormous amounts of heat.
Simple, flexible structures, functional organisation of space and the facility to divide the project into phases - these are the main features of the sustainable building, and environmentally friendly cooling technology forms its core. The location enables cooling water to be drawn from the lake with a pipeline only three kilometres in length. The exhaust heat from the CSCS is to be used to heat a new district in the planning stage and also supply hot water to it.
TV broadcasts
«Einstein» on SRF of 16.01.2014 (in german)
SF Tagesschau of 31.08.2012 (in german)
