Double Deck - Campus EPFL

« Double Deck », a new living space at the heart of the EPFL campus

Committed to supporting excellence in teaching, research, and innovation, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has been reshaping its campus and facilities since the early 2000s. In 2023, an international parallel study mandate was launched for the Coupole building and the Esplanade. Following this competition, the project “Double Deck,” designed by Dominique Perrault and his team, was selected as the winner.

In recent years, EPFL has experienced a significant rise in student numbers—a trend expected to continue over the next decade. To meet this growth, and particularly the shortage of auditoriums, the Coupole–Esplanade project was initiated. According to the call for tenders, it involves renovating the Coupole and creating new spaces beneath the current Esplanade.

The Coupole will undergo a necessary renovation to meet both academic needs and contemporary energy standards. Its completely redesigned façade will blend with the surrounding buildings while honoring the university’s architectural heritage. The dining area will be expanded, and classrooms modernized. New modular auditoriums seating 200 to 500 people will be built in the space currently occupied by the underground parking beneath the Esplanade.

The new building will rise only slightly higher than the existing Esplanade. Its roof, extending southward, will be fully planted. This new open space, oriented towards the Alps, will become a defining feature of the campus: a large garden-plaza-belvedere, a new public space offering fresh views of the surrounding landscape. The complex will include additional bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths on both levels. The boundary between ground floor and underground levels will be softened, enabling smoother circulation and creating a calmer core for the campus.

The architectural approach focuses on reusing and transforming existing infrastructure. A double-level structure and new green areas will complete and enliven the site. The parking area will become the lower level with auditoriums, while the upper level will serve as a gathering place featuring a large garden.

“Double Deck” reimagines underground spaces, establishes a new topography, and layers distinct architectural forms to create a harmonious urban landscape.