Double Deck
EPFL is launching the Double Deck, an ambitious project to adapt and extend its teaching and learning infrastructure to respond to the needs of a growing student population while preserving its educational excellence.
Designed by Dominique Perrault Architecture, this project includes the construction of a new iconic building at the Esplanade at the heart of the EPFL campus and the renovation and modernisation of the existing Coupole building.
A new iconic building at the Esplanade at the heart of the EPFL campus
A flexible space for lecturing, teaching and learning
Different kinds of teaching and learning spaces are needed to enable a range of learning experiences. Students listening to a lecture need to be able to see and hear a teacher, a screen or a blackboard while taking notes on paper, and or on electronic devices. Interactive learning requires students to be able to turn to face each other and discuss, while collaborative project work is enabled by students being able to sit around a table face-to-face. Often, educators and students need to seamlessly transition between these different kinds of teaching and learning experiences. A key requirement for today’s teaching spaces is, therefore, flexibility.
Opening in 2027, the EPFL Double Deck will provide 1,500 new auditorium spaces at the heart of the campus. The auditoriums are designed to be flexible teaching and learning spaces that will enable educators and learners to seamlessly transition between lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities. These adaptable environments support both traditional lectures and innovative teaching practices, such as flipped classrooms and collaborative projects, all of which enhance student engagement and understanding.
The movable walls in the Double Deck classrooms will also accommodate different class sizes depending on need, while the collaboration-friendly design of the furniture and acoustics will ensure that students will be able to use the auditoriums as study spaces when they are not in use for classes. This flexibility will, therefore also ensure optimal use of learning spaces in the building.
By prioritizing flexibility in the Double Deck we are creating dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready learning environments that cater to the ever-changing demands of higher education.
A space for study, collaboration, and learning
Students today work and study in a wide variety of ways. While some learning requires focused, individual work which needs quiet spaces without distractions, some study requires collaboration and so needs space where they can discuss and share their ideas. Study spaces also need to be equipped: alongside the basic need for power and connectivity, some learning activities need whiteboards, flipcharts and co-writing tabletops to allow for collaborative brainstorming and problem-solving, while other activities require more formal meeting and presentation spaces.
Since 2022 EPFL has been working with students, teachers, and international experts to co-design student learning spaces in the Double Deck and the renovated CO building. As a result, the new buildings will have 600 new spaces for student learning in a range of formats:
- Open individual and group working spaces
- Individual working spaces with acoustic isolation
- Semi-open cabins for 4-6 people to collaborate with acoustic isolation
- Closed cabins for 4-10 people to work in team meetings
- Relaxation spaces
By offering a range of study environments, we can enhance our students learning experiences, accommodate different study preferences, and promote both student learning and their well-being. These diverse spaces will help to ensure that our students have access to the resources they need to thrive.