Strategically located on the Swiss and German borders, near the transit hub of Saint Louis and the Basel-Mulhouse international airport, the Ulys campus defines a new entrance for the city of Saint Louis.
With a determined ambition for inclusion, innovation and bioclimatic virtuosity, it is recognised as an international centre of higher education excellence in the Grand-Est Region.
Its mixed programme consists of schools, student and young professional accommodation, coworking and conference spaces, shops, association spaces and an amphitheatre.
The Lys neighbourhood is part of the reconquest of landscape and nature within the city. It links new plantations and develops new ecological corridors.
The landscape frames and spreads extensively throughout the site in several forms; planted shaded and safe walks, tree-lined entrance squares, large peaceful garden, hanging gardens, inhabited embankments, temperate lake/island, grass amphitheatre… in relation with its many different functions.
Madeleine D'Ersu, PROJECT ARCHITECT
« Our intent was to find the right balance between architecture and landscape which, in our opinion, is the key to an attractive campus. Our priority was to create an innovative bioclimatic campus, open to the city of Saint Louis and its region. »
Although each building has its own rigorous and structured identity, the elevations on this new campus form a single legible and evident entity.
Five university buildings are composed in three layers:
- a glazed base, whose transparency reveals the reception area with a close dialogue between interior spaces and the gardens;
- partitioned, modulable typical floors; and
- an extensively glazed top floor decorated with hanging gardens, frames views of the surrounding landscape.
The high quality of outdoor spaces on this human-scale campus, accessible to all and readily appreciated by pedestrians and cyclists, constitute a real bond. Linked to adjoining areas, this friendly ambitious and attractive place for study and living environment is ultimately intended to participate in regional economic redistribution.
Status
September 2023 competition - design
Location
Saint-Louis (63)
Developer
Demathieu Bard Immobilier + Vinci Immobilier
Commission
Design and implementation of development guidelines + design and construction services
Programme
Mixed campus with higher education schools, student and young professionals accommodation, shops with 2 multifunctional hubs (associative space, health centre, nursery, coworking, concierge, bicycle park, etc.)
Area
41,950m² including 30,000m² campus, 10,800m² accommodation and 1,150m² support facilities
Cost
66,5 M€
Design team
Richez_Associés + Sortons du bois + Illios + Swiss School Consulting France + LMS + Archimed + AIR&D
Sustainable development
Bioclimatic design (natural ventilation, plant filters, soil inertia, etc.) and geocooling; planted roofs and photovoltaic installations including dual facial sensors; implementation of “anergy” loops for the exchange of heating and cooling between buildings; reuse on site of excavated material; reuse of materials within hubs and exterior facilities • Hubs: PassivHaus level; RE2028 energy and carbon footprint • Schools: RE2025 energy; Bream Excellent carbon footprint • Housing: RE2025 energy; Bream Excellent carbon footprint; individual carbon footprint for each new arrival “my CO2“.
