EPFL's Arcades kick off a "living campus"
As students start living by the hundreds in the Atrium residences, the Arcades’ shops and services opened their doors to the public this morning. As a result, EPFL’s Northern District turns into the cornerstone of a true living campus.
A 25’000 people urbanization that becomes a phantom city in the evening? This image of the universities of the west of Lausanne belongs to the past. Since this morning, five stores are now available to EPFL’s students and staff, the University of Lausanne and the surrounding vicinities. The new North District, dominated by the impressive SwissTech Convention Center that will open its doors next spring, is poised to become a major campus attraction.
For the past two weeks, the first occupants of the Atrium’s rooms and studios have been unpacking their belongings. In total, more than 500 beds will be placed at their disposal by the beginning of October – an appreciated respite given Lausanne’s current scarce lodging situation. With Estudiantines on the south and Triaudes further north, over 1’000 students can now live on the campus or its immediate vicinity.
In order to meet their needs and to provide a small town atmosphere to the area, EPFL’s North District offers a large shopping and services mall, called “Les Arcades”. Its first stores have opened today -the official opening will take place on 8 and 9 November-. They are: a Relay stand, a Polycare pharmacy, an Arte Beauty & Wellness center and Migros and Denner grocery stores. In the autumn, the ‘Tech a Break’ pub, the Gina Italian restaurant, the Cut take-away, the Tekoe tea lounge and boutique, EPFL’s medical center and the Ardentis dental clinic will follow. Finally, in April, the SwissTech Hotel - with a 70 rooms’ capacity - will also open its doors. "With this new extension, soon to be completed with the SwissTech Convention Center, EPFL’s campus becomes alive , having busy days and nights”, explained André Schneider , vice president for planning and logistics.
Drinks and croissants welcomed the first visitors today. © Alain Herzog / EPFL 2013
The completion of the North District is the result of a public-private partnership. It was funded by two Credit Suisse investment funds (CS Real Estate Fund LivingPlus and CS Real Estate Fund Hospitality). It was built by the general contractor HRS Real Estate SA, and designed by Richter - Dahl Rocha and Associates Architects SA in Lausanne.