“Chain mail on a building?” you might ask. That is exactly what makes Uni Pignon at the Universitè de Genève so unique. Uni Pignon completes the redevelopment of the former Palais des Expositions grounds. It stands just a stone’s throw from its larger sibling, Uni Mail.
Uni Mail is the largest building in Switzerland dedicated to humanities and social sciences. It is known for its transparency and open volumes. Uni Mail houses the Faculties of Law, Economics and Management. Social Sciences, Psychology and Education are also here. The Faculty of Translation and Interpretation also calls it home.
But let’s return to Uni Pignon. Its chain mail facade is an architectural feature unique in Europe. The building’s appearance changes with the weather. Sunlight glints off the metallic surface. On cloudy days, it appears muted and mysterious. Uni Pignon houses part of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
The construction project for Uni Pignon began in 1981. It was always an integral part of the Uni Mail site plan. A competition was held in 1997. The jury consisted of representatives from cantonal authorities and the University. From 12 projects, they chose the design of Philippe Meyer and Pierre Bouvier. The jury was convinced by the building’s simplicity and adaptability. The different office modules could be easily rearranged. The Grand Conseil approved the construction credit in September 2000. Work began in 2001. The construction budget totaled 12 million francs.
Inside, the building is divided functionally. A lower ground floor houses six seminar rooms. These rooms even have natural light from ceiling fixtures. The upper ground floor features a central hall. Offices and laboratories occupy the upper floors. Red wood was chosen for the corridor walls. This gives a warm feel to the central spaces. The offices benefit from good light. The building has an estimated usable area of 1,800 square meters.
Uni Pignon officially opened in October 2003. Its opening allowed for a campus-wide reorganization. Part of the FPSE moved from Battelle to Uni Pignon. This freed up space in the Carouge annex. That space then welcomed the Centre Universitaire d’Informatique. The CUI had been based at Uni Dufour. Uni Dufour then became entirely occupied by administration and the rectorate. The inauguration of Uni Pignon coincided with that of Sciences III. Sciences III took over part of the biology department. Previously, it was isolated at Uni Bastions. This allowed the Faculty of Arts to centralize most of its services at Bastions. These services had been scattered along the Rue de Candolle.
So, next time you are here, take a moment to appreciate Uni Pignon’s unique facade. It represents innovation and adaptation. It is a functional and beautiful contribution to the University of Geneva campus.