Exceptional modularity
The SwissTech Convention Center in Switzerland is situated at several crossroads.
Geographically, the convention center is located in Lausanne, Switzerland, in an idyllic setting between the lake and the mountains, not far from Geneva Airport and less than a two-hour flight from most major European capitals.
Symbolically, the SwissTech Convention Center benefits from the atmosphere of the EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, with the building situated at the heart of the campus. Spanning over 65 hectares, the EPFL is ranked among the best universities in the world and has one of the most famous university libraries: the Rolex Learning Center, a particularly bold and creative architectural construction.
Finally, on a more technical level, the SwissTech Convention Center has benefited from the expertise of the best engineers and architects of our time. The building is unique and innovative, boasts an exceptional modularity and complies with sustainable development standards.
Sustainablity
The EPFL has always had a strong commitment to sustainable development. With the construction of the SwissTech Convention Center, the EPFL has taken this commitment one step further, incorporating renewable energies in the most efficient way possible: water from Lake Geneva and geothermal pillars supporting the structure of the building are used for heating and cooling; and Gr?tzel photovoltaic panels on the western facade of the building simultaneously produce electricity and prevent the inside of the center from overheating.
Natural light both for users’ comfort and energy savings, STCC primarily makes use of natural light, even in the plenary room that seats 3,000. Artificial lights make use of the latest available technologies and supply remarkable energetic performances. The electricity the Center consumes is from 100 % renewable.
Swift customization of space through technology
The building’s architecture allows two or three auditoriums to merge into one; the number of seats in each space can also be varied in just a matter of minutes. This modularity is based on two mechanisms: a system of sliding walls, and the Gala Venue technology, which allows the customization of each space and the number of seats to the needs of each organizer. The technology, hidden below the floor, automates the rotation of seats from below to above the conference room floor.
In a mere 15 minutes the configuration can be changed from “theater-style” to a flat banquet setup, and again to “classroom-style” where every second row of seats is hidden beneath the floor..