Borné Nau, Grandson
Short description
Located on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, the municipality of Grandson is experiencing steady and regular population growth and now has 3,000 inhabitants. The number of pupils is growing proportionally and an adaptation of the infrastructure was necessary as the school includes pupils from 18 surrounding municipalities. There was already a building on the site in Rue du Jura that had been erected 25 years previously.
The project
The extension of the Collège is the first step in the development of the entire Borné Nau sector, i.e. twelve hectares north of the old center between the built-up ridge and the freeway.
Services in detail
The creation of fourteen classrooms, a visual arts room, a music room and three science rooms with spaces for administration and preparation for science lessons. The architects Guy Corbaz & Pascal Oulevay opted for a building with a compact volume that blends naturally into the existing built environment and for a typology with modular spaces. The floor plans were worked with smaller classes, in accordance with the new legislation, which was reduced from 80m2 floor area and 3 m height to 64m2 and a ceiling height of 2.7 m. This change enabled the client to achieve an average cost saving of 15%. A double flight of stairs is a tongue-in-cheek reminder of 19th century facilities and adds a cheerful touch while facilitating circulation for the pupils.
Building volume: 11,000m3