In 2013/2014 the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) will move from its current location to the new Campus WU.

Near the city center but in a green area, an innovative university concept shall be implemented on a modern university campus.

WU and Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG) have formed a partnership with the ambition of realizing an economical and ecological showpiece through the development of the campus.

Campus WU is embedded in an up-and-coming area of Vienna’s second district. Public transport is mainly provided by the newly constructed subway line U2.

Adjacent to the new campus, the Prater, the Messe Wien Exhibition and Congress Center and Viertel Zwei, a newly developed quarter with office space and housing, form the vicinity for Europe’s largest university for business and economy.

Hotels, the stadium and a shopping mall create well-rounded surroundings and contribute to an urban environment which creates opportunities and synergies.

The new WU has been designed as a particular campus which is meant to be experienced in unique ways. A ‘Walk Along Park’ connects a sequence of plazas that aim to create an exciting environment for university life.

Six buildings define the campus space through communication and interaction. Entrances, passages, views are coordinated.

The buildings’ ground levels serve as intersection of education and research and as meeting point of public and university.

A mixture of library space, student work areas and gastronomical highlights enable guests to catch a glimpse of WU life.

Physically and symbolically the Library and Learning Center lies at the heart of the new WU as it is library and service center, study area and lounge, communication hub and central junction. Essential university functions are combined and a central research facility is provided.

The department buildings focus on improving communication and creating an inspiring atmosphere for researchers while the lecture halls building forms the university’s center of education.

Plot O1 – Learning Centre & Refectory & Departments
BUSarchitektur ZT GmbH, Wien

On the northeast side of the Campus, the Austrian architecture collective BUSarchitektur designed a new type of Learning Centre equipped with multifunctional, flexible lecture halls of different sizes. There is room here for 4,000 students and lecturers at the same time. The atrium is generously dimensioned and flooded with light. The private study areas, which spiral along the sides of the atrium, can be used for both study and relaxation. Staircases and ramps connect and separate private and public spaces. Office space (world trade, research departments) are situated in the western part of the plot. The refectory will act as communication platform of university life.

Plot O2 – External Service Contractors & Departments
Atelier Hitoshi Abe, Sendai

Millefeuille – a thousand layers
This building, designed by the Japanese architects Hitoshi Abe borders on the green Prater area to the south. It owns its inspiration to the “Millefeuille” a French sweet consisting of several layers of puff pastry with a sweet filling. The building structure has therefore several layers constructed side by side and of top of each other, featuring distinctive entrances and an interesting view of the town and the natural surroundings. Here, people are meant to meet, not to pass each other by. The building features several atriums and will house various departments (information processing, process management, marketing, management, business management and innovation, foreign-language business communication, a special library (foreign languages) as well as the Austrian official representation of university students (Österreichische Hochschülerschaft) and external service contractors, such as a sports centre, a book shop and a nursery school.

Library & Learning Centre
Zaha Hadid Architects

The Library & Learning Centre, open 24 hours a day, is the centrepiece of the Campus of the future, both symbolically and geographically speaking. It will be realised by the German architect Zaha Hadid in the shape of a remarkable and expressive structure. The building is S-shaped and has an impressive protruding roof. The central square in front of the building merges into the main entrance area and the auditorium. On the inside, passing through the library, visitors are led upwards over spiral stairways and ramps, finding books, private study areas and a fantastic view of the Campus. On the ground floor are situated the ceremonial halls of the University as well as a Library Cafe and a book shop. Also housed in this building are various services for students and a career planning centre.

Plot W1D – Departments
Estudio Carme Pinós S.L. Barcelona

This two-part building, immediately adjoining the Executive Academy bears the hallmark of the Spanish architects Carme Pinòs. This playful rhomboid structure houses seminar rooms and departments. The front with its dynamically arranged windows gives the building an exceptional appearance. A special library (social sciences) and the Lifestyle Cafe have their own entrance. The part of the building housing the seminar rooms is raised, with grassed hills in front and offers students a certain intimacy. The following departments will be housed here: finance, accounting and statistics, political economics and social economics.

Plot W1E – Executive Academy
NO.MAD Arquitectos, Madrid

Coming from the Vienna Fair and the underground station Messe, one directly reaches the most westerly building of the new Campus, the Executive Academy – an institute for further education aimed at executives, specialists and high potentials. This building was designed by the Spanish architects NO.MAD Arquitectos. It will be a square-sided tower comprising 7 floors, featuring a front made of glass and aluminium. Both sky and nature are mirrored in the building which blends perfectly into its surroundings. The lecture halls and administration offices of the Executive Academy as well as additional offices and a rooftop restaurant and cafe will be housed here.

Plot W2 – Departments and Special Libraries
CRABstudio, London

Sir Peter Cook and his CRABstudio are the architects designing the southwest area of the Campus, recalling their own student life with their architecture. On this plot, reaching out towards the green Prater, an organic structure is to be built, winding around several court yards and featuring passage ways, recesses, terraces, atriums, squares and public spaces with landscape sitting elements. The main material used for the façade is untreated larch wood, which will change its colour with time and according to lighting conditions – mirroring the play of colours in the nearby Prater. This building will house various departments (business, labour and social law, public and fiscal law), research institutes and the special library for business law as well as the principal’s office and other university administration offices.

WU Lounge (Campus entrance west)

Entering the new Campus from the west, the visitor is greeted by the first piazza, directly in front of the Executive Academy. This piazza is characterised by its proximity to the Messe Hotel, the Vienna Fair and a taxi rank. The paved open space climbs steadily towards the Prater and forms a natural boundary to the street and the hotel. The piazza offers both waiting and meeting areas for casual encounters. Landscape furniture invites the visitor to sit, lie or just stop for a while. Trees offer shelter and shade and a special grove will extend a warm welcome.

WU EXPO (to the west between W1D and W2)

A few steps further into the Campus, one reaches the “WU Expo”, a square in the shape of an island. The most outstanding feature of this piazza is its large pond. Close to this, a public open space can be reached via a handicapped accessible ramp. This space serves as a sun deck as well as a garden for the neighbouring cafe. A single, large tree provides shade and the pond edge invites one to sit down.

WU RELAX (to the east, between W1D and W2)

“WU Relax” is situated directly between the special libraries and the building sites W1D and W2. It is the perfect place for relaxing, resting, daydreaming and open air reading. In a tranquil atmosphere one can recharge ones batteries, find peace and develop new ideas. Here is also situated the entrance to the underground garage, the atrium of which will be planted with high bamboos. All stairwells leading to the underground garage are glassed-in to provide natural lighting underground.

WU Stage (centrally, in front of the LLC)

The public spaces of this largest central piazza of the new Campus, situated directly in front of the Library and Learning Centre will have terrace-like viewing balconies. On this square, also called WU Stage, all kinds of events can take place, such as concerts, film screenings or stage productions. The technical equipment necessary for this will be provided. All Campus pathways meet at this piazza. A grove of trees will offer shade and counterbalance to the tribune.

WU PATIO (between O1 and O2)

The Piazza “WU Patio” climbs towards its north end on several levels towards the refectory, which also presents itself in a step like structure and can be reached from the square by either stairs or ramps. The viewing platform of the refectory is an important element of this piazza. Plane trees are to be planted in a precise grid, forming a dense, umbrella-like roof shape which offers shade and coolness. On the west side of the square, a row of trees protrude from the passage into the piazza.

FORUM WU (east entrance to the Campus)

“Forum WU” forms the east entrance to the Campus and the principal route for students walking to the Learning Centre on their way to and from lectures. The terraced form of the students’ cafe is reflected in the paved open space, where curved sitting elements along the side of the piazza form the entrance and invite students to linger and interchange after lectures.

Project schedule

Project partners

Principal
Projektgesellschaft Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Neu GmbH

Project Sponsors
Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
Wirtschaftsuniversitt Wien (WU)

Project Management
ARGE PS WU Neubau
Drees&Sommer / DELTA

Project Controlling
FCP Fritsch, Chiari & Partner ZT GmbH

General Planning Team
ARGE Campus WU
BUSarchitektur / Vasko + Partner Ingenieure

Design Architects
Atelier Hitoshi Abe, Sendai
BUSarchitektur, Wien
Crab Studio, London
Estudio Carme Pinós, Barcelona
NO.MAD Arquitectos, Madrid
Zaha Hadid Architects, Hamburg

Construction Supervisors
ARGE BA Campus WU
Gobiet & Partner ZT Ges.m.b.H
iC consulenten Ziviltechniker GESmbH
inGenos Ziviltechniker GmbH

Info point WU Campus

With its exhibition area and viewing platform, the newly opened on-site info point provides a multitude of information around the WU Campus project: from the master plan to the intense building phase and the impressive design of the individual buildings which will be created in the next few years.
The viewing platform offers you a direct view of the building site.

Andreas Gobiet
E-Mail: ombudsperson@campuswu.at
Hotline: 0800 / 20 38 08

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding the WU Campus project.

For any further questions please contact our ombudsman.

Camera Messeturm

Camera Halle B

Camera Austria Trend Hotel

Camera Parkhaus D