Details of RIBA European Award recipient Library and Learning Center by Zaha Hadid Architects

The Library and Learning Center (LLC) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration campus (WU Wien) was recently named as one of the RIBA European Award recipients. It's also in the running to be on the shortlist for this year's RIBA Stirling Prize.

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, who won the project in a 2008 competition, one notable feature of the educational building is ARUP's lighting design, which serves as a complementing element to ZHA's recognizable aesthetic.

Find out more about the design right below.

"The recently opened project was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to accommodate 25,000 students and 1500 staff and serves as the university´s meeting point and gathering space."

"Our conceptual and thorough design role helped to convert the architect’s vision in a buildable solution which emphasises the different building functions as well as the dynamics of the design."    

"The 42,000m² building rises as a polygonal block from the middle of the university campus. The design takes the form of a cube with both inclined and vertical façades. In the interior, these straight edges become curvilinear and fluid to allow light, views and connections throughout the building."

"The structure includes materials, façade construction and differentiated colours of light that accentuates the shape and form as well as the varying uses of the building."

"The engineering was done both in 2D drawings and in 3D models in order to convert the architect’s design into a buildable solution with very satisfactory results for both the architect and the project owner."

"WU is the EU’s largest educational institution for business and economics, business law, and social sciences. A total of six new buildings have been constructed on the WU campus located between the Vienna Messe and Prater Park at Welthandelsplatz."

Photos courtesy of ARUP.