Winning project chosen for the new IOR research building
Institutional Communication Service
On 27 November, the Foundation Board of the Foundation for the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana) confirmed as the winning project in the design competition for the IOR's new research building the project recommended by the jury, chaired by Prof. Arch. ETH Valentin Bearth and Prof. Franco Cavalli, President of the Foundation. The winner is the ISB+ consortium, consisting of two architecture firms.
The design competition began in February, attracting around 20 applications from various groups. The jury selected eight finalists to submit project proposals. After a careful evaluation supported by multiple specialists, the jury recently chose the winner: the project submitted by the ISB+ consortium team. This team comprises the Zurich-based architecture firm Santer Architekten, which collaborated with Ticino architect Francesco Buzzi from Locarno. Santer Architekten has previously distinguished itself by designing the impressive Biozentrum building in Basel, which many consider a masterpiece of architectural design for research centres. The decision to plan a new research building was made a year ago by the Foundation in response to space limitations in the existing research facility opened by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), affiliated with the Università della Svizzera italiana at Via Chiesa 5 in Bellinzona in November. The construction of this building had indeed taken almost ten years. In the meantime, however, both IOR and IRB have experienced considerable growth, so much so that already today, some of the nearly 300 researchers do not find room in Via Chiesa and, together with several technology platforms, have been relocated to a nearby building.
In the coming years, IOR, IRB, and the translational research laboratories of the EOC (also located in Via Chiesa) plan to expand further. According to the selected project, the new building will have a similar volume to the existing IRB facility, which it will complement and integrate. In order to respond to the current structural deficiencies, the new building will offer additional space for as many as 12 research laboratories, but also numerous rooms for scientific meetings and, above all, for university training activities since IOR and IRB are both affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). A large dining area and an auditorium for at least 250 people are also planned to be shared with the City of Bellinzona.
The jury expressed its unanimous and great appreciation for the winning project, which, while respecting the high architectural quality of the IRB building designed by the late architect Aurelio Galfetti, brings to life the idea of a high-level research and training campus. The winning project and those of the seven competition finalists will be exhibited to the public, probably at the Palazzo Civico, in January.
