EPFL background

Visits on 15 September


On the third conference day, Friday 15 September, between 9:00 and 12:30, we invite participants to discover research labs on the EPFL campuses of Lausanne and Fribourg, followed by farewell drinks and snacks.

Online registrations are now closed. For latecomers there are still a few spaces available in the Lausanne tours. If you are interested, please ask at the welcome desk on arrival.

Lausanne campus visits
09:00 departure for visits
12:30 light lunch

Fribourg campus visits
09:00 shuttle departure from EPFL
10:00 visits
12:30 light lunch
14:30 approximate time of arr. in Lausanne

Lausanne Campus Visits

Visit schedule

Lausanne Tour A - Thermal Systems

Geothermal systems, CO2 sequestration & 100% renewable thermal power plant

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100% renewable thermal power plant and Data Center

Card picture caption

100% renewable thermal power plant


Card picture caption
100% renewable thermal power plant

Thanks to thermal heat exchange with the nearby Lake Geneva and a thermal plant using the latest technology, heating and cooling of the whole EPFL campus is provided entirely without fossil fuels. A data center installed above the plant is cooled by the cold water discharges from the power plant and will in turn provide heat from the servers. The building is fully cladded with photovoltaic façade elements.

geothermal systems illustration
Digging deep: geothermal systems and CO2 sequestration
geothermal systems illustration

Digging deep: geothermal systems and CO2 sequestration


geothermal systems illustration
Digging deep: geothermal systems and CO2 sequestration

Geothermal systems and CO2 sequestration in deep geological formations are the focus of this visit to the EPFL Laboratory of Soil Mechanics LMS. Research at LMS investigates energy geostructures that can serve as structural supports as well as heating and cooling elements for building and infrastructures. Furthermore, it explores the potential of CO2 capture and storage in depleted oil or gas reservoirs, saline formations and coal seams based on structural, stratigraphic and chemical trapping mechanisms.

Lausanne Tour B - Daylighting & Smart Grid

Daylighting test facility & Smart grid monitoring system

daylighting illustration
Multiple facets of Daylighting research
daylighting illustration

Multiple facets of Daylighting research


daylighting illustration
Multiple facets of Daylighting research

The EPFL Laboratory of Integrated Performance in Design LIPID conducts research on visual comfort under daylight conditions, considering health, comfort, perception and energy. A visit of the test facility “Demona” will show insights of the experiments conducted for different glazing and shading including electrochromic glazing and fabrics.

smart grid illustration
Smart grid monitoring and operation - the DESL lab
Csmart grid illustration

Smart grid monitoring and operation - the DESL lab


illustration of distributed networks
Smart grid monitoring and operation - the DESL lab

To ensure a sustainable, economic and secure electricity supply, the EPFL Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory develops advanced smart grid solutions. The main topics of this visit refer to smart grids monitoring and operation technologies. Prof. Paolone’s team will present a time-deterministic monitoring system of the EPFL campus used to control in real-time a utility-scale battery energy storage system to achieve multiple control functions.

Lausanne Tour C - Circularity

Robotic construction & building with repurposed building elements

robotic construction - illustration
The potential of robotic construction
robotic construction - illustration

The potential of robotic construction


robotic construction - illustration
The potential of robotic construction

The Lab for Creative Computation (CRCL) operates at the interface of design, digital technologies and construction. This visit will explore new construction modes that combine robotics with human interventions and digital media, in pursuit of more creative solutions to contemporary design and construction challenges. A particular focus will be given to sustainable construction approaches. The lab will be presented by Professor Stefana Parascho.

rebuiLT design
Building elements resurrected – the rebuiLT pavilion
rebuiLT design

Building elements resurrected – the rebuiLT pavilion


rebuiLT design
Building elements resurrected – the rebuiLT pavilion

A second life is given to building elements in the rebuiLT pavilion that is the object of a circularity themed visit near the EPFL campus. This student-led project supervised by Prof. Corentin Fivet and Maxence Grangeot of the Structural Xploration Lab applies the principles of zero waste by reusing the concrete structure and other components from a building in deconstruction close to the EPFL campus. Innovative construction methods and low-tech solutions are explored with a view to defining a new low-carbon approach to construction.

Approximate schedule of Lausanne visits

08:50 Meeting at STCC lateral entrance
09:00 1st visit of selected tour
10:30 Refreshment break
11:00 2nd visit of selected tour
12:30 Light lunch in STCC hall

Luggage consignment: 08h45-13h30 in Swiss Tech Convention Center


Fribourg Campus Visit

Schedule | Map of site and city

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Environmental and climatic chambers - EPFL Fribourg campus lab tour
illustration_visit_Fribourg

Environmental and climatic chambers - EPFL Fribourg campus lab tour


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Environmental and climatic chambers - EPFL Fribourg campus lab tour

Key elements
  • Environmental & climatic chambers
  • Smart Living Lab project
  • Modular Climate pavilion
  • 2017 Winner of Solar Decathlon
Description
The key focus of this tour will be the visit to a twin environmental and climatic chambers facility, which is a jointly operated by Integrated Comfort Engineering Lab and Human-Oriented Built Environment Lab situated on the Blue Factory site of EPFL Fribourg campus. These state-of-the-art chambers are designed for studying the combined impact of occupancy, HVAC systems and controls on indoor air quality, human exposure, thermal comfort and energy performance. The chamber can be modified to simulate distinct indoor environments, such as offices, classrooms, residences, hospitals and healthcare facilities, etc. Highlights of this tour will include technical tour of the twin-chambers’ control systems and overview of experiments performed here. The tour of the environmental & climatic chambers will be guided by Professors Dolaana Khovalyg and Dusan Licina. In addition, a stand will be set up in the atrium of the Blue Halle where participants will be able to discover a series of developments and projects coordinated by the Building2050 team (led by Sergi Aguacil) in preparation for the exploitation of the new Smart Living Lab building as a purchased research infrastructure. The exhibition will give an overview of the project and its multiple scales, including the Radon protection project to be implemented and led by Joëlle Goyette (Transform Institute, HEIA-FR). It will also be possible to visit the modular climate pavilion (coordinated by Raphael Compagnon, Transform Institute, HEIA-FR), as well as the solar house prototype winner of the 2017 edition of the international Solar Decathlon competition.

Schedule of Fribourg visit
08h50 Meeting at STCC side entrance
09h00 Departure of bus shuttle
10h00 Arrival in Fribourg - start of visits
12h30 Light lunch in Fribourg
13h30 Departure of bus shuttle from drop-off point direction Lausanne
14h30 Arrival and drop-off at Lausanne railway station

Please note:

  • Your luggage can be left in the bus if you intend to take the shuttle both ways. Otherwise, there will be a room to deposit it at Smart Living Lab.
  • The shuttle bus will not be waiting for missing passengers.
  • If you wish to go your own way after this visit, please note that the railway station is very close, with excellent connections to Lausanne (50'), Geneva Airport (1h45) and Zurich Airport (1h50): timetables and tickets.

Take advantage of your trip to Fribourg to visit its old city, which sits on a rocky hill above the river Sarine! For information see website of Fribourg tourism. There are frequent train connections back to Lausanne as well as to Geneva and Zurich Airport. Luggage can be deposited at the railway station.

Hosting Organisation

Scientific partners

Sponsor

Sustainability