The forthcoming facility will accommodate 130 linear meters of books, housing over 2 million volumes from the University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, the University of Applied Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts, and Geosphere Austria. In this endeavour, we are overseeing project controlling.
Following the approval of the building permit for the book depository by the responsible ministries on 6 July 2023, BIG and the University of Vienna signed the rental agreement. The future book depot will be built on the Siemensgründe in Vienna's Floridsdorf district and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. This development will reduce the strain on the city centre space currently used by various Viennese universities.
With an emphasis on sustainability, the design features a state-of-the-art wood hybrid structure, adorned with green facades, and equipped with a rooftop photovoltaic system. Utilizing wood wherever possible and leveraging local renewable resources for energy production such as geothermal energy and component activation, the project showcases an eco-conscious approach.
The architectural plan extends to the surrounding environment, incorporating a beautifully landscaped avenue adorned with a variety of plants. Internally, the building boasts a reinforced concrete skeleton and a ventilation system designed to mitigate overheating during the summer months.
