new mci building

urban design context
the site designated for the new mci building is characterized by the following parameters: centrally located, prominent position in the city, directly adjacent to the historic hofgarten with its valuable tree population and listed wall. challenging boundary conditions exist on the limited available area, including the requirement to preserve the sports field while creating a new sports facility, as well as car and bus parking.

urban design concept
the building volume is positioned at the southern edge of the available site, as close as possible to the existing university buildings. the sports facility is located to the north. the building responds in its height development to the urban boundary conditions. five stories along kaiserjägerstrasse reference the height of the opposite federal police building. towards the hofgarten monument in the west, the height gradually decreases to two stories above grade. the building’s form demonstrates respect for the historic garden and ensures that there is no negative shading of the impressive trees directly adjacent to the hofgarten wall and takes into account the single-story hofgarten café.
the central hall (center of studies), spanning all floors, is oriented towards the hofgarten. terraces cut into the sloped roof create outdoor learning and chill-out areas with views of the historic park. three new east-west connections interweave kaiserjägerstrasse, mci, the sports facility, and the hofgarten.

building structure
a compact envelope accommodates the required mci program. generous atriums channel daylight deep into the interior and, through the central hall under the sloped roof, enable easy horizontal and vertical orientation. sunken light courts illuminate large areas on level -1, housing workshops and laboratories along with all supply and service functions. an open, transparent ground floor provides access from all sides, conveys openness, and connects all immediate neighboring functions. mobile room dividers allow all central area zones to open for the creation of ideal spaces for small and large events. the distinctive spatial geometry of the lecture halls follows the harvard-style teaching room concept and constitutes a unique, identity-defining design element. glass elements provide daylight and allow visual connections. all circulation areas are generously sized, designed as fully usable workspaces, and blur the conventional distinction between learning spaces and circulation. galleries and bridges on all levels create differently proportioned group work zones as well as individual study and lounge areas. considering these aspects, the factor of 1.54 specified in the brief appears too low for a university building of this scale. the building is oriented east-west, while the north and south sides house infrastructure layers including emergency stairs, sanitary facilities, building services, and on the north side, two freight elevators.

traffic concept
clear separation of access routes for bus parking decks and underground car parking. the existing sowi underground ramp is used for the new car parking, while the bus deck receives a new entrance. this entrance also handles all supply and service traffic for mci and the sports facility.

bus garage
the bus garage is located beneath the sports field. the larger column spacing required for accessibility prevents economical construction of four-story structures above. the sports field is approximately 1.50 m above grade, ensuring natural ventilation around the parking deck. towards the hofgarten wall, the sports field steps back, and a rain-protected sloped wall in daylight reflects natural light into the disembarkation area for arriving tourist buses. visitors are immediately confronted with the historic wall, overhanging trees of the hofgarten, and can admire the impressive alpine scenery from the meeting point.
the sloped wall provides the opportunity to display the weiler frescoes in a protective vitrine along its entire 56 m length. a turning area ensures a highly efficient footprint for the required 40 buses.

sports facility
the sports facility is mostly organized over two above-ground levels. additional storage with delivery access is provided at bus garage level. a freight elevator serves all levels.
the grandstand is elevated to provide spectators with optimal views of events. the upper level includes a terrace for standing areas and the attractive location of the cafeteria. a large glass roof protects all areas of the sports facility and cantilevers over the tourist meeting point and bus garage entrance ramp.

federal gardens
the replacement building for the federal gardens cannot be reasonably integrated into the mci structure. we propose demolishing the workshops and constructing a new building north of the existing office building, as suggested on page 51 of the brief.

energy concept
the energy strategy is based on passive optimization of the compact building, including the omission of suspended ceilings to utilize the thermal mass (reinforced concrete slabs and walls). acoustic elements are designed to activate the thermal mass. brunnen water-based building activation (heating/cooling) and conditioning of mechanical supply air (heating/cooling) with heat recovery are applied. supply air is introduced to lecture halls and seminar rooms and distributed through sound-insulated transfer openings to the hall and light courts, where it is extracted again. exhaust flaps at the high point of the sloped glass roof prevent heat buildup.

daylight management
daylight is the most important medium of information transmission for humans and all living beings. unlike artificial light, which often remains constant, natural light changes with the time of day and season. for the new mci building in innsbruck, the goal is to bring as much daylight as necessary into the interior while minimizing heat gain.

side light
vertical glazing in east-facing rooms ensures sufficient daylight penetration.

light courts
light courts channel daylight deep into lower levels and adjacent rooms using reflective materials on parapets and suspended mirror elements. changing external conditions make daylight perceptible inside the building.

entrance areas
to optimize daylight at entrances and exits, light guidance uses bright flooring and reflective ceilings, directing natural light indoors. material choice and placement additionally support the design and wayfinding of these areas.

visual connections
external views are crucial for user comfort. vertical and horizontal glazing ensures direct external visual connections in many areas. in rooms without daylight openings, mirrors can create indirect views outside. furniture layout must ensure outward visual access.

sun and glare protection
intelligent systems reduce heat gain and physiological glare. horizontal solar-control glass and transparent shading achieve this for light courts. vertical windows use individually controllable louver systems. for the large west-facing glass roof, an integrated micro-raster in the insulated glass provides sun and glare protection. the aluminum-coated plastic grid reflects most heat while admitting abundant daylight, maintaining outward visibility and minimizing user glare.

fire safety and escape routes
most of the building allows evacuation within 40 m to exterior emergency stairs on the north and south sides. upper floors evacuate via galleries adjacent to the hall and bridges over terraces. only a small area in the middle of the east part requires an enclosed internal fire staircase leading to level -1 and outside.