BIG Designs Two New Buildings for Madrid University Campus
Bjarke Ingels Group creates modern and functional buildings for Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
1Academic Center: Modern Design with Rotating Floors
Bjarke Ingels Group designed the Academic Center as four horizontal bars, with the central pair rotated 45 degrees to create a triangular footprint. This rotation opens terraces between floors and lifts much of the building above ground. Open circulation areas provide spaces for student interaction.
2Central Administrative Building: Pitched Roofs and Garden Courtyard
The Central Administrative Building consists of four pitched volumes arranged like a windmill. These volumes rise toward the inner courtyard, allowing natural light into the offices. A continuous ramp connects all levels in a single loop, leading to a rooftop terrace.
3Social Spaces and Circulation
Both buildings use corridors and ramps as social spaces. The Academic Center connects to the campus through open terraces, while the Administrative Building clusters around an inner courtyard. This design offers students and staff places to pause between scheduled activities.
4Materials and Details
The Academic Center features pale concrete and full-height glazing for a light expression, while wood-lined classrooms create a warm atmosphere. The Administrative Building uses blue herringbone flooring and metal ceilings to give the interior a distinct identity.
5Campus Strategy
Although the two buildings serve different purposes, their strongest moments occur where enclosed spaces meet the campus. The Academic Center creates a plaza through rotating floors, while the Administrative Building gathers around a courtyard. Both shape the campus expansion through spaces where paths intersect.
6Architectural Language and Identity
BIG's design adds two recognizable figures to the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria campus. It offers an elevated, porous frame for teaching and a compact group of pitched forms for administration. This project exemplifies how modern architecture can be applied to educational spaces.