Stadtwerk Life Sciences Campus
The Context
The Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg (2012–2013) is one of four new buildings forming the heart of the Stadtwerk Life Sciences Campus, a major redevelopment of a former industrial district in Salzburg-Lehen (2007–2015). The campus, developed by Prisma Salzburg, won first prize in an invited competition and is designed as a science district with a new identity.
The ensemble includes the Paracelsus Private Medical University, laboratory buildings, doctors’ practices, offices, and an administration block. At its center lies a large public green space, framed by floating buildings whose reflective undersides double the impression of nature and light. The result is a new urban landscape where research, teaching, and community life are interwoven.
The Concept
The new university is envisioned as a “marketplace of knowledge.” Two main volumes are linked by a transparent atrium, with open ground floor functions extending toward the campus. To the west lies the Audimax, to the east the Learning Lounge, while the central hall acts as a communal forum.
Sculptural staircases and open stairways with small kitchenettes encourage communication between staff and students. This interplay of spaces creates an atmosphere of openness, dialogue, and exchange — essential qualities for a contemporary academic institution.
The overall Life Sciences Campus is conceived from a pedestrian perspective, prioritizing human scale and spatial experience over top-down urban design. Floating volumes, covered arcades, and loggia-like elements create deep layers of space, while reflective metal soffits multiply the effect of the gardens below.
The Project
Spaces for Research and Teaching
The eastern upper floors house lecture halls, large laboratories, and offices, supported by ancillary rooms for cell culture, microscopy, sample storage, and equipment. To the west, simulation rooms reproduce surgical situations for students, with further research institutes above. The fourth floor hosts a clean room GMP laboratory, a rare and advanced feature for medical research.
The Atrium and Communication
At the core, the transparent atrium serves as a central hall and marketplace, connecting functions across levels. Natural light, open stairways, and visual permeability transform circulation into an opportunity for interaction, reinforcing the identity of the building as a house for learning and exchange.
The Campus Landscape
The Life Sciences Campus is defined by its relationship with landscape. Floating volumes generate shaded arcades, while bamboo-planted atriums bring daylight and fresh air into the underground car park for 286 vehicles. These green voids improve orientation and comfort, blending infrastructure with urban nature.
Sustainability and Flexibility
The architecture pursues sustainability through adaptability and long-term usability. Neutral, flexible volumes allow different configurations of program and support changing research needs. The reflective soffits and layered spaces merge built form with natural surroundings, ensuring both ecological sensitivity and spatial richness.
