CERN Science Gateway Building

CERN has promoted the creation of the Science Gateway Building, which aims to be a hub of scientific culture that attracts younger generations to the beauty of science. The new facility, which is open to audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds, is adjacent to another of CERN's iconic buildings, the Globe of Science and Innovation, and in its 7,000 square meters, offers a variety of spaces and activities, including exhibits that explain the secrets of nature, from the smallest (elementary particles) to the largest (the structure and evolution of the universe); that illustrate the accelerators, experiments, computers, and technologies used at CERN and how these tools are used as well as showing what benefits they bring to society.   

Inspired by CERN's unique facilities, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle accelerator, the architecture designed by architect Renzo Piano celebrates the inventiveness and creativity that characterizes the world of research and engineering.   

Arup fine-tuned the lighting design and iGuzzini supplied fixtures for both the exterior-green areas and building facades-and the interior-auditorium and common areas, connecting areas, and bathrooms.   

By transforming the separate structures into a single entity at night, lighting plays an indispensable role in shaping the identity of the building. Arup's goal was to create an easily identifiable nighttime landmark, visible from the ground and from the air if traveling from the nearby Geneva airport.   

The lighting scheme establishes a visual link between the Science Gateway and the current CERN campuses. This is achieved by using different shades of white, which distinguish and establish a hierarchy between the various spaces.    
Four main elements shape the design by architect Renzo Piano and his firm.  
- The “Bridge.” It is the backbone along which a set of exhibition and educational spaces is developed. The Bridge is conceived as a road raised 6 meters above the ground that crosses the Route de Meyrin. Arup's request for interior lighting was for a very low level of illuminance on the ground, about 15 lux, and very uniform, to be achieved with indirect lighting; the same level had to be there at the top. Another requirement was the minimum spatial footprint of the luminaires. To be able to achieve this, Palco ∅19 mm fixtures were used to which a filter was applied to obtain an elliptical distribution and positioned with a special coupling to the vertical metal structures forming the bridge.  

 -The “tunnels.”  The two tubes, raised to the level of the bridge, are designed to house CERN's permanent and temporary exhibitions. The visitor is immersed in an environment representing the accelerator tunnels 100 meters deep, where scientific experimentation reveals the deepest secrets of matter. The interior is illuminated through Palco floodlight, as the floodlights manage to provide the necessary flexibility for temporary exhibits.  

The entrance and the exit of the tunnels are particularly relevant points of the project, they had to be emphasized and during the night this happens thanks to the graphic effects created by the Trick wall Washer fixtures that placed at the base of the outer circumference go to integrate with their luminous flux the lighting that comes out from the interior ensuring uniformity on the entire circumference.   

-The “photovoltaic collectors.” Three square photovoltaic panels measuring 40x40 meters float above three respective pavilions. The central pavilion contains classrooms. The north pavilion is designed as a very flexible space that can serve as a 900-seat lecture hall, be divided into three independent spaces or accommodate two smaller halls and a full-height space for science performances. This space was lit with Front Light (lighting fittings now discontinued, but in range during the realization of the project, which started in 2018 and ended in 2023), with two different installations: track and base on the ceiling, where tracks could not be installed. To illuminate the side walls in addition, View floodlights are installed on tracks. Front lights are also installed in the store spaces, iRolls are located in the food court area, and Reflex recessed fixtures are in the reception area. The south pavilion is intended to contain interactive exhibits. 

 - The “Forest.” With its 400 trees, the forest is meant to tell the story of how all exploration has to do with nature, regardless of scale. Nature is what connects the whole area: the existing buildings with the new structure and provides a large space for visitors to walk through. The walking paths are lit by bollard Lander. While general lighting is provided by Maxiwoody spotlights on pole and Palco inOut on “beam,” in groups of 3.   

The facades of the buildings in their contemporary style are lit by Lingotto specials. Along the arcades that serve as transition areas between interior and exterior are positioned iRolls for which a special system of attachment to the upper grids was created.  

For the interior, the most constraining aspect stemmed from Arup's request to install all the fixtures on Eutrac tracks, so all the fittings for iGuzzini products were modified. Another special feature of the project is related to light management in the toilet areas.  IN90 modules were used, arranged differently to follow the different floor plans of the areas. The linear luminaires are equipped with sensors that are, however, disengaged from the general building control system and also have different drivers. The prevailing color temperature throughout the complex is 3000 K. The only exception is in the temporary exhibition areas where 4000K was chosen.