A Swiss university placed emphasis on iconic construction to develop the architectural charisma it needs to prevail globally in the university sector. The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is widely acknowledged as one of the finest universities founded anywhere in the world. This reputation attracts top students from across the globe to Lausanne, Switzerland, with the campus situated to the west of the city center. In the required new buildings and refurbishments, the institution places a consistent emphasis on iconic constructions in order to also develop the architectural charisma it needs to prevail in the globally competitive university sector. The extension of the existin

Surprising images of floating feathers help a California courthouse balance the scales of architecture and art. The striking new Governor Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach, Calif. spans two city blocks in downtown Long Beach and replaces a functionally obsolete courthouse one block away. In keeping with the cityscape, the courthouse design features a low-rise scheme in an L-shape—with one section of four stories, the other of five stories—surrounding a secure courtyard, a spacious lobby, and 31 courtrooms with access to natural light. Clad in deeply-articulated curtainwall and stone elements, the courthouse also features a stunning frieze at its entrance. American new media artist and UCLA

At the MUMUTH Music Theatre in Graz, Austria, a shimmering metal façade is the perfect complement to the building’s combination of movement and music. Located in Austria’s student-based city, the MUMUTH Music Theatre at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz combines a unit-based volume—the black box of the theater—and a series of movement-based volumes—the foyer and public circulation areas. The multipurpose auditorium can seat up to 450, and is adaptable to a wide variety of performances. A spiraling constructive element connects the entrance to the auditorium and to the music rooms above. This “twist” forms a 3D interpretation of the repetitive pattern, executed in the muted ton