New $453m IOC headquarters in Switzerland to open soon

LAUSANNE: “It’s not easy to work alongside a building like that,” said Jan Ammundsen, the head architecture for the Olympic House project. “But I think we came up with a solution to make both buildings stand out. It’s not talking the same language building wise, but I think they are working together.”
In a beautiful park located just ashore, the magnificent Geneve Lake sits the 18th-century Swiss castle— Chateau de Vidy. In three short months, another $453 million building will stand alongside the historic landmark. For 51 years, the Chateau has been “home” to the International Olympic Committee serving as their headquarters and providing offices to former IOC presidents and employees.
The new building which will replace Chateau as the new IOC Headquarters will be called Olympic House and hopes to bring 500 plus IOC employees who are currently spread over four locations in Lausanne, together under one roof. Five objectives Marie Sallois, Director of Corporate Development, Brand and Sustainability for Olympic House explained that since the beginning of the project that began in 2012, they have had five key pillars that translate into the Olympic Movement’s principles. Those objectives are movement, transparency, flexibility, sustainability and collaboration.
“Where I’m super proud is we didn’t compromise on any of them,” Sallois said of the objectives. “We pushed them as far as we could, and they worked out.”
What you’ll see Amundsen thoroughly described the detail that went into each decision made for the Olympic House structure—all following the five objectives. The symbolism is strong throughout, with an example in the shape of the building itself symbolising movement that was inspired by a snowboarder. The “movement” in the façade is also a way to emulate the flexibility and agility objective as well. The IOC wanted The Olympic house to represent the graceful movements of an athlete while also functioning as a workplace. Another example of the symbolism in the structure is the iconic Olympic rings that are reshaped, resized and recoloured to be made into a staircase. The staircase also fits the objective of “collaboration”, giving employees a space to meet and interact.