ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Burckhardt Extends Brutalist Collège Rousseau in Geneva

architecture-design · 2026-05-27

Burckhardt has completed a vertical extension and refurbishment of Collège Rousseau in Geneva, a heritage-protected Brutalist building originally designed by Alain Ritter in 1969. The project, which won a competition in 2018, adds a new story that blends with the existing concrete façade externally while introducing a light wooden interior. The extension addresses increased student numbers and covers an area of 21,850 m². The team included Nicolas Vaucher as Head of Project and Alexandre Gilberto as Project Manager. Photographs by Olivier di Giambattista document the completed work.

Key facts

  • Collège Rousseau is a heritage-protected Brutalist building in Geneva.
  • The original building was designed by Alain Ritter in 1969.
  • Burckhardt won the architectural design competition in 2018.
  • The project includes a vertical extension and refurbishment.
  • The extension adds a story that externally matches the existing concrete façade.
  • The interior of the extension is a light wooden construction.
  • The total area of the project is 21,850 m².
  • The project was completed in 2024.

Entities

Artists

  • Alain Ritter

Institutions

  • Burckhardt
  • Collège Rousseau
  • Thomas Jundt Ingénieurs Civils SA
  • ENPLEO Sàrl
  • Batj SA
  • Chammartin & Spicher SA
  • André SA
  • CMA – Constructeurs Métalliques Associés SA
  • Haufe Deckensysteme GmbH
  • Lumiverre Plafonds SA
  • MFP Préfabrication SA

Locations

  • Geneva
  • Switzerland

Sources