On 23 February, the Graduate Institute virtually inaugurated the new Grand Morillon Student Residence, designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
During the inauguration, the public has been able to admire this magnificent building, avant-gardiste in its design, which offers an exceptional quality of life, inspiring architecture and luminous and warm decor. Apart from its 630 accommodations, the residence has a number of common spaces, including a study hall, a polyvalent amphitheater, a game room, a fitness room, community gardens, a panoramic terrace and a cafe-restaurant.
In her speech, Marie-Laure Salles, Director, underlined that “this building aims to become a place of real and physical encounters, a place where multiple links will be woven, showing that the Institute is an open space, written in the world but also integrated into this city”.
In addition, Philippe Burrin, former Director of the Institute and project initiator, shared his thoughts:“The end of a project always comes with a certain amount of emotion. First, because the achievement of this project means that we have gone from an idea to a reality. A building is like a book: it takes several years to elaborate and develop, and then one day, the result is there, the work has taken shape”.
This building crowns a 15-year project, the creation of the Campus de la paix, which includes historic villas -- Villa Moynier, Villa Barton --, the building on Rue Rothschild and newer constructions, like the Edgar and Danièle de Picciotto Student Residence and the Maison de la paix.
This achievement also illustrates a real estate strategy that aims to make the most of a private foundation status by establishing partnerships with patrons that are concerned or interested, like the Institute, in giving it the means for long-term development.
Rolf Soiron, Marie-Laure Salles and Philippe Burrin would like to thank everyone who contributed their support, expertise and talent to the project, which allowed it to come to life, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
An open house will be held on 5 and 6 June 2021, sanitary conditions permitting.
Photo credit: Gérald Sciboz