Studying and communication zones at UBB

The University of Vienna Biology Building belongs to the avant-garde of modern university buildings and provides the spatial conditions for research and teaching at the highest international level.

When planning the UBB, special attention was paid to designing a climate-friendly university and research building, for example the construction of the building shell is particularly energy-efficient. The walls are thermally insulated, the windows are triple glazed and have a sun protection coating. And for the first time in a research building in Vienna, the laboratory exhaust air is used for heat recovery, so that at least 30 percent of the required heat can be saved compared to a conventional laboratory building.

More than 5,000 students and almost 500 employees find their new academic home at the centre since 2021. Large parts of the Faculty of Life Sciences and parts of the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science at the University of Vienna are located at the new building as well as the Biology and Botany Library (Biology Section).

90 places in the gallery, 60 reading places and 6 group work places in the library are available for students.

Major project: hUBB

The hUBB at the University of Vienna is a new, unique space that combines communication, (self-)catering and sustainability. It offers 550 square metres of space for up to 180 people and was designed using sustainable materials.

The room is divided into several zones and has been equipped with matching furniture:

• In the entrance area are the ‘non-binding’ areas - they invite you to spend a short, informal and spontaneous time.
• Along the wall are the ‘classics’ - classic seating areas with benches, tables and chairs, ideal for eating, talking and studying.
• This is followed by the centre zone with ‘the wild ones’ - a flexibly usable area for sitting, lying, lounging and standing. They will follow in December 2024.
• In the rear area are the ‘Tiefstapler’ - a cosy recessed zone with an auditorium that invites you to linger for longer.

Sustainability was always at the centre of the planning process. Care was taken to ensure that all materials were sourced from sustainable cultivation or recycled materials. This applies to the sheep's wool on the seating, the beech wood for the furniture and the sound insulation made from recycled PET bottles. But it's not just the materials that are sustainable - the CO₂ balance is also at the centre of the catering.