Façade Prototype for Building 777 – From Vision to Reality

Today marks an important milestone for the Building 777 project at CERN; the full-scale façade prototype has arrived. The architects Henning Larsen (Denmark) and Redraw (France) will use the prototype produced by Briand Bois to verify its appearance and various technical aspects of its design, bringing us closer to realising a high-quality façade for Prévessin’s new campus centre point.

After years of preparation, studies, and coordination, the façade is no longer just drawings and renders—it is now a full-scale reality.

The façade is a key part of both the building’s architectural concept and its environmental performance. Its unique shape is designed to bring in as much natural light as possible while also providing inherent shading to reduce overheating due to direct sunlight. This helps improve energy efficiency by naturally reducing the demand for air conditioning.

The selection of the façade colours has been carefully considered, drawing inspiration from the surrounding context and the beauty of the natural environment.

The validation of the prototype will demonstrate the success of a long-lasting collaboration between the CERN 777 team, architects, consultants, and contractors, and marks an encouraging step as the project moves from design into construction.

About the project

Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, Building 777 will provide modern office space for approximately 530 workspaces, 10 new laboratories, a new Restaurant 3, and conference facilities. The building will serve as a central hub for the Accelerator and Technology Sector (ATS), while creating a lively social and amenities hub at the heart of the Prévessin site.

The project reflects CERN’s ambition to combine functionality, sustainability, and long-term flexibility. With its exposed timber structure, high environmental performance targets, and careful integration into the surrounding landscape, Building 777 aims to set a benchmark for low-carbon construction and high-quality workplaces at CERN.

At the same time, it will enable other outdated buildings to be either renovated or removed, improving operational efficiency and freeing up space for future development on site.

We will continue to share updates as construction progresses. For more information and future news, please visit the project website: https://building777.web.cern.ch/