WAS Headquarters Kriens, LU
For the new building of the Lucerne Social Security Center a rational timber construction was proposed. The building is a robust and flexible infrastructure that considers the different needs of WAS. Communication and exchange are at the heart of the internal organization. The public entrance for around 100 daily visitors faces the north-eastern park. With the continuous arcade, it is spatially clearly articulated and easy to find. The entrance for the approximately 700 WAS employees is located in the center of the facility. The Rue Interieure is the backbone and social link of the insurance center. From the entrance, it leads to the foyer and connects all four buildings and ten floors. In a careful sequence, joint activities are connected through this circulation space: tea kitchens and break rooms, as well as lounges and roof gardens.
The practical wooden construction characterizes the architectural expression of the building. Between the visible supporting structure, large windows bring daylight far into the interior of the building. On the outside, horizontally projecting concrete slabs protect the supporting structure from the effects of the weather and overheating in summer. On the south-east and south-west side, external fins made of white recycled aluminum also offer summer heat protection for the low-lying solar radiation.