EDHEC prepares to transform its Lille campus

Roll-out of the ‘Share and Care’ plan

This €60 million initiative, spearheaded by the Student Experience and Operations Department under the leadership of Anne Zuccarelli, is an integral part of the Générations 2050 strategic plan. Specifically, it aligns with the pillar focused on enhancing the student experience: ‘Share and Care Campus for People and the Planet.’ The project's ambition is to proactively shape future learning and living environments by providing a distinctive living experience across all school campuses, addressing the demands of sustainability and innovation. Reflecting EDHEC's entrepreneurial spirit, the Lille campus is envisioned as the DNA campus for future generations. It is thoughtfully designed to cater to their lifestyle preferences and aspirations for academic excellence and personalized career pathways, while also fostering interactivity, creativity, civic engagement, personal growth, and overall well-being.

Reducing the carbon footprint of buildings

Reducing the school’s carbon footprint is at the heart of this initiative, and to succeed, EDHEC is planning an ambitious and comprehensive energy renovation of Building S (Services). This renovation is expected to decrease the campus’s carbon impact by approximately 40% (including prior adoption of low-carbon energy sources). Repurposing existing school buildings is key to minimizing the campus's environmental footprint, and it is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to building new buildings. This approach also safeguards the site's biodiversity. All improvements to the campus will be certified by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), one of the most recognized international standards for sustainable construction. 

‘Through this project, EDHEC has a unique opportunity to make its historic campus a strong marker of its DNA and a key vector in its low-carbon strategy. The EDHEC campuses are among the most prestigious in Europe today, and we are projecting them towards 2050, by aligning our architectural choices with the entrepreneurial culture that characterises us and our vision of the future of education’,  said Emmanuel Métais, Dean of EDHEC Business School.

EDHEC is working with Lille-based blaq Architects to spotlight the school’s rich heritage and distinctive strengths. The reimagined Lille campus will encompass over 10 hectares of lush parkland, featuring wooded areas, tranquil relaxation spots, a fitness trail, a vegetable garden, and beehives. This vibrant environment will be complemented by ten meticulously restored buildings, including contemporary structures, pavilions, and historic villas, all nestled within this exceptional landscape.

Developing hybridity and modularity 

The school aims to develop modular workspaces, classrooms, and lecture halls centered around a vibrant and appealing core site. This design will promote innovative teaching methods and foster hybrid teaching by integrating theory with practice, facilitating face-to-face and distance learning, and supporting individual and group work. All student services will be conveniently located alongside academic departments to enhance accessibility. Classrooms, new workspaces, and open areas will be interconnected, ensuring seamless digital continuity for all users.

Creating a new space at the heart of the campus: the agora

Starting in 2027, students and staff will enjoy a new collective gathering spot on campus, the agora (gathering place in Greek). This vibrant space will house a learning center and campus amenities such as a mini-market, food court, connected snack bars, luggage storage, and postal and banking services. Student health, well-being and medical services will also be located here. Surrounding this central hub, the school will develop additional workspaces, including classrooms, modular lecture halls and sports and community facilities.
 

© blaq Architectures