The university campus of Talence-Pessac-Gradignan, south of Bordeaux, is characterized by the juxtaposition of large discontinuous volumes and a network of loose and weakly connected express lanes. The network of public spaces is characterized by numerous ruptures and large parking areas or green spaces. The reception and administrative pavilion fits into this varied urban fabric and offers punctuation near the network of public and university transportation. Its contemporary aspect reinvests residual empty spaces and integrates technical elements.

The simple, straightforward architectural language of the pavilion is inferred from the topography of the surrounding context and the building’s integration into it. Designed as a covered market beneath which the program elements are laid out, the building is a parallelepiped on expanded metal and glass stilts, with a zinc roof and reachable by a ramp. The façades, covered mainly with expanded metal siding, incorporate multilayer insulation to manage energy consumption. The materials for the façade were selected in harmony with the spirit of the building. The architecture is resolutely contemporary and designed to last over time.