On the science campus of the Université de Bretagne Occidentale in Brest, Building G of the Faculty of Science and Technology has undergone a major renovation.

This project is part of an ambition to transform an existing building in order to improve its performance, user comfort and architectural image. After several months of work, the renovated building now hosts part of Lab-STICC, a research laboratory dedicated to information, communication and knowledge sciences and technologies.

Designed by Atelier Rubin, the project is based on an energy renovation using bio-based external thermal insulation, with particular attention paid to the new expression of the façade.

A new identity for the science campus

The renovation of Building G is not limited to a technical upgrade. It also contributes to the visual transformation of the UBO science campus. The façade plays a central role here: it gives the building a stronger presence, increases its visibility on campus and conveys a more contemporary image, in line with the research and teaching activities taking place inside. The work on the building envelope therefore combines energy renovation, functional rehabilitation and architectural modernisation.

For this project, Joris Ide supplied JI Magine, a ribbed façade cladding concept with visible fixings. JI Magine stands out for its ability to offer customised geometry, adapted to the architectural needs of the project. More than a standard profile, it is a façade concept that makes it possible to work with rhythm, relief, lines, and plays of shadow and light.

On UBO’s Building G, this approach supports the building’s new identity by giving the façade a more dynamic and vibrant expression. The ribs contribute to the vertical reading and relief of the envelope, while reinforcing the architectural character of the project. Thanks to the JI Magine concept, the façade becomes an active element in the transformation of the building. The variations in relief create visual effects that evolve depending on the viewing angle, the light and the time of day.

This dimension is particularly important in a university environment, where the building must both integrate into an existing campus and assert a new presence. The steel cladding therefore helps give Building G a more current, clearer and more qualitative image, while meeting the requirements of a renovation project.