New wing of the Faculty of Sciences,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, Greece

Architects
A. Kotsiopoulos, N. Arvanitopoulou, D. Daki, G. Horozoglou, E. Spartsi
V. Karalazos, G. Psomadakis

collaboration with
H. Bougadellis and Associates, M. Rizou (implementation study)

Civil engineers
P. Panagiotopoulos, A. Avdelas, L. Baniotopoulos,
E. Mystakidis, O. Panagouli – T. Tsiknias AEMTE, A. Karamanos

E/M engineers
A. Tsalapatas – MAKTE Ltd.

Photos by B. Louizidis, A. Kotsiopoulos

total built area
5.000 sqm

design
1992 - 1994

construction
1994 - 1996

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The extension of the Faculty of Sciences is a 5-store linear u-shape steel structure of a total length of circa 200 meters, with an average width of only 7 meters, with a total area of 5.000 sq. m., built on a virtually non-existent site, around the back side of the original building complex, designed by Patroklos Karantinos in the ‘50s. The Karantinos building – a modernist, yet fully symmetrical, complex of a central main part, two side wings, and a large amphitheatre on the back side – was clearly orientated towards the Chemeion Square, design to become the centre of campus life. Later two other amphitheatres, designed by the architect M. Doris, were added symmetrically making the backside of the complex more hostile to the already growing surrounding city. The main concept of the extension was to transform the character of that side creating new entrances, making the emergency exits of the amphitheatres main entrances to them and to exploit the space between the old and the new building by creating new foyers and large common spaces for the new building, with natural lighting from above.

Publications

  • The Aristotle University Now, edition by A.U.Th., 1/1993

  • KTIRIO 98 1997

  • Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference on Steel Structures, Thessaloniki October 1998, p 201-207

  • Architecture in Greece, 32 /1998

  • KTIRIO 118 1999, p. 85

  • Architectural Work in Greece 4, edited by Ktirio, 1999

  • Exhibition Catalogue of the 4th Exhibition of Architecture in Greece, 1999, pp. 44-45

  • Contemporary Greek Architecture 3: Public Buildings, Malliaris 2000, pp. 126-135

  • M. Philippidis, “Schools of Architectural Imagination”, Vima-gazino, 8 September 2002, p. 99.

  • A. Giakoumakatos,  “city and knowledge: university buildings and urban tissue” in: Architecture in Greece, 36, 2002, pp 58 - 64

  • CD-ROM “reading the city”, (Association of Architects of Thessaloniki and Hellenic Technical Chamber), 2003

  • L. Tsaktsiras, K. Papanthimou, G. Mantzios, N. Kalogirou, “Thessaloniki: the city and the monuments”, Malliaris,  2003, p 226