Basel has a jazz campus
The University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland is opening a jazz campus on the site of the former Willy A. Bachofen AG Maschinenfabrik (WAB) in Basel. It is financed by foundation funds from the patron Beatrice Oeri.
The construction of the building was made possible in particular by the Habitat Foundation, while the expansion for the jazz school was made possible by the Levedo Foundation: both foundations are largely funded by Beatrice Oeri. The architects Buol&Zünd have combined historical substance and modern architecture and integrated the jazz campus into the neighborhood context.
The Basel Music Academy and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland have secured the maintenance contract. The campus has a public club for 150 people, a performance hall in the basement for 120 people, another hall on the upper floor for 100 people and a total of 49 music rooms.
There is also a café bar, a music store, a library, a residential building with shared student apartments and a guest apartment, as well as an inner courtyard with a fireplace. The Jazzcampus Basel on Utengasse in the Old Town will open its doors to interested parties from September 19 to 21, 2014.