Burgundy School of Business Learning Center, Dijon

During the last 30 years of the 19th century, Europe’s vineyards were devastated by Phylloxera, an insect unwittingly imported from North America. A series of methods to combat the parasite were eventually found, including grafting naturally resistant American cultivars, but implementing them took time, resources and effort. Among the hardest hit areas was the Burgundy region in France, which had a long wine growing tradition and whose population depended heavily on the crop. To help its economy recover, the Dijon chamber of commerce petitioned for the opening of an École Supérieure de Commerce, following a model that was being implemented across the country. In 1898, the school opened in a building provided by former Dijon university professor and first director of the business school Léon Gadeault.

The Burgundy wine economy recovered and the Dijon business school expanded its offerings to other economic branches but kept its focus on wine production. Today, it is still a centre of excellence on this topic. Its learning centre reflects the school’s mix of tradition and modernism. First built by Bougeault-Walgenwitz-Seturec in 1996 as the campus’ entrance lobby, the glass structure proudly preserves the school’s original 1880s facade. The entrance was subsequently moved further south and the lobby was transformed by Hervé Regnault in 2017 to welcome the learning centre.

The bright and airy library space is flanked to the south by two open mezzanines with book shelves and working spaces, while collaborative working rooms, offices and the career centre face the opposite side. The space is carefully furnished with areas focused on different work and relaxation modes, and even boasts a kaizen relaxation space and a self-serve herbal tea stall!

In all, its 13 different areas over 6 levels are very popular with students: usage of the library increased by 30% following its relocation and transformation into a learning centre.

References

1. BSB : “The first place”. Le Bien Public. July 29, 2019
2. École supérieure de commerce de Dijon. POP : la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine. April 18, 2008. Last modified September 21, 2020.
3. BC Intérieurs Sàrl. Burgundy School of Business, Dijon.
4. Wikipedia. École supérieure de commerce en France. Last edited June 3, 2022.
5. Wikipedia. Burgundy School of Business. Last edited January 2, 2022.