Located in Porrentruy, between the JURASSICA Museum and the Botanical Garden, the Research and Conservation Centre (RCC) serves as the scientific and operational heart of JURASSICA and the Cantonal Archaeology Service. This facility is dedicated to the research, conservation, and enhancement of the canton of Jura’s palaeontological, archaeological, and natural science collections.
A scientific hub serving Jura’s heritage
The RCC houses nearly one million objects selected for their scientific importance. These collections trace approximately 152 million years of Jura’s history and life, ranging from dinosaur fossils and trackways to archaeological remains and natural science collections. They primarily originate from major excavation campaigns carried out since 1990 along the route of the A16 motorway, as well as from historical collections inherited from naturalists active from the late 18th century to the first half of the 20th century, including Jules Thurmann, Frédéric-Edouard Koby, Albert Perronne, and André Rais.
Owned by the Republic and Canton of Jura, the RCC brings together the management, administration, research, collection management, and public engagement units of JURASSICA, as well as the management, administration, and research divisions of the Cantonal Archaeology Service.
Collections
Spaces dedicated to conservation, research, and the public
At the heart of the building, the collections stored underground benefit from strictly controlled conditions. Bones, fossils, archaeological objects, herbaria, and taxidermied specimens are kept in climate-controlled storage rooms equipped with mobile shelving.
The RCC also houses a preparation and restoration laboratory fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Here, objects are prepared, studied, documented, and stabilised before being integrated into the collections or presented to the public. The laboratory plays a central role in the scientific process, working closely with field excavations, research activities, digitisation projects, and university teaching.
Designed as a meeting place between science and the public, the workshop room of the Research and Conservation Centre hosts educational activities, performances, university courses, and conferences.
Laboratory
An exemplary and sustainable building
Resulting from an architectural competition won in 2019 by the “ORIGINES” project of the firm Figueiredo Pena Amos Architectes (Meyrin), the building fully aligns with the sustainable development policy of the Canton of Jura. Constructed largely of wood, both for its load-bearing structures and façades, it is Minergie-P certified and equipped with photovoltaic roof tiles for solar energy production.
Its contemporary architecture engages in dialogue with the Villa Beucler, which houses the museum. Discreet and well integrated into its surroundings, the building comprises three above-ground floors and a large basement, designed for conservation, scientific work, including a brand-new preparation laboratory, and public access.
RCC
Open to its surroundings , central to its mission
The surroundings of the RCC have been designed as a natural extension of the Botanical Garden and in harmony with the museum complex as a whole. Outdoor features, such as a tortoise park and a life-size Allosaurus sculpture, offer visitors an initial immersion into the world of palaeontology and natural sciences.
Accessible and functional, the Research and Conservation Centre is much more than an administrative building; it is an essential tool for JURASSICA, enabling the centralisation of scientific and administrative activities, strengthening university collaborations, and supporting research, conservation, and scientific outreach missions.
The Research and Conservation Centre thus embodies JURASSICA’s commitment to preserving Jura’s natural and cultural heritage while actively contributing to its transmission and to its scientific and tourist outreach.
Allosaurus
Timber framework
RCC
Workshop room