The Palais des Congrès reflects the post-war technocratic and industrial approach of a group of young architects from the southern Jura foothills. Known as the Solothurn School, the group included Max Schlup, Fritz Haller, Hans Zaugg, Franz Füegg and Alfons Barth. Although they worked independently, they were all big fans of Mies van der Rohe, prefabrication and modular systems. Their materials of choice were glass, steel and concrete. The group’s signature steel-framed buildings came to define post-war Swiss architecture. Ultimately, however, it was Fritz Haller’s modular furniture system that had the most lasting impact. Better known as USM Haller, it remains the gold standard in Swiss offices.