GESS Who! Lounge
Our GessWho! Lounge (not to be confused with the Einstein Lounge), located in room D 31.3 of the IFW building, is a place for Gess Who! members to unwind, connect, and spend time together. Whether you want to take a break, enjoy a meal, have a chat, or catch up with fellow students, you are always welcome. A coffee machine and soft drinks are also available for a small fee.
Accessing the Lounge
In 2025 we switched to an electronic locking system based on CardLink. Tha means, your access permissions are stored directly on your ETH card, so there is no need for a separate key. However, these permissions must be refreshed regularly to ensure that your card continues to work.
How to Activate and Maintain Your Access
To access the lounge, you first need to update your ETH card at an Update Terminal, with are distributed across the ETH buildings. You can find one in the RZ building, on floor E. Please note that an Update Terminal is different from a Validation Terminal, so make sure you use the correct one. ETH Staffnet delivers detailed information on locations and function.
Once you are at the terminal, hold your ETH card against the white rectangle on the lower part of the device. Keep it there until the display shows “Update erfolgreich”. This confirms that the update has been completed successfully. To keep your access rights active, remember to repeat this process at least once every 30 days.
Opening the Door
Once your card is up to date, simply hold it against the reader at the lounge entrance. A green light indicates that access has been granted, and you can open the door by turning the outer handle. If the reader displays a red light and beeps, your access has been denied. In most cases, updating your card at an Update Terminal and trying again should resolve the issue. If your card still does not work, particularly after receiving a replacement ETH card, make sure you have refreshed your access rights.
Still Having Trouble?
f you are unsure how the system works or need help troubleshooting an access issue, we recommend consulting the official ETH Zurich CardLink documentation first.
If the issue persists, feel free to contact us directly at info@gesswho.ethz.ch, so we can help you resolve any remaining access issues.
We hope you enjoy the lounge and make the most of this shared space. See you there!