First step in site development strategy concluded
In Basel, Roche opened Building 1, its new office building. Employees will start moving in in October, and once the move is complete around 2,000 people will work there.
The modern architecture encourages collaboration across departmental boundaries and stimulates creativity and innovation – the lifeblood of the company’s success.
“Building 1 is the first visible sign of Roche’s site development strategy at its Basel headquarters. We will be investing three billion francs in new research and office infrastructure here, equipping the site for continued success,” said Roche CEO Severin Schwan. “We also regard Building 1 as a clear commitment to Switzerland and to Basel.”
The building was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. Its clear lines and functionality make it a perfect fit with Roche’s established architectural tradition. Pierre de Meuron says: “The completion of Building 1 marks a milestone in a working partnership between Roche and Herzog & de Meuron which has endured some twenty years and more.”
Jacques Herzog says: “Building 1 exemplifies our position in the current discourse surrounding the problems of uncontrolled development, both in Basel and throughout Switzerland. In areas where there is already dense urban settlement, the aim should be continued, targeted densification.”
“Alongside the functionality of the building, its sustainability is also crucially important to Roche. We are proud that Building 1 is one of the most sustainable high-rises in the world.” said Jürg Erismann, Head of the Basel/Kaiseraugst Site.
“About 75 percent of the total investment of 550 million francs was awarded to Swiss companies, constituting a significant contribution by Roche to strengthening the regional economy.” The site development for Basel announced in October 2014 will be implemented in stages over the next few years.
The development plan for the new R&D centre and for Building 2 and the other buildings has already been submitted. Roche is in active dialogue with the competent authorities, neighbours and all other stakeholders so as to ensure that planning progresses well. Source by Herzog & de Meuron and Roche.
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron
Partners: Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stefan Marbach (Partner in Charge)
Project Architects: Michael Fischer (Associate, Project Director), Stefan Segessenmann (Associate), Barbara Zeleny (Project Manager), Martin Knüsel, Falk Schneemann, Caesar Zumthor-Prado
Project Team: Farhad Ahmad, Abdulfatah Adan, Troels Andersen, Juliane Bank, Alexander Bartscher, Axel Beck, Florian Becker, Pascal Bögli, Martin Brandsdal, Ariana Conca, Caetano De Braganca, Dorothee Dietz, Carmen Eichenberger, Felix Fassbinder, Francis Fawcett, Bruce Feng, Jenny Fetveit, Oliver Franke, Timothee Gauvin, Salome Gutscher, Lena Göpfert, Adriana Hernandez, Elisabeth Hinz, Marc Hölscher, Roger Huwyler, Christoph Jantos, Tamara Jechnerer, Victor Julebaek, Leonard Kadid, Evert Klinkenberg, Denis Kolesnikov, Beatus Kopp, Kenzo Krüger-Heyden, Christina Liao, Aron Lorincz, Jana von Mackensen, Alexandre Masse, Nadine Mauritz, Hania Michalska, Melk Nigg, Colm O’Brien, Argel Padilla, Pedro Pena, Holger Rasch, Nathalie Rinne, Hendrik Schikarski, Tilmann Schmidt, Kathrin Schwarz, Jakob Seyboth, Sophie Shiraishi, Merethe T. Skjellvik, Alexander Stern, Michaela Stolcova, Fumiko Takahama, Moritz Thierfelder, Tanja Thomae, Luca Ugolini, Paul Vantieghem, Julie Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Viktor Westerdahl, Gerd Wetzel, Achim Winter, Fen Xiao, Mika Zacharias, Camillo Zanardini, Daniel Zarhy
Client: F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
Gross Floor Area: 74,200 square metres
Year: 2015
Photographs: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron and Roche
