herzog & de meuron announces roche development plan for basel HQ

herzog & de meuron announces roche development plan for basel HQ
image © herzog & de meuron / roche

in their home city of basel, acclaimed swiss firm herzog & de meuron are set to expand the campus of global healthcare company roche. the 10 year development plan will see the company invest 3 billion swiss francs in the construction of a research and development center for around 1,900 employees and an additional building for a further 1,700 members of staff. existing infrastructure will also be upgraded, while the site’s historic office, designed by otto r. salvisberg, will be fully renovated. the vast scheme will add to ‘building 1’, also designed by herzog & de meuron, which is nearing completion ahead of its opening in 2015.

buildings at the perimeters of the site are low-rise, while high-rise structures are located within inner areas
image © herzog & de meuron / roche

even after staff move into ‘building 1’, some 3,000 of the around 9,000 employees who work in basel will still be in rented properties spread around the city. the proposed scheme will unite roche’s workforce through modern laboratories and offices across the site. the planners sought to safeguard the quality of neighboring residents’ living conditions, ensuring that buildings at the perimeters of the site will all be low-rise, while high-rise structures are to be located in the inner areas of the plan. the design also encourages the use of public transport and bicycles, helping to keep the number of motor vehicles to a minimum.

the vast scheme will add to ‘building 1’, which is nearing completion ahead of its opening in 2015
image © herzog & de meuron / roche

the research center comprises four volumes of various heights containing integrated office and laboratory facilities. each structure will be developed in close consultation with the organization to ensure that the scientists’ needs are fully met. at the center of the masterplan, ‘building 2’ will climb to a total height of 205 meters, providing space for up to 1,700 workspaces. expected to open for employees by 2021, the building will bring to together staff currently working at different locations across the city.

the proposed scheme will unite roche’s workforce through modern laboratories and state-of-the-art offices
image © herzog & de meuron / roche

infrastructural upgrades include a newly built car park, and an underground bicycle facility capable of accommodating 1,500 bikes. the renovated campus will also house the workshop, fire service, medical service as well as the local site organization. finally, ‘building 21’, the architectural showpiece that was designed by otto r. salvisberg and constructed in 1937, is to be completely renovated to bring it into line with modern energy efficiency standards.

the site viewed from the wettsteinbrücke bridge
image © herzog & de meuron / roche

‘with the roche area development plan, we see a basic principle of our work realized, and that is densification‘, explained herzog & de meuron. ‘this is relevant for the entirety of basel, even for all of switzerland, as well as for the current national discourse regarding urban sprawl.’

‘roche is committed long-term to switzerland and to basel in its dual role as corporate headquarters and one of our most important sites worldwide’, said roche CEO severin schwan, detailing the rationale behind the plans. ‘the entire value chain is represented in basel. employees from all parts of the company are making a vital contribution to roche’s innovative strength, and we want to provide them with an attractive work environment. the new buildings will continue roche’s tradition of elegant, distinctive and functional architecture.‘