Roche Tower 2
| Roche Tower 2 | |
|---|---|
Roche Turm Bau 2 | |
Roche Tower 2 (left) | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Office |
| Location | Basel, Switzerland |
| Address | Grenzacherstrasse 124 |
| Coordinates | 47°33′34″N 7°36′26″E / 47.55945°N 7.60726°E |
| Construction started | 2018 |
| Opened | 2 September 2022 |
| Cost | CHF 550 million |
| Owner | Hoffman-La Roche |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 205 m (673 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 50 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Herzog & de Meuron |
Roche Tower 2 (German: Roche Turm Bau 2) is an office skyscraper in Basel, Switzerland.[1] At 205 metres (673 ft), it became the tallest building in Switzerland upon its opening on 2 September 2022, surpassing its sibling structure, Roche Tower.[2][3]
The tower was developed by pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche and designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron.[4] It comprises 50 floors and accommodates approximately 3,200 employees.[5] It is also designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.9.[6]
Architecture
The building has been likened to a "giant shark fin" rising over Basel’s skyline.[5] It follows an “activity-based working” model, with flexible and shared workspaces rather than fixed desks.[5] The ground floor contains a vertical garden designed by botanist and landscape architect Patrick Blanc.[5] The tower incorporates sustainable construction principles, including modern building technology and environmentally conscious materials.[5]
History
In June 2016, the cantonal parliament of Basel-Stadt approved the construction of Roche Tower 2, with 84 votes in favor, two against, and five abstentions. It formed part of a broader CHF 3 billion investment in Roche’s Basel campus, which also included a new research facility. At the time, Roche Tower 2 was expected to be completed by 2021 and to surpass Roche Tower 1 as the tallest building in Switzerland. The project drew attention due to Switzerland’s restrictive urban planning regulations, which limit the construction of high-rise buildings.[7]
Gallery
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Construction site in January 2020
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Construction site in June 2020
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Construction site in October 2020
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Construction site in April 2021
See also
References
- ^ "Roche Turm Bau 2 - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Höchstes Gebäude der Schweiz - Neuer Roche-Turm überholt seinen «kleinen» Bruder". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Roche inaugurates Switzerland's tallest building". Swissinfo. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Herzog & de Meuron unveils Basel campus for Roche healthcare". Dezeen. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Office towers go higher, bigger, greener – but what's the point?". Swissinfo. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Neuer Roche-Turm - So sicher ist das höchste Gebäude der Schweiz". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 9 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Switzerland's tallest building gets green light". Swissinfo. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
External links
- Roche Tower 2 at wh-p Ingenieure AG