Roche Tower 2
Skyscraper in Basel, Switzerland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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| Roche Tower 2 | |
|---|---|
Roche Turm Bau 2 | |
Roche Tower 2 (left) | |
 Interactive map of the Roche Tower 2 area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Office |
| Location | Basel, Switzerland, Grenzacherstrasse 124 |
| Coordinates | 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 |
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
Construction site in January 2020
Construction site in June 2020
Construction site in October 2020
Construction site in April 2021
