Roche Tower 2

Roche Tower 2
Roche Turm Bau 2
Roche Tower 2 (left)
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeOffice
LocationBasel, Switzerland
AddressGrenzacherstrasse 124
Coordinates47°33′34″N 7°36′26″E / 47.55945°N 7.60726°E / 47.55945; 7.60726
Construction started2018
Opened2 September 2022
CostCHF 550 million
OwnerHoffman-La Roche
Height
Architectural205 m (673 ft)
Technical details
Floor count50
Design and construction
Architecture firmHerzog & 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]

  • Construction site in January 2020
    Construction site in January 2020
  • Construction site in June 2020
    Construction site in June 2020
  • Construction site in October 2020
    Construction site in October 2020
  • Construction site in April 2021
    Construction site in April 2021

See also

References

  1. ^ "Roche Turm Bau 2 - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Roche inaugurates Switzerland's tallest building". Swissinfo. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Herzog & de Meuron unveils Basel campus for Roche healthcare". Dezeen. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Office towers go higher, bigger, greener – but what's the point?". Swissinfo. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Switzerland's tallest building gets green light". Swissinfo. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
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