Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche will spend CHF3bn (£1.9m) over the next ten years to upgrade its Basel site and help consolidate its 9,000 staff who are currently spread across the city around its main plant.
The company will invest in a new research and development centre, build a new office tower and upgrade existing infrastructure and buildings.
‘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.
‘The new buildings will continue Roche’s tradition of elegant, distinctive and functional architecture.’
The company said sustainability would be a top priority for all construction projects.
The new research centre will comprise four integrated office/laboratory buildings. Scheduled to open between 2021 and 2022, the new buildings will house 950 office and 950 laboratory staff.
The buildings will include a new in vivo CHF1.7bn research facility that will meet the strictest standards for experimental animal care. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.
A further CHF550m will be invested in a new 205m office tower for up to 1,700 people. It is expected to be ready for occupation by 2021.
Roche will also renovate existing buildings to make them more energy efficient and upgrade infrastructure at total cost of CHF700m.
The office building and architectural showpiece that was designed by Otto Salvisberg and constructed in 1937, is to be completely renovated in an investment of CHF85m, to bring it into line with modern energy efficiency standards and building infrastructure requirements. The renovation work, which is scheduled to begin in early 2016 and last around two years, will preserve the appearance of the historically important building.
