Roche Tower 2
Roche Tower 2 is an office skyscraper in Basel, Switzerland. At, it became the tallest building in Switzerland upon its opening on 2 September 2022, surpassing its sibling structure, Roche Tower.
The tower was developed by pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche and designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. It comprises 50 floors and accommodates approximately 3,200 employees. It is also designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6.9.Architecture
The building has been likened to a "giant shark fin" rising over Basel’s skyline. It follows an “activity-based working” model, with flexible and shared workspaces rather than fixed desks. The ground floor contains a vertical garden designed by botanist and landscape architect Patrick Blanc. The tower incorporates sustainable construction principles, including modern building technology and environmentally conscious materials.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.