Roche has unveiled plans to spend 3 billion Swiss francs on upgrading and constructing new labs at its corporate and research home in Basel.

At the heart of the plans is a new research centre “designed in consultation with the R&D organisation to ensure that scientists' needs are fully met”. Timetabled to go into service between 2021-2022, Roche says the new buildings will contain 950 office and 950 laboratory workplaces “that meet state-of-the-art requirements” and the project will cost 1.7 billion francs.

A new office building in the interior of the Roche site is being built which will be 205 metres tall and provide space for up to 1,700 office workplaces, bringing together employees who are presently spread across the city. That will cost 550 million francs, while 700 million  francs are being invested in upgrading existing buildings.

Chief executive Severin Schwan said the company “is committed long-term to Switzerland and to Basel in its dual role as corporate headquarters and one of our most important sites worldwide”. He added that the new buildings “will continue Roche’s tradition of elegant, distinctive and functional architecture”.