Designed by Portuguese architect Souto de Moura, the five-story laboratory building on the Novartis Campus in Basel, is almost transparent. The vertical supporting structure consists of just two cores which supply the laboratories and offices with all necessary services. In a framework effect these vertical elements also provide the necessary horizontal stiffening of the building.

The coordination of the complex structural system with highly technical building systems and laboratory installations imposed special challenges on all project stakeholders. During workshops we identified user requirements and integrated them into the preliminary planning. A detailed cost analysis was basis for further development.