With the redesign of its campus at the SBB train station, the BIZ would like to concentrate the more than 600 workplaces in one place and modernize the work and meeting rooms, as the international forum organization of the central banks announced on Monday. The striking round tower is to remain as the center of the headquarters.
The BIZ workplaces are currently spread over two locations: In addition to the tower, which was completed in 1977 and designed by Martin Burckhardt, there is the fortress-like rotunda on nearby Aeschenplatz by Mario Botta, which was originally built for UBS in 1995.
Politically, the first course has already been set: In 2015, the Basel Grand Council approved a development plan that would allow the BIS to realize a gross floor area of 68,000 square meters on the headquarters site. The development will take place in two stages, writes the BIS. Attention should be paid to an ecologically sustainable design that fits into the cityscape.
According to the press release, the aim of the redesign is to enable new forms of work and meetings. In doing so, the BIS relies on experience from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has accentuated the importance of a flexible place to work and meet.
The BIZ is now inviting architects from all over the world to take part in a prequalification process for a study competition by invitation until August 6th. This will take around twelve months.