Plans for updating the existing laboratory and office building 1059 have been in full swing since 2020. The first step required was to gather the needs and specifications of both existing and new tenants, with some of the latter as yet unknown.

To support the long-standing tenant Idemitsu in achieving its future goals, some layout amendments were required in their rented space. This included Idemitsu’s need for new labs, among other things, which were completed in summer 2021. Carrying out the conversion while the company was still up and running was challenging, for both the builders and the tenants, who had to factor the construction site into their everyday work. The first milestone has been successfully reached, with the ongoing conversion progressing step by step from the ground up.

On floors 3 and 4, biology labs (BSL1/BSL2) for any tenant are being created, which will be made available to biotech start-ups. Because the tenant is unknown yet, we sought help from Technologiepark Basel to gain the best possible understanding of what future tenants might need and how to make the space as flexible as possible. Remodelling of this area has been completed, the new LED lighting has been installed, the offices are already freshly painted and fitting out the labs has started.

The construction trades are now continuing to work upwards into floors 5 and 6, where they will be creating tenant-specific labs for water analysis carried out by IWB and AUE. In mid-October 2021, working drawings for the labs were finalised with the users.

‘The building needs to make you smile,’ was a statement from one of the prospective tenants. Feedback like this is very valuable to get to know the needs of the users and prioritise these. In addition to the necessary functional labs, the meeting areas, which serve to encourage informal interaction, and the reception area have been freshened up in accordance with this concept.

The new tenants are scheduled to move in starting from 1 March 2022.