University of Basel builds center for the biomedical research of the future
In laying the foundation stone for the new biomedicine building, the University of Basel is strengthening its role as a leading research institution in the life sciences. A new laboratory building is being built on the Schällemätteli campus to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure to around 700 researchers under a single roof from 2030/31 onward.
23 May 2025
On Friday, President Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki welcomed the project partners and numerous guests from the worlds of politics and academia, including Cantonal Councilors Mustafa Atici and Monica Gschwind, representing the two supporting cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, to the foundation stone ceremony at the University of Basel’s Life Sciences Campus. In their speeches, they praised the importance of the new building for the regional education and research landscape.
Modern center for translational research
The Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel conducts research at the intersection of the basic sciences and medical applications. The research focuses range from cancer and immune research to regenerative medicine and neuroscience. The aim is to better understand biological processes and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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The President of the University of Basel, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, welcomed the guests at the laying of the foundation stone. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Dr. Beat Oberlin, President of the University Council, placed a 3D model of the building in the time capsule and Prof. Dr. Ivan Martin, Head of the Department of Biomedicine, a special edition of his department's newsletter. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Mustafa Atici, member of the Basel cantonal government, filled the time capsule with resolutions passed by the Grosse Rat and the Landrat to finance the new building. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
His colleague from Basel-Landschaft, Cantonal Councillor Monica Gschwind, supplemented the documents with a crystal ball. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Dr. Rolf Borner, Director of Infrastructure & Operations, enclosed a 6-piece pocket knife, which symbolizes the versatility of the DBM and stands for the consolidation of the current six locations under one roof. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Marc Brülhart, Head of Building Construction German-speaking Switzerland & Head of the Northwest Region at Implenia, provided construction plans and a memory stick with the current status of the BIM model. (Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
They laid the foundation stone: Cantonal Councillor Mustafa Atici, Head of the Basel-Stadt Department of Education; Dr. Beat Oberlin, President of the University Council of the University of Basel. Prof. Dr. Ivan Martin, Head of the Department of Biomedicine; Government Councillor Monica Gschwind, Head of the Basel-Landschaft Department of Education, Culture and Sport; Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, President of the University of Basel; Dr. Rolf Borner, Director of Infrastructure & Operations at the University of Basel; Marc Brülhart, Head of Building Construction German-speaking Switzerland & Head of Northwest Region Implenia; (From left, photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl) Translated with DeepL.com (free version)link.zoom -
(Photo: University of Basel, Christian Flierl)link.zoom
The new laboratory building will bring together all the units of the Department of Biomedicine, which are currently spread over several sites. It is located in a unique environment in the direct vicinity of the Biozentrum, the university hospitals and ETH Zürich’s Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering. With its 11 floors and a height of more than 40 meters, it will be a powerful center for translational research, aiming to translate laboratory findings into medical treatments.
“With this building, we are not only creating space for excellent research, but also promoting close spatial networking between the university, clinics and industry,” said Dr. Rolf Borner, Director of Infrastructure & Operations at the University of Basel.
A place for research, encounters and innovation
Since ground was broken in 2023, construction has progressed rapidly and the building is currently growing by around one story per month. The striking curved base on the Pestalozzistrasse side is already visible, and the first work on the facade will begin in the summer. The shell is scheduled for completion in 2026, followed by the build-out by 2029. Commissioning is planned for 2030 and the researchers’ relocation in 2031.
In addition to state-of-the-art laboratories, the building will also offer publicly accessible areas such as lecture halls, seminar rooms and a lounge to encourage scientific exchange. Its architecture and location make it a key component of the growing Schällemätteli Life Sciences Campus.
Cost certainty thanks to implementation model with full-service contractor
The new-build project is being implemented by Implenia as a full-service contractor. This model guarantees the University of Basel a binding price for the work and thus a high degree of cost certainty. The total costs for the university, including the planning phases since 2014, amount to around CHF 365 million net, largely funded by external financing through loan guarantees from the two supporting cantons.
As is customary at foundation stone ceremonies, a time capsule was inserted into the floor of the new building to give future generations an insight into the time of the building’s construction. It contains symbolic objects that document the present day and the project, including blueprints, a 3D model of the building and the parliamentary bills for the financing.
Basel BioMed Symposium – momentum for the life sciences ecosystem
To mark the foundation stone ceremony, the University of Basel is launching the Basel BioMed Symposium together with leading regional partner institutions and companies. The new conference series is intended to promote interdisciplinary exchange, strengthen innovation and further increase the international visibility of the Basel region’s unique life sciences ecosystem. In its first edition, the symposium is dedicated to value chains in biomedical research – from the biological basis to the clinical application.
Further information
Reto Caluori, University of Basel, Communications, tel. +41 61 207 24 95, email: reto.caluori@unibas.ch
Basic research with clinical relevance
The Department of Biomedicine DBM at the University of Basel is bringing together around 70 research groups at the interface of biology and medicine. Today, it is one of the leading centers for translational research in Switzerland and beyond. Its work in neurobiology, oncology, immunology and regenerative medicine has led to new therapeutic concepts for tumors, infections, neurodegenerative diseases and tissue regeneration. The DBM was founded by the University of Basel, the University Hospital Basel and the University Children’s Hospital Basel in 2000.
