University of Basel’s new biomedicine building reaches full height

The new building for the Department of Biomedicine will be a state-of-the-art laboratory building that will strengthen the University of Basel’s cutting-edge research in the life sciences field long term. Thanks to intensive project management and close collaboration with the design-build contractor, the project is within budget and on track for timely completion.

Start of facade work

Now that the shell has been completed, construction of the facade will commence in January 2026. It will use electrochromic glass to give the building its distinctive appearance. This step will coincide with the installation of the highly complex building services, which are essential for a laboratory building such as the new biomedicine building. Plans for 2026 include pilot system tests and the setup of a sample laboratory, which will serve as a reference for the approximately 70 laboratories in the building.

Project costs under control

Around two years since construction started, the project remains within the original budget. Financial reserves are stable, and the forecast of the final costs currently appears positive. Inflation in certain areas, such as active IT components and AV technology, is occasionally resulting in higher expenses, but will not affect cost certainty.

“We are satisfied with the construction progress so far, and I am delighted that we are on track in terms of both timing and budget for this challenging project. This is a wonderful achievement for all those involved on and alongside the construction site,” says Dr. Rolf Borner, Director of Infrastructure & Operations at the University of Basel.