Spiral skyscraper by H&deM in Basel

The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche presented the project for its new headquarters in Basel yesterday. The design is by the local firm Herzog & de Meuron. Roche's headquarters have so far been scattered across many locations. At a cost of 350 million Euros, a 160-meter tall tower with a usable area of 75,000 square meters is expected to be completed by 2011, where up to 2,400 employees could work across 45 floors. In addition to the administrative tower, the company also unveiled plans to demolish one of its laboratory buildings and construct a new research center for 160 million Euros. The new center will again be designed by Herzog and de Meuron. Info>
It is fascinating how two pharmaceutical giants are competing in the small area of Basel over who will have more interesting buildings and more renowned architects in their complex. I like H&deM, but I am rooting for Novartis.