Filigree appearance for steel spiral staircases

At its headquarters in Basel, the pharmaceutical company F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is building its new office tower, which is currently the tallest building in Switzerland. As a twin tower next to the existing Building 1, the slim Building 2 with its 205-metre height provides space for about 3,500 employees and is expected to open in mid 2022. The design by the architects Herzog & de Meuron was developed together with the general planning company Drees & Sommer in a terraced construction method as a sustainable and energy-efficient building that accommodates also a café, a bistro as well as several outdoor terraces. As a central eye-catcher, the steel spiral staircases and all-glass railings characterise the stylish interior design of the office tower. Only sustainable building materials and processing methods were used for all constructions.

There are a total of 16 steel spiral staircases with glass balustrades extending over 45 storeys and, in combination with the curved all-glass gallery railings, they represent an imposing ensemble of steel and glass. Despite the immense amount of steel used, the complex shows a dynamic and light character. Due to their very sophisticated technical design the transitions to the ceiling balustrades are almost graceful. The highly detailed stair constructions differ in their storey height, running width, number of risers and stair layout. The all-glass railings running along both sides and the structurally supporting soffit cladding of the steel spiral staircases result in a homogeneous appearance of the overall structure.