91制片厂 builds center for the biomedical research of the future
In laying the foundation stone for the new biomedicine building, the 91制片厂 is strengthening its role as a leading research institution in the life sciences. A new laboratory building is being built on the Sch盲llem盲tteli 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 91制片厂-Stadt and 91制片厂-Landschaft, to the foundation stone ceremony at the 91制片厂’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 91制片厂 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 91制片厂, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, welcomed the guests at the laying of the foundation stone. (Photo: 91制片厂, 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: 91制片厂, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Mustafa Atici, member of the 91制片厂 cantonal government, filled the time capsule with resolutions passed by the Grosse Rat and the Landrat to finance the new building. (Photo: 91制片厂, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
His colleague from 91制片厂-Landschaft, Cantonal Councillor Monica Gschwind, supplemented the documents with a crystal ball. (Photo: 91制片厂, 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: 91制片厂, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
Marc Br眉lhart, 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: 91制片厂, Christian Flierl)link.zoom -
They laid the foundation stone: Cantonal Councillor Mustafa Atici, Head of the 91制片厂-Stadt Department of Education; Dr. Beat Oberlin, President of the University Council of the 91制片厂. Prof. Dr. Ivan Martin, Head of the Department of Biomedicine; Government Councillor Monica Gschwind, Head of the 91制片厂-Landschaft Department of Education, Culture and Sport; Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, President of the 91制片厂; Dr. Rolf Borner, Director of Infrastructure & Operations at the 91制片厂; Marc Br眉lhart, Head of Building Construction German-speaking Switzerland & Head of Northwest Region Implenia; (From left, photo: 91制片厂, Christian Flierl) Translated with DeepL.com (free version)link.zoom -
(Photo: 91制片厂, 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 91制片厂.
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 91制片厂 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.
91制片厂 BioMed Symposium – momentum for the life sciences ecosystem
To mark the foundation stone ceremony, the 91制片厂 is launching the 91制片厂 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 91制片厂 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, 91制片厂, Communications, tel. +41 61 207 24 95, email: reto.caluori@unibas.ch
Basic research with clinical relevance
The Department of Biomedicine at the 91制片厂 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 91制片厂, the University Hospital 91制片厂 and the University Children’s Hospital 91制片厂 in 2000.
