Merck Serono is a world-leading company in the biotechnology field, and its headquarters in Geneva is composed of both new and existing buildings.
Completed in fall 2006, the three new buildings cover an area of just under 463,000 square feet (43,013 m2), forming a long block that is connected by “streets” and “squares,” providing employees with a campus-like area in which they can exchange ideas and hold informal discussions. The new buildings feature 90,415 square feet (8,400 m2) of Kalzip 65/500 straight aluminum standing-seam roof system by Corus Building Systems Inc., Michigan City, Ind.
Flooding the campus area with light, the arched glass roof and fully glazed façade by Permasteelisa Group, Vittorio Veneto TV, Italy, create bright, inviting offi ces with far-reaching views. The glazed roof consists of the atrium, covering 11,841 square feet (1,100 m2), and the forum, covering 15,414 square feet (1,432 m2), while there is 182,476 square feet (16,952 m2) of the glazed façade on the new buildings. The three existing industrial buildings are protected by historical preservation orders, therefore requiring the choice of materials for the renovation to successfully combine the traditional with the modern. The architect, Murphy Jahn Architects, Chicago, showcased how contemporary design can harmonize respectfully with preserved industrial architecture.
