PROJECT DETAILS
UPTOWNBASEL AG
ARLESHEIM, SWITZERLAND
Installed Products
Built to stay
For many years, the Schoren site in Arlesheim near Basel lay idle. At the end of the 19th century, the site set the whole of Europe in motion with the development of innovative electric motors. From 1911, it was used for assembling locomotives before finally sinking into slumber in 1988. With uptownBasel, the 70,000 square metre area is not only being brought back to life, but is also set to move the world once again - as a centre of excellence for Industry 4.0 and a central hub for international cooperation networks.
The first building, which functions as a knowledge transfer centre, has already been completed. Eight more will follow by 2027, offering an attractive place to work for a total of 50 companies with 2,000 specialists and talents from forward-looking fields such as IT, IoT, data science or automation.
"In order to reach talents, you also have to offer them something," knows Hans-Jörg Fankhauser, the idea generator for uptownBasel. According to the area developer, creative minds need an environment that enables exchange, networking and collaborative work. Furthermore, it must be state-of-the-art, sustainable and absolutely future-proof. A comprehensive set of requirements that all project participants took to heart during planning and implementation. This also applies to the lighting experts from Zumtobel, who not only supplied the complete lighting solution, but also acted as general planners in the field of lighting design.
In the knowledge transfer centre, visitors and employees already get a first taste of what will be created in the coming years. Building 1 is built for the future and has more than earned the attribute "(future-proof)". This is particularly evident in the flexible construction and interior design. For example, the large halls on the ground floor can be easily adapted to the respective use, such as production or logistics. For this purpose, the 11-metre high and column-free halls offer the possibility of adding partition walls, a false ceiling or roller shutter doors. One hall has already been adapted by Bouygues Energies & Services (InTec Schweiz AG) for the production and modular prefabrication of entire building services elements.
To ensure that future-proofing and flexibility in Building 1 also go hand in hand in the lighting, the lighting designers opted for the tried-and-tested TECTON continuous-row lighting system. And so many hundreds of metres of tracks run through all floors, equipped with suitable luminaires according to the required illuminance. Workshops and production halls are equipped with functional and robust TECTON continuous-row luminaires, while the TECTON MIREL office luminaire avoids disturbing glare on screens and enables concentrated work. If requirements change, the continuous-row lighting system can be easily extended or adapted - an advantage that electrical installer Philipp Bienz also greatly appreciated during his work: "To enable the tenants to individually design their spaces, a flexible room layout was important. The lighting must therefore be open to everything. Thanks to the flexible and modular design of TECTON, every conceivable luminaire can be integrated."
„With uptownBasel, we are realising a campus for the industry of the future, where a modern way of working is possible," explains area developer Hans-Jörg Fankhauser. In addition to prototyping, design thinking and series production, exchange and cooperation also play an essential role. To promote this aspect, Building 1 provides appropriate spaces on each floor: Break-out zones with fresh colours and cosy upholstered furniture inspire brainstorming and stimulating conversations. At the same time, they function as a kind of connecting space between the individual companies. The TECTON track system equipped with MIREL luminaires provides pleasant, homogeneous light and also underlines the industrial style of the openly designed ceiling. For joint lunch breaks or larger discussion groups, the staff have access to spacious lounges with fully equipped kitchen units. While some areas remain true to the linear concept of the track system, others offer added cosiness with large, round ONDARIA luminaires.
A highlight is the richly landscaped roof terrace, which creates an exceptional setting for events with flowers, trees and a huge screen.
"We had high expectations of the light," says area developer Hans-Jörg Fankhauser. "Light gives space. If the feeling of space is missing, you don't feel well," he continues. A harmonious interplay of daylight and artificial lighting provides the appropriate sense of space and well-being. Generous glass fronts, inner courtyards that can be used as additional break-out zones, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows in the offices let a lot of natural light in. This is taken into account by the intelligent lighting control system to automatically adjust the illuminance. In this way, the right amount of light is always available to the employees - for concentrated work, creative exchange or relaxing breaks. "Everything is set so well that the employees don't notice any difference between artificial light and daylight. The feedback is positive throughout," says electrical installer Philipp Bienz, pleased with the result.
In addition, the lighting control system saves energy, which in turn is beneficial to the project's high sustainability standards. "The builders of uptownBasel are a Basel family who are not building for themselves, but for their children and children's children," explains Mr Fankhauser. "The topic of sustainability was thus in focus from the very first moment." This is proven, among other things, by the SNBS certification achieved, which proves the positive effect of a building on the environment, society and the economy and is usually only awarded to residential and office buildings. Uptown Basel is so far the first industrial project in Switzerland to bear this seal of quality.
"With uptownBasel, we are realising a campus for the industry of the future, where a modern way of working is possible." — Hans-Jörg Fankhauser, Areal developer, CEO at FANKHAUSER AG
Areal development: Fankhauser Arealentwicklungen AG, Reinach (CH)
Electrician: Etavis Kriegel + Schaffner AG, Basel (CH)
Project year: 2022
For many years, the Schoren site in Arlesheim near Basel lay idle. At the end of the 19th century, the site set the whole of Europe in motion with the development of innovative electric motors. From 1911, it was used for assembling locomotives before finally sinking into slumber in 1988. With uptownBasel, the 70,000 square metre area is not only being brought back to life, but is also set to move the world once again - as a centre of excellence for Industry 4.0 and a central hub for international cooperation networks.
The first building, which functions as a knowledge transfer centre, has already been completed. Eight more will follow by 2027, offering an attractive place to work for a total of 50 companies with 2,000 specialists and talents from forward-looking fields such as IT, IoT, data science or automation.
"In order to reach talents, you also have to offer them something," knows Hans-Jörg Fankhauser, the idea generator for uptownBasel. According to the area developer, creative minds need an environment that enables exchange, networking and collaborative work. Furthermore, it must be state-of-the-art, sustainable and absolutely future-proof. A comprehensive set of requirements that all project participants took to heart during planning and implementation. This also applies to the lighting experts from Zumtobel, who not only supplied the complete lighting solution, but also acted as general planners in the field of lighting design.
In the knowledge transfer centre, visitors and employees already get a first taste of what will be created in the coming years. Building 1 is built for the future and has more than earned the attribute "(future-proof)". This is particularly evident in the flexible construction and interior design. For example, the large halls on the ground floor can be easily adapted to the respective use, such as production or logistics. For this purpose, the 11-metre high and column-free halls offer the possibility of adding partition walls, a false ceiling or roller shutter doors. One hall has already been adapted by Bouygues Energies & Services (InTec Schweiz AG) for the production and modular prefabrication of entire building services elements.
To ensure that future-proofing and flexibility in Building 1 also go hand in hand in the lighting, the lighting designers opted for the tried-and-tested TECTON continuous-row lighting system. And so many hundreds of metres of tracks run through all floors, equipped with suitable luminaires according to the required illuminance. Workshops and production halls are equipped with functional and robust TECTON continuous-row luminaires, while the TECTON MIREL office luminaire avoids disturbing glare on screens and enables concentrated work. If requirements change, the continuous-row lighting system can be easily extended or adapted - an advantage that electrical installer Philipp Bienz also greatly appreciated during his work: "To enable the tenants to individually design their spaces, a flexible room layout was important. The lighting must therefore be open to everything. Thanks to the flexible and modular design of TECTON, every conceivable luminaire can be integrated."
„With uptownBasel, we are realising a campus for the industry of the future, where a modern way of working is possible," explains area developer Hans-Jörg Fankhauser. In addition to prototyping, design thinking and series production, exchange and cooperation also play an essential role. To promote this aspect, Building 1 provides appropriate spaces on each floor: Break-out zones with fresh colours and cosy upholstered furniture inspire brainstorming and stimulating conversations. At the same time, they function as a kind of connecting space between the individual companies. The TECTON track system equipped with MIREL luminaires provides pleasant, homogeneous light and also underlines the industrial style of the openly designed ceiling. For joint lunch breaks or larger discussion groups, the staff have access to spacious lounges with fully equipped kitchen units. While some areas remain true to the linear concept of the track system, others offer added cosiness with large, round ONDARIA luminaires.
A highlight is the richly landscaped roof terrace, which creates an exceptional setting for events with flowers, trees and a huge screen.
"We had high expectations of the light," says area developer Hans-Jörg Fankhauser. "Light gives space. If the feeling of space is missing, you don't feel well," he continues. A harmonious interplay of daylight and artificial lighting provides the appropriate sense of space and well-being. Generous glass fronts, inner courtyards that can be used as additional break-out zones, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows in the offices let a lot of natural light in. This is taken into account by the intelligent lighting control system to automatically adjust the illuminance. In this way, the right amount of light is always available to the employees - for concentrated work, creative exchange or relaxing breaks. "Everything is set so well that the employees don't notice any difference between artificial light and daylight. The feedback is positive throughout," says electrical installer Philipp Bienz, pleased with the result.
In addition, the lighting control system saves energy, which in turn is beneficial to the project's high sustainability standards. "The builders of uptownBasel are a Basel family who are not building for themselves, but for their children and children's children," explains Mr Fankhauser. "The topic of sustainability was thus in focus from the very first moment." This is proven, among other things, by the SNBS certification achieved, which proves the positive effect of a building on the environment, society and the economy and is usually only awarded to residential and office buildings. Uptown Basel is so far the first industrial project in Switzerland to bear this seal of quality.
"With uptownBasel, we are realising a campus for the industry of the future, where a modern way of working is possible." — Hans-Jörg Fankhauser, Areal developer, CEO at FANKHAUSER AG
Areal development: Fankhauser Arealentwicklungen AG, Reinach (CH)
Electrician: Etavis Kriegel + Schaffner AG, Basel (CH)
Project year: 2022
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