Novartis Campus

By Caterina Testa - 11 May 2015

Good architecture depends very much on a good client, one who knows how to choose architects best able to translate the essence of a brief while at the same time giving it their own stamp.

Novartis has long shown it recognizes this essential mix. It has an admirable track record - demonstrated by its headquarter buildings in Basel, Switzerland - of sponsoring projects by the likes of Tadao Ando, David Chipperfield, Frank Gehry, Hertzog & de Meuron, Rem Koolhaas, Fumihiko Maki, Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura.

With the enlargement of its East Hanover Campus in New Jersey, Novartis reconfirms its focus on quality architecture - not only for corporate image purposes, but also to provide employees with spaces that promote the culture of collaboration and innovation and stimulate concentration and creativity.

The overall extension project of the East Hanover Campus is the work of Vittorio Lampugnani, the architect who produced the Basel masterplan. It comprises 4 buildings designed by Lampugnani himself, Weiss/Manfredi, Rafael Viñoly and Fumihiko Maki. Michael Van Valkenburgh landscaped the plot. Set amidst a metropolitan archipelago featuring a mix of residential suburbs, industrial areas and greenery, overlaid by a tight infrastructure network, the new campus forms an independent urban unit with all the features, density and differentiation typical of a multi-functional city.

Architectural excellence is supported by innovative, energy-efficient technology that provides improved standards of wellbeing for all: residents, campus users and the wider population of the region.

Despite their different structural designs, each building allows maximum column-free interior space to facilitate communication and collaboration among employees. Natural daylighting and energy saving are two further prerequisites that guided the choice of the technologies and distribution systems.

As well...