Swiss private bank Lombard Odier has officially opened its spectacular new headquarters in Bellevue, near Geneva, designed by world-renowned Basel architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The prestigious building, which was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, represents a significant architectural achievement and consolidates the bank's operations under one magnificent roof.
The impressive new facility can accommodate over 2,000 employees who were previously scattered across six different locations throughout the Geneva area. This massive consolidation project brings together Lombard Odier's workforce in a purpose-built structure that reflects the bank's commitment to providing a premium working environment for its staff.
Herzog and de Meuron, both 75 years old, are among the most celebrated architects globally, with their iconic buildings gracing cities including Beijing, London, New York, Hamburg, and now the French-speaking region of Switzerland. The prestigious duo won the commission for this mega-project back in 2017, successfully competing against seven other international architectural firms for what was clearly envisioned as an extraordinary building project.
The luxurious headquarters features state-of-the-art amenities that reflect Lombard Odier's status as a premier private banking institution. The building includes an impressive auditorium capable of seating over 500 people, modern client areas designed for sophisticated banking services, and open, light-filled workspaces that create an optimal environment for the bank's operations. According to financial news portal Finews, employees enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Geneva, the Alpine landscape featuring Mont Blanc, and Geneva's famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
While the architectural marvel represents a significant investment, Lombard Odier has remained tight-lipped about the exact construction costs, citing banking confidentiality. However, some financial details have emerged regarding the project's funding. Seven years ago, the private bank sold five real estate properties and its asset management division in Amsterdam for 125 million Swiss francs, with portions of these proceeds allocated toward financing the new headquarters project.
This marks the first completed building project by Herzog & de Meuron in French-speaking Switzerland, adding another prestigious structure to their impressive international portfolio. The architectural firm continues to maintain a busy schedule, as they are also currently working on an expanded headquarters for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The planned Bern-Wankdorf project will cost 86 million francs and will house 600 employees in a five-story building designed to replace the Ostermundigen and Wylerpark locations.
The SBB project is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 with an expected completion date of 2029. Despite Herzog & de Meuron's reputation for projects that sometimes exceed initial budget estimates, the Federal Railways has taken precautionary measures. A spokesperson for the railway company told Blick magazine in April that SBB has secured appropriate safeguards to manage potential cost overruns, demonstrating lessons learned from previous high-profile architectural projects.
