Located near the central railway station, the building has already welcomed its first occupants, with approximately 500 employees, primarily from Post Finance, having relocated there in December.
A decade ago, the Gare quarter presented a different scene. The building, characterised by its grey-blue façade and brown mirrored windows, did little to enhance the aesthetics of the neighbourhood, noted Claude Strasser, director of Post.
At the time, Strasser remarked, “the building fails to align with the image we wish to project to the outside world. In the next five or six years, we envision a complete transformation that will redefine our identity as well as that of the Gare quarter. Such an investment requires time.”
The planning, construction, and assembly of the new building required nearly 200,000 hours of effort. The outcome is a structure consisting of 115 tonnes of steel, adorned with a stone façade boasting approximately 1,000 windows.
At the core of the edifice lies a spacious atrium spanning 200 square meters, flooded with natural light through large windows facing the central railway station and Rue de Commerce.
Pierre Zimmer, deputy director of the Post Group, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “our aim was to make a statement by creating a new space for all Post employees while revitalising the neighbourhood.”
One notable feature that captures attention is the striking 30-meter-high curved staircase within the building. The interior design predominantly incorporates wood, adorning walls and floors, with 4,000 square meters of parquet flooring, combined with abundant greenery.
Architect Agaajani Shahram highlighted the building’s energy efficiency, emphasising minimal energy consumption.
In addition, the new project seamlessly integrates the original 1948 building. The stone façade of the Accinauto building, a heritage-listed structure, comprises approximately one-third of the overall complex.
