Surrounded by extensive parklands, the new headquarters for JTI is located in a Geneva district home to prestigious international organisations. SOM's competition-winning design draws references from not only the sites immediate context, but also Lake Geneva and the Alps, fulfilling the client's aspiration for a landmark building.
The opposing corners of the building's form are elevated, creating a central courtyard and a permeable pedestrian route through the site with access to a local transport hub. A continuous landscape loops throughout the building - from the lobby to the top floor - connecting offices, meeting rooms, business centre and auditorium with the social spaces. The pathway is distinguished by the use of different materials and colour palettes, while the curated installations by internationally renowned artists Liam Gillick and Sol LeWitt can be used as a way-finding tool.
The interior design concept follows the client's desire to create an overall community which would help change the company's business culture: from closed off working environments to a more flexible workplace. The 1,000+ employees have access to a number of exceptional communal areas: a panoramic restaurant, cafeteria, roof terraces, courtyard and informal meeting points with coffee facilities to encourage social interaction between staff. The building's peripheral structural system was designed to achieve a column free office space which provides maximum internal flexibility and future adaptability.
Bolstered by a host of sustainable features such as a green roof, fresh air intake vents, low carbon heating & cooling and the high performance façade, the Minergie certified building ranks among the most sustainable projects in Europe.