BIS-Tower
The BIS-Tower, more commonly known as the BIS-high rise, is a 69.5-meter-high administrative tower and headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland. Designed by architect Martin Burckhardt and built between 1972 and 1977, the tower is a landmark of the Central Railway Station and the city of Basel. From the year of its construction until 2003, it was the third tallest building in the city. The BIS Tower dominates the Basel skyline with its striking silhouette, and its color scheme and aesthetics set the style for several commercial and administrative buildings in the 1970s.
| BIS-Tower | |
|---|---|
BIS Tower from the northwest with the base building housing the auditorium in the foreground | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Administrative building |
| Architectural style | Modernism |
| Location | Central Railway Station 2, Basel |
| Town or city | Basel |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 47°32′53.05″N 7°35′30.37″E |
| Construction started | 1972 |
| Construction stopped | 1977 |
| Opened | May 9, 1977 |
| Owner | BIS |
| Height | 69,5 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Steel, Reinforced concrete |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Grounds | 30'000 m² |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Martin Burckhardt (Architekt) |
| Architecture firm | Burckhardt and Partner Ltd. |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | around 600 |
By a special agreement and international conventions, the building has a special legal status (Art. 3 Agreement of February 10, 1987). In addition to its function as administrative headquarters, the building is regularly used by the BIS for international meetings and conferences.