In the year 2002 the planning team Murphy/Jahn Architects (Chicago), Werner Sobek Ingenieure (Stuttgart) and Transsolar (Stuttgart) won an international competition announced by the Pharmaceutical Concern Serono for the new development of a research and administration centre in Geneva. The brief included a communicative atmosphere, architectonic-constructive elegance and innovative solutions in facade and climate technology. In addition, several buildings of historical value were to be integrated into the design. A spectacular feature is the large curved atrium glass roof which opens up by a distance of almost 5 meters in good weather.

The book offers a description of the project and its development both from a corporate culture aspect and from the perspective of the architect, the civil engineer, the climate experts and the critics.

Helmut Jahn is leader of the famous architectural firm Murphy / Jahn, based in Chicago. Founded over 70 years ago, Murphy / Jahn has created many buildings in the US and Europe like the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, the Sony Center in Berlin and the Post Tower in Bonn.