Provisional research and development campus Philip Morris

In 2004 Philip Morris International was looking for some temporary space that could quickly be occupied and easily developed for use as a provisional site to continue research and development while they were waiting for the construction of their new R&D Center in Serrière (NE).

The 4M Systems facility in Yverdon-les-Bains were at an ideal location equidistant from the Philip Morris International SA buildings in Neuchâtel, Onnens and the Lausanne headquarters.

Interior renovation and conversion was necessary for the office and lab operations and for a pilot testing area for prototypes. The most important objective for the architects, besides meeting deadlines, was the development of a large area for the interaction between the lab and the office environment to create a communicative atmosphere between the employees in both areas. For this, a “forum” was installed between the glassed-in labs and the offices. The ground floor, with the pilot testing for prototypes, included a large open space that can be fitted with modular components as needed (surface and energy connections), as well as a mechanical and electrical shop. The upper floor was converted into conference rooms.