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Lombard Odier’s cool new HQ is a champion of geothermal tech, according to the Financial Times
Article initially published in the Financial Times, on 9 September
Every hour, thousands of litres of water are drawn from the depths of Lake Geneva to heat and cool homes and offices along its shores. As of this month, that geothermal technology powers the new headquarters of Lombard Odier, one of Switzerland’s largest private banks. More than 2,100 employees — and the institution’s global clientele — now work and meet inside 1Roof, a curving glass, steel and concrete structure by Herzog & de Meuron that dispenses with conventional heating and air conditioning in favour of the GeniLac system.
Geneva’s renewable thermal energy network uses the steady coolness of Lake Geneva — known within Switzerland as Lac Léman — to regulate temperature in buildings. On the surface, it is a striking piece of corporate architecture: sleek, open and symbolically innovative and transparent. But beneath its skin lies a set of environmental systems that might hold lessons for how the rest of Switzerland — and other countries — can build more sustainably.
The combination of GeniLac and other features has helped the two-century-old bank cut its carbon footprint in Geneva by 25 per cent
The combination of GeniLac and other features — such as orienting the building to capture cooling winds from the Alps — has helped the two-century-old bank cut its carbon footprint in Geneva by 25 per cent, says Hubert Keller, senior managing partner at Lombard Odier. The building is designed to achieve the highest level of three certifications for sustainable construction. Minergie-P, Switzerland’s benchmark for low-energy buildings, requires high insulation, airtight construction and renewable energy. SNBS (Swiss Sustainable Construction Standard) looks beyond energy to social and economic sustainability. BREEAM, the UK’s widely recognised certification, covers everything from materials to waste. Together, these would place 1Roof in the top tier of sustainable commercial buildings in Switzerland if they are achieved, according to Louis Leclézio, chief operations officer at Swiss business school IMD.
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“The new headquarters fits into a strategy by Geneva to use the lake to cool and the earth to heat,” says Leclézio. “For me, it reflects the future.” By 2050, half the heating demand in the canton of Geneva will be met through centralised district heating systems (RTS), with energy that will be sourced sustainably — and with no reliance on fossil fuels, according to the government.
The new headquarters fits into a strategy by Geneva to use the lake to cool and the earth to heat
Lombard’s deep balconies shield south-facing windows from the sun, while the building’s angle channels alpine winds across the site, creating a natural “corridor” to regulate temperature. Eighty-five per cent of the roof is covered in vegetation, which cools the air, reduces heat absorption and boosts the performance of solar panels. Rainwater is collected in a 444-cubic-metre underground tank for building operations. These measures aim both to conserve energy and cope with rising summer heat. MeteoSwiss data shows that Switzerland’s average temperature is 2.9C above the pre-industrial average, as of 2024.
“We could have chosen to build a much more traditional building,” says Keller. “Instead, [1Roof] represents our vision of banking for the future.” Most eye-catching is 1Roof’s connection to GeniLac. Thousands of litres of water are drawn from 45 metres below the surface, where temperatures stay around 7C. The water never enters the building but passes through heat exchangers, transferring heat indirectly: in summer, it cools the air; in winter, heat pumps extract warmth.
The closed-loop system means water is returned to the lake at almost the same temperature — carrying less risk of warming the lake or disturbing its ecosystem, as can happen in open loops. Such networks can cut cooling energy use by up to 80 per cent, and heating-related CO2 emissions by a similar margin, says the Geneva government.
1Roof illustrates the willingness of Switzerland to adapt and contribute to sustainability
This is not a one-off. Switzerland is increasingly turning to its lakes for climate control, with systems already operating in Zurich, Lucerne and Bienne. In Lucerne, the Bürgenstock Resort uses lake water for 80 per cent of its heating and 100 per cent of its cooling. Lombard Odier’s new HQ shows how such technology can be scaled up not just for commercial buildings but also mixed-use and residential developments, adds Leclézio. Geneva’s GeniLac network, currently serving part of the city, is being expanded to reach 350 commercial and residential buildings along a 30km loop.
Pierre de Meuron, partner at Herzog & de Meuron, says 1Roof is the largest building he has designed that uses lake water for temperature control. “It is the future. It is mandatory to think of these types of [on-site] energy solutions.” Herzog & de Meuron has also already used the technology for a private home, but not every household can suddenly connect to a lake network. The infrastructure requires large-scale co-operation and major investment by governments and businesses. The canton has committed approximately CHF1.5bn by 2030 for thermal networks.
“While I think Switzerland is a leader, there needs to be a lot more work in encouraging apartment building owners in rural areas to make investments in this area,” says Leclézio. “The lake technology, for example, is limited to homes and buildings near lakes or rivers.” But for de Meuron, 1Roof illustrates the willingness of Switzerland to adapt and contribute to sustainability. “The client wanted to do this, not to burn or combust oil or gas. As architects, developers, businesses, clients, citizens, we all have to think like this. I look at this building, this lake and these Alps and it is pretty convincing that we can.”
This is a marketing communication issued by Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd (hereinafter “Lombard Odier”).
It is not intended for distribution, publication, or use in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be unlawful, nor is it aimed at any person or entity to whom it would be unlawful to address such a marketing communication.
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