2025–2021
Restructuring and Rebranding
The decade began with Burckhardt’s 70th anniversary and the question of a successor to long-serving CEO Samuel Schultze. It provided the impetus for an extensive examination of the issue of organizational development. This led to the decision in 2022, to restructure the various business units and subsidiaries.
continue reading
2025
Christian Zerreis and Andreas Ramsteiner become Partners.
2024
Rafael Ernst joins the company as Managing Director of Burckhardt Real estate and member of the company management.
2024
Michael Bautz joins the company as CFO and member of the company management.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:format(webp):quality(75))
2024
Rolf Rode leaves the company.
2024
Kenzo Krüger-Heyden and Christoph Jantos become Partners.
2024
Christoph Frey becomes Chairman of the Basel site management team.
:quality(75))
2023
Introduction of the Partner Panel as a strategic committee.
2023
Eric Proment becomes a Partner.
2023
Oliver Henninger becomes deputy CEO.
:quality(75))
2023
Wolfgang Hardt becomes CEO.
2023
Samuel Schultze leaves the company.
2023
Change of company name to Burckhardt Architektur AG; restructuring under the umbrella brand «Burckhardt»: Burckhardt Architektur AG, Burckhardt Immobilien AG and Burckhardt Entwicklungen AG. Renaming of the German subsidiary Burckhardt+Partner GmbH to Burckhardt Deutschland GmbH.
:quality(75)){kind=logo}
2022
Daria Grouhi joins the company and becomes co-Managing Director of Burckhardt in Germany.
2022
Christof Goldschmid becomes a member of the company management and a Partner.
2022
Christina Muchsel becomes a Partner.
2022
Daniel Hauswirth becomes a Partner.
2022
Christian Hirt becomes a member of the company management (until 2024).
2022
First project with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD).
:quality(75))
2022
Nicolas Vaucher becomes a Partner.
2022
Christoph Frey becomes a member of the company management and a Partner.
2022
Oliver Schmid leaves the company.
2022
Merger of the project development activities of architecture with AG für Planung und Überbauung into Burckhardt Entwicklungen with Daniel Keller as Managing Director.
2022
Samuel Schultze and Wolfgang Hardt lead the company as co-CEOs (until 2023).
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2020–2011
Transformations and Further Developments
In the 2010s, Burckhardt pursued model-based and networked collaboration and established itself as an early adopter of BIM technology, which can now be integrated across all phases of a building’s life cycle – from planning to sustainable use.
Burckhardt also took a major step forward in project development in 2014 with respect to entrepreneurial risk: At Spitzenrain in Aesch (Baselland), the company bought its own plot of land for the first time and built a residential development on it.
continue reading
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2020
Merger of the German subsidiaries in Berlin and Grenzach to form Burckhardt+Partner GmbH.
2020
Reiner Becker leaves B+P Reiner Becker GmbH. Carsten Krafft joins the company and becomes Managing Director.
:quality(75))
2019
Daniel Hauswirth joins the company.
2019
Solo exhibition «TRANSFORMATIONS» at the Architecture Gallery in Munich.
2019
Nomination for the Entrepreneur Award at the Prix SVC Nordschweiz.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2018
Eric Proment joins the company.
2018
Oliver Henninger becomes a member of the company management, Partner and head of sites in Western Switzerland.
2018
Philipp Brühlmeier succeeds Peter Epting as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2017
Integration of Reiner Becker Architekten GmbH as subsidiary B+P Reiner Becker GmbH with offices in Berlin and Stuttgart under the management of Reiner Becker.
:format(webp):quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2014
Purchase of the company’s first plot of land.
:quality(75))
2013
Christoph Jantos and Kenzo Krüger-Heyden join the company.
2013
Hans-Jörg Juchli leaves the company.
:quality(75))
:format(webp):quality(75))
:quality(75))
2012
Christian Zerreis joins the company.
2012
Andreas Grossen and Daniel Keller become Partners.
2012
Wolfgang Hardt becomes a member of the company management and Partner.
2012
Introduction of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and cloud technology.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2011
Wolfgang Hardt joins the company.
2011
Peter Epting retires from day-to-day business and becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors (until 2018).
2010–2001
With Western Switzerland to Market Leadership
After Burckhardt took over the Suter + Suter’s Bern office in 1995, tk3 AG, which had itself emerged from Suter + Suter AG, also became part of the company in 2004. This made Burckhardt the largest Swiss architecture firm with 230 staff and also the market leader with an annual turnover of more than 40 million Swiss Francs.
continue reading
2010
Daniel Keller becomes a member of the company management.
2010
Andreas Mast becomes a Partner.
2010
Andreas Grossen becomes a member of the company management.
2010
Samuel Schultze replaces Peter Epting as CEO (until 2023) and becomes a member of the Board of Directors.
:quality(75))
2009
Andreas Ramsteiner joins the company.
2009
Andreas Mast becomes a member of the company management and Zurich site manager.
2008
Nicolas Vaucher joins the company.
2008
Roger Nussbaumer leaves the company.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2007
Burckhardt achieves 18th place in the Swiss CASH Employer Award (National Employee Job Satisfaction Survey).
2007
Company founder Martin H. Burckhardt dies at the age of 85 (February 6, 2007).
:quality(75))
2006
Oliver Henninger joins the company.
2006
Christof Goldschmid joins the company.
2004
Burckhardt+Partner becomes the largest architectural office in Switzerland with 230 employees and over CHF 40 million annual turnover.
2004
Philipp Brühlmeier becomes a member of the company management and Partner as well as head of sites in Western Switzerland (until 2018).
2004
Takeover of tk3 AG and its offices in Lausanne and Geneva.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
2003
Maja Lepingle leaves the company.
2003
Paul Waldner leaves the company.
:quality(75))
2002
Hans-Jörg Juchli becomes a Partner (until 2013).
2001
Christina Muchsel joins the company.
2001
Tom Koechlin leaves the company.
50th
Anniversary
ofthe
Company
2000–1991
Burckhardt Belongs to Burckhardt
With the departure of founder Martin H. Burckhardt and his closest colleague Guido Doppler in the early 1990s, an era came to an end.
In 1993, the then-partner Peter Epting introduced the farsighted shareholders’ agreement, which further strengthened Burckhardt’s independence and secured it for the future. The contract stipulated that only active employees could acquire shares, which is still the case today: Burckhardt belongs to Burckhardt.
continue reading
:quality(75))
1999
Daniel Keller and Andreas Mast join the company.
:quality(75))
1999
Participation in 1st European Biennial for Landscape Architecture in Barcelona with the MFO-Park project.
1998
Hans-Jörg Juchli joins the company as a member of the company management (until 2013).
1998
Closure of office premises in studio building at Peter Merian-Strasse 34.
:quality(75))
1997
Roger Nussbaumer joins the firm as a Partner, member of the company management and Zurich site manager (until 2008).
1996
Maja Lepingle becomes a member of the company management (until 2001).
1995
Hans Riedi leaves the company as a Partner.
1995
Oliver Schmid joins the firm as a Partner, member of the company management and Bern site manager (until 2022).
1995
Takeover of Bern-based architecture firm Suter + Suter and opening of Bern location.
:quality(75))
1994
Maja Lepingle joins the company.
:quality(75))
1993
Samuel Schultze becomes a member of the company management and Partner (until 2023).
1993
Introduction of the shareholders’ agreement.
:format(webp):quality(75))
1992
Peter Epting becomes CEO (until 2009).
1992
Guido Doppler leaves the company.
:format(webp):quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1991
Martin H. Burckhardt resigns from the Board of Directors and thus from the company.
1990–1981
Treading New Ground as a Joint-Stock Company
In 1981, Burckhardt was converted into a joint-stock company. The transformation resulted in more efficient corporate management and greater independence, as financing was now provided without external investors or banks.
In the same year, Burckhardt Immobilien AG was founded, specializing in real estate management, conversions, and renovation. This, at the time, unusual step for an architectural office resulted from a commission by Erika and Willi Fehlbaum – the founders of the Vitra company.
continue reading
1990
First office in Berlin under the name Burckhardt, Emch+Berger (BEB).
1989
Christoph Frey joins the company.
1989
Founding of subsidiary Burckhardt+Partner GmbH in Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany, under the management of Rolf Rode (until 2024).
1989
Founding of subsidiary Burckhardt Immobilien AG.
:format(webp):quality(75))
:quality(75))
1988
Separation from NBBJ Group in New York and merger with Perkins&Will, Architects, to form Perkins&Will, Burckhardt.
1987
Tom Koechlin becomes a member of the company management and Partner (until 2001).
1987/88/89
Peter Epting becomes a member of the company management and Partner from 1988 (until 2009) and a member of the Board of Directors from 1989 (until 2018).
1987
Andreas Grossen joins the company.
1987
Paul Waldner becomes a member of the company management and Partner (until 2003).
1986
Opening of an office in Stein, Canton Aargau.
1986
Martin H. Burckhardt retires from active management.
:format(webp):quality(75))
1985
Cuno Pümpin leaves the company.
1985
Opening of the first office in New York in conjunction with the NBBJ Group under the name The NBBJ Group Burckhardt Partner and managed by Samuel Meyer.
1985
Samuel Schultze joins the company.
:quality(75))
1984
Introduction of 3D CAD technology at Burckhardt.
1983
Tom Koechlin joins the company.
:quality(75))
1982
Opening of the office in Muttenz, Baselland, under the management of Pierre Schär.
1981
Cuno Pümpin joins the company as a partner and member of the company management.
1981
Samuel Meyer joins the company.
1981
Timothy O. Nissen and Edi Bürgin leave the company.
1981
Relocation to current company headquarters at Dornacherstrasse 210 in Basel.
1981
Conversion into joint-stock company Burckhardt+Partner AG.
:quality(75))
1980–1971
Crises and Emancipation From the Chemical Industry
Burckhardt passed new milestones with the completion of projects such as the Biocenter of the University of Basel and the 69.5-meter BIS Tower – the new headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements, which was to remain the tallest building in the city until 2003.
At the same time, the 1970s also marked the most devastating turn of events in the company’s history: The two oil price crises of 1973 and 1979 hit Burckhardt hard. Many projects were halted or even cancelled before they could be started.
continue reading
1980
Founding of the Brunelleschi Foundation.
:quality(75))
1979
New company logo with a focus on function, form, costs and time.
1979
Opening of the office in Zurich at Neumarkt 28 under the management of Guido Doppler.
:format(webp):quality(75))
1977
Truls D. Berg leaves the company.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1975
Climax of Burckhardt’s international activities with construction projects in 17 countries on six continents.
1975
Founding of joint venture group HBS in Iran with the companies H.A.R.N. Associates, Tehran, and Schalcher + Partner, Zurich.
:quality(75))
:format(webp):quality(75))
1973
Truls D. Berg joins the company as the fifth partner alongside Martin H. Burckhardt, Guido Doppler, Timothy O. Nissen and Edi Bürgin.
1973
The oil price crisis forces Burckhardt to reduce its workforce by around two-thirds from 280 to 90 employees.
1972
Paul Waldner joins the company as an architect.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1972
Founding of Burckhardt Planconsult AG.
1972
Renaming of Paris office from « Bureau d’Études Burckhardt» to «Burckhardt France, Société Civile pour Architecture» under the management of Edgar Decurtins, Philippe Fayeton and Werner Stutz.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1970–1961
Construction Projects Around the Globe
The 1960s were marked by success and international expansion. Some of the firm’s iconic buildings were created during this decade, including the Vivarium in Basel’s Zoological Gardens, the Wasserstelzen school building in Riehen, not to mention Burckhardt’s own studio and office building on Peter Merian-Strasse in Basel.
The growing numbers of projects and employees in Switzerland were joined by branches in Germany, Austria, France and Nigeria.
continue reading
1970
Relocation of the Wyhlen office to Lörrach as part of an expansion.
1970
Hans Riedi joins the company.
1970
Karl Eckert steps down as a Partner.
1969
Guido Doppler joins the company. He and Timothy O. Nissen become Partners.
1969
Move to office premises in Gundelipark and Austrasse in Basel.
:format(webp):quality(75))
1969
Relocation of the office from Rueil-Malmaison to Rue Letellier in Paris.
1968
Peter Epting joins the company.
1967
Founding of AG für Planung und Überbauung for the execution of own construction projects.
1967
Founding of Burckhardt+Partner Nigeria in Lagos, under the management of Ulrich Beyeler.
1967
Official office in Rueil-Malmaison as Bureau d’Études Burckhardt under the management of Bernhard E. Zehrfuss.
1967
Opening of the office in Vienna under the name B+G, Industrieplanung Ges.m.b.H.
:quality(75))
1967
Founding of a subsidiary in Düsseldorf under the management of Gerd Tielker.
1966
Founding of the subsidiary Burckhardt Freelance Architect in Wyhlen, Germany, under the management of Wolfgang Duttle.
1966
Third location in Basel at Gellertstrasse 18.
1965
Opening of the office in Rueil-Malmaison near Paris.
:quality(75))
1965
Timothy O. Nissen joins the company.
1965
Hans Knösels joins the company.
:format(webp):quality(75))
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1963
Second location in Basel at Peter Merian-Strasse 34.
1960–1951
Founding and First Projects for Basel’s Chemical Industry
Burckhardt Architekten was founded in 1951 by Martin H. Burckhardt, his father Karl August Burckhardt-Koechlin, and Karl Eckert. The history of the architectural office and its swift success are inextricably linked with the Basel chemical industry and companies such as Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy (which merged to form Novartis in 1996).
continue reading
:format(webp):quality(75))
1960
Relocation of the office to the «Zum Breisach» building at Oberer Heuberg 16, Basel.
1960
Karl August Burckhardt dies.
1959
Founding of the first pension foundation at Burckhardt.
:format(webp):quality(75))
1958
Edi Bürgin joins the company.
1957–1961
First projects in the USA on behalf of Sandoz for the East Hanover project in New Jersey.
:quality(75))
:quality(75))
1954
Martin H. Burckhardt is commissioned to design a new building for the headquarters of the BIS (Bank for International Settlements).
1951
Founding of Burckhardt Architekten by Karl August Burckhardt-Koechlin, Martin Heinrich Burckhardt and Karl Eckert, based on Malzgasse 16, Basel.
FoundingofBurckhardt
Architekten
:format(webp):quality(75))
1951
Karl August Burckhardt-Koechlin leaves the company Burckhardt, Wenk & Cie.
1928
After the death of Adolf Staehelin, the company becomes Burckhardt, Wenk & Cie., with Otto and Wolfgang Wenk, Jakob Stäheli and Karl August Burckhardt-Koechlin.
1921
Martin Heinrich Burckhardt, Founder and Partner 1951–1990
Martin H. Burckhardt was born in Basel in 1921, the son of architect Karl August Burckhardt and Louise Elisabeth Koechlin. He was the youngest of five siblings. After attending the Humanistisches Gymnasium in Basel, he studied architecture at ETH Zurich from 1940 to 1945. He then gained practical experience in Basel and Zurich from 1945 to 1948 and in New York and Houston from 1948 to 1949. In the USA, he worked for the architectural office Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), then as now one of the leading offices in the United States, with whom Burckhardt has worked closely for many years on various major projects.
continue reading
1890