Located in the anonymous industrial neighborhood in Allschwil, the new building for the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) forges a marked presence through a rich inner world. Nourished by the materialization in wood and a ground floor concept functioning as an urban plaza, this inviting entry space supports two floors above, one for the laboratory and the other for office space, which are each connected to the entrance area by their own respective spiral staircase. Through this solution a very complex program for a high-tech research building is transformed into a simple building with a clear identity.