Basel: Axa names tenants of the «Hauptpost»
A prestigious property in Basel's city center is nearing its reopening. The owner announces further details about the future users.
After around two years of construction, the renovation work on Basel's main post office is nearing completion. As the owner, Axa Investment Foundation, has announced, most of the tenants have now been confirmed. The opening of the first space on the first floor is planned for spring 2026. Renovation work on the historic property in the city center began in summer 2023. Around 1,500 m² of space is available on the first floor and a further 5,000 m² on the first floor and the five upper floors.
Three and a half of five office floors let
The international jewelry brand Pandora is moving into the first floor, as is the chain store Tchibo with a coffee bar and non-food range. According to Axa, another «internationally active Swiss coffee roasting company» will also move in, as will Basel Tourism. The latter will also move into offices on the upper floor. The third to fifth floors will be occupied by the Basel-Stadt Presidential Department with five specialist departments. There had already been media reports about this rental in the spring (IB reported). The cantonal departments are currently spread over four different locations at Marktplatz 30a, Schneidergasse 7, Münzgasse 16 and Binningerstrasse 6.
Axa does not provide figures on the rented space on request. According to the information on the website of the main post office, the area of the top three floors used by the canton totals 2,317 square meters. The second floor with a total of 1,333 square meters and half of the second floor, which offers a total of two areas of 813 square meters and 885 square meters respectively, are still available. According to Axa, talks are currently underway with potential tenants.
Canton: «Room costs remain the same»
The canton of Basel-Stadt has announced that the planned consolidation of the departments at the new location meets the canton's space and area standards. «A rent in line with the market will be paid at Rüdengasse 1,» writes the city in a press release. The costs would be «in the same order of magnitude as the previous total space costs of the five departments».
Opening in spring 2026
According to the schedule, the individual interior fittings for the future tenants will start in January 2026. The plan is to open the first spaces on the first floor in spring 2026. The premises on the upper floor will be occupied in stages from spring 2027. The architectural concept was developed by Basel-based architects Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with the cantonal heritage conservation authority. The origins of the property date back to the 14th century. (aw)
