St. Gallen: Michael Fischer becomes new cantonal architect

Michael Fischer (50) succeeds Werner Binotto, who will take early retirement at the end of March 2020, according to the canton of St. Gallen. In the meantime, deputy cantonal architect Jürg Kellenberger will take over as head of the building construction office.

Fischer has been with Herzog & de Meuron since 2006, rising to partner in 2016. He currently leads a team of around 70 employees. Born in Aargau, he has managed various construction projects in recent years, for example as Project Director for the construction of the office tower Building 1 for the Roche pharmaceutical group.

Currently, Fischer is responsible in particular for the second Roche office tower, Building 2, the company's new research center, and the Titlis 2030 project. In the canton of St. Gallen, the architect planned the mountain restaurant and the gondola lift on the Chäserrugg.

As the canton's master builder and new head of the structural engineering office, Fischer will in future increasingly deal with fundamental questions of urban development and building culture and take on management tasks, the canton says. (ah)