Swiss haute horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to inaugurate a new manufacturing site in Le Brassus as part of the ongoing celebrations of its 150th anniversary.
Named the Arc, the 23,700 m² facility brings together local production teams under one roof, reaffirming the brand’s continued investment in the Vallée de Joux. Designed with flexibility, comfort, and sustainability in mind, the Minergie-ECO® certified building supports Audemars Piguet’s long-term ambitions and propels the brand into the future.
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| Featuring a 321-metre-long façade, the Arc centralises technical expertise previously spread across the Vallée de Joux, fostering collaboration and exchange. © Courtesy of Audemars Piguet. |
An Ambitious Project with Collaboration at Its Core
From the early days of the établissage system—a network of artisans and ateliers specialised in individual watch components—Audemars Piguet has fostered a strong culture of collaboration while nurturing individual talent. Guided by this philosophy, the ambitious building project was conceived to bring the manufacturer’s technical specialities—previously dispersed across the Vallée de Joux—together under one roof.
Designed by Geneva-based architectural firm de Giuli & Portier and built by Alpenda SA, construction was completed within three years of receiving the building permit in 2019. Modelled on the Industry 4.0 concept, the project’s flexible infrastructure anticipates future ways of working, enabling the company to adapt to evolving needs over time.
With a surface area of 23,700 m², the new production site accommodates up to 700 employees and offers a pleasant working environment defined by open spaces and abundant natural light. Transparent partitions and numerous meeting rooms encourage communication and idea-sharing between teams, while dedicated quiet zones and traditional offices provide spaces for focus and privacy—allowing individuals to choose the environment that suits them best.
The glass façade is fitted with electrochromic technology, enabling its tint to automatically adjust to light intensity and heat. This ensures optimal comfort for employees at all times, without obstructing access to natural light or views of the surrounding landscape.
With this new building, Audemars Piguet continues to invest in the well-being and expertise of its employees. Designed to optimise collaboration and workflow, the flexibility of the space will allow us to adapt to evolving needs as we build the future of the brand.”
Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet
Anchored in Our Roots, Looking to the Future
Poised to support future brand growth, the newly centralised production site will gradually enable an increase in production capacity through an optimised workflow and state-of-the-art facilities. Automated solutions designed to eliminate certain manual tasks will allow more employees to focus on those requiring dexterity and specialised expertise.
In this way, Audemars Piguet continues to bring its savoir-faire into the 21st century while promoting and safeguarding watchmaking expertise native to the Vallée de Joux. By contributing to the region’s development, the Manufacture supports not only economic growth but also local community life.
A State-of-the-Art Storage System
The Arc is equipped with a centralised storage system designed to streamline stock management and enhance operational efficiency. Making optimal use of limited space, this GTP (Goods-to-Person) system relies on shuttles to deliver components and parts directly to the appropriate workshops.
Standing 15 metres high and fitted with 66 robots, this automated system can perform up to 350 movements per hour—a figure set to increase to 1,200 by 2030. Production and Customer Service teams can now retrieve the necessary components while saving approximately 15 seconds per operation.
As the technical heart of the Manufacture in Le Brassus, the centralised storage system required several months of construction and testing before becoming fully operational and meeting the expectations of the various production teams.
An Industrial Building Built to Be Sustainable
Following in the footsteps of Audemars Piguet’s existing production sites in Le Locle and Meyrin, the Arc is Minergie-ECO® certified, meeting Switzerland’s highest ecological building standards. From the outset, the project was developed with the goal of limiting its environmental impact.
Guided by a carefully considered Partial Land Use Plan, an eco-responsible approach was prioritised throughout. A dedicated green roof recreates favourable conditions for insects and birds while offering panoramic views of the Vallée de Joux. The building also benefits from advanced energy efficiency measures: in addition to heat recovered from industrial machinery, a fully renewable complementary energy source is provided through a connection to the “Brassus Bois” wood-fired heating plant located next to the station.
At the start of the project, non-polluted excavated soil from this same site was reused in a major infrastructure project, reducing the ecological impact of the construction phase. In addition, the installation of a photovoltaic panel surface exceeding regulatory requirements supplies supplementary energy to the Manufacture.
The architects introduced a crenelated surface to animate the building’s 321-metre-long curved façade. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this design reduces the risk of bird collisions and limits glare from glass reflections. To guard against potential flooding, the building is surrounded by an 80-centimetre wall that diverts water towards a natural drainage channel without altering the surrounding environment.
Accessibility and Community Integration
Located next to Le Brassus station, the Arc is easily accessible by public transport and offers 502 parking spaces—274 at the Arc and 228 at the station—to minimise the impact of parking on public areas. The Brassus-Gare car park is also made available to the local community at weekends and during special events outside company use.
Numerous parking spaces for electric vehicles have been provided, and the company has implemented an internal programme to encourage carpooling among employees. Remote working has also been generalised for administrative roles.
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