Building for the 21st Century
Copenhagen, Denmark – March 21, 2002 –
Ferring International Center Opens for Business
The new Ferring International Center in Copenhagen will be officially inaugurated by the Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation and renowned architect Henning Larsen on Thursday, March 21st, 2002.
‘The Ferring International Center is a shining example of Ferring’s many achievements in advancing science and pharmaceutical research and technology, said Minister Helge Sander. ‘Like the bridge just a few minutes away that links two nations, the Ferring International Center stands as a partnership that will only deepen and expand in the years ahead.’
Commenting on the event, executive chairman Frederik Paulsen said “this is a building for the twenty-first century that will enhance Ferring’s capability to continue to address new challenges in the development of innovative medicines*”.
The inauguration of the new FIC building is an important landmark in the company’s effort to consolidate its Scandinavian work force as well as providing global management services for its numerous operating companies world-wide.
‘We now have all of our key functions represented under one roof and can capitalise on the resulting interaction and dynamic flow of information to provide renewed impetus for Ferring’s continued growth and expansion,’ said Michel L. Pettigrew, Executive Vice-President of Commercial Operations.
Over the years, Ferring has developed into a multi-national company with strong European roots. The founder Dr. Frederik Paulsen opened the first offices in Malmoe in the 1950s. Today, Ferring has operating units in the most important pharmaceutical markets throughout the world. Ferring has about 2,200 employees in 40 countries.
Larsen’s building is a prime architectural example of its kind, by combining light and reflection with a masculine geometric building. The building is one of the tallest in Scandinavia.
”We believe it demonstrates how traditional values of Danish architecture** such as simplicity, purity and functionality can be maintained and developed in a contemporary and sophisticated formal way”, said Larsen.
FIC consists of two parts: a 20-story high-rise for offices and communal areas on the western part of the site, and a three-story building for laboratories on the eastern portion.
The main entrance to the building faces the plaza in front of the metro station. A glass wall separating the plaza from the lobby creates the illusion that the plaza continues into the building’s reception area and elevator lobby. Elevators or a stairway access an underground parking area.
The offices are open plan on each floor, allowing for common and user-friendly space as well as providing a congenial working environment for
Ferring staff.
High-speed elevators service the office tower, staff and guest cafeterias, and smaller meeting rooms, as well as a large roof terrace.
The three floors in the laboratory building are constructed around a central corridor that leads from the main lobby elevators in the high-rise to the east facade facing the waterway. Light filters in through gardens. Two wings added to the base of the building house smaller laboratories. It is expected that about 80 people will work in the laboratories and, with time, 300-350 people will occupy the office tower.
* Notes to Editors:
Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a world leader in the research and commercial development of peptides, natural compounds that play a role in virtually all of the body’s systems. This is what we mean by “… using innovative methodologies to provide tailored treatments on the body’s own terms.” Ferring’s product portfolio illustrates an exceptionally innovative and successful policy of providing therapy for rare diseases. Our research is focused on basic targets within our core therapeutic areas of endocrinology, urology, infertility, obstetrics and gastroenterology. Our projects include the areas of erectile dysfunction, bladder sensory dysfunction, obstetrics, prostate cancer, obstetric related disorders and disorders in bone metabolism.
** Notes to Editors:
Henning Larsen has been rated as one of the most important architects of his generation. For many years he has influenced – and made significant contributions to – both the Danish and the international architectural scene. Among his major works are the Foreign Ministry building in Riyadh, Trondheim University, the Malmö Central Library, Copenhagen School of Economics & Business Administration, and the addition to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. This fall will see the opening of Unibank’s main offices at Christiansbro and the Danish Design Centre on H.C. Andersen’s Boulevard – both in Copenhagen – and next year the Kunsthalle Adolf Würt, Schnäbisch Hall, Baden-Württenberg in Germany.
Ferring is a research driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, infertility and urology.
In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has operating subsidiaries in over 40 countries.
To learn more about Ferring, please visit us at www.ferring.com.
For more information, please contact
Sharmi Albrechtsen
Communication Manager, Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com