Open communication starts here.
The building was constructed between 1947 and 1948 by Ernst Egeler on behalf of the Bühler AG printing company. It was built on the site of a former family villa and was designed from the outset as a modern production facility—bright, functional, and forward-looking. Large window fronts and an open floor plan create light-filled spaces that fostered creativity and productivity even then.
In the 1980s, Swiss architect Hans Zwimpfer set up his office here, shaping Basel's urban landscape with his work. Over the decades, the building became a center of architecture, design, and professional innovation. MDPI owned it since 2016, before the company relocated its headquarters to Grosspeteranlage 5.
A 66 – in Basel is a place with history, character and innovative architecture.
Today, St. Alban-Anlage 66 shines in a new light: after a careful renovation, the building is now used as an event venue. The combination of historic architecture, light-filled spaces, and state-of-the-art technical equipment gives every event a unique charm – ideal for conferences, workshops, business meetings, or networking events.
Gallery
Historical testimonies
«A 66 should create a space for people with an innovative spirit and visionary thinking.»
Peter Roth, Head of Publishing MDPI
Our vision for A 66 is:
«Open Communication».
Just as «Open Access» once revolutionized scientific communication by providing free access to knowledge, A 66 aims to serve as a platform that brings people together and fosters open, creative communication — whether as a purely local event or online, globally connected in a hybrid format.
A place of encounter where dedicated people come together to present their ideas, kick-start projects, and collectively drive societal progress.
MDPI’s first vision was «Open Access». At a time when scientific findings were published exclusively in subscription-based journals and researchers had to struggle to access this information, MDPI consistently pursued the goal of making scientific knowledge freely accessible worldwide. The open-access publishing model has been a central part of our mission from the very beginning – and it has fundamentally transformed scientific communication.
Today, on the threshold of an AI-assisted society, there is a growing desire for exchange and discussion.
Much like the transition from the industrial age to the computer age, this new era brings profound changes — and opens up many new opportunities. Tasks that were previously carried out by humans can increasingly be automated. This creates more freedom — especially for deeper, more meaningful interaction between people. That is why we need spaces for open communication and innovation: places where ideas, visions, and perspectives come together to find positive solutions.
Thanks to the global network that MDPI has built over the past 30 years with dedicated researchers from all fields, valuable connections already exist today, laying the foundation for a vibrant, interdisciplinary dialogue.