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The Hans Wilsdorf foundation has acquired an imposing building in downtown Geneva that will be open 24 hours a day.
The foundation, which owns 100% of Rolex, plans to give the building for use to the Réseau Femmes, or the Women's Network, combining 11 Geneva non-profit organizations aiming to help women.
The Réseau Femmes said it had been a decade-long dream to have a place where material and human resources can both be pooled to defend women's rights.
More than acquiring the building, the Hans Wilsdorf foundation, which generates revenue from Rolex's sales, will provide up to 10 million francs for the building's renovation.
By 2026, the Maison des Femmes foundation will have access to a 3,500 sq m, or 38,000 sq ft, area located in the city center.
Maison des Femmes says it plans to build a 24-hour reception area, with apartments for victims of violence, housing for students and senior women, and a space dedicated to children. It will also include a workplace for women’s organizations, a café, library, coworking spaces and a second-hand clothing store.