immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Author: immovestuser

  • Implenia impresses with sustainability

    Implenia impresses with sustainability

    In the current sustainability ranking from Sustainalytics , Implenia has further expanded its leading position in environmental, social and governance matters, the real estate company from Dietlikon informs in a press release . In concrete terms, Implenia had increased its overall rating by 5 to 84 points compared to the previous year. Implenia also took the top spot among a total of 66 real estate companies examined in the three individual sub-categories of environment, social affairs and governance.

    “This outstanding result confirms our ambitious path and we will continue to pursue it with our new sustainability goals”, Anita Eckardt, Chairwoman of Implenia’s Sustainability Committee, is quoted in the press release. “From CO2 reduction on our path to climate neutrality to the highest standards of a sustainable supply chain and circular economy, the twelve goals cover a broad spectrum of what we want to achieve in the coming years.” Implenia is making the full Sustainalytics report available on the Internet Disposal.

    Sustainalytics, based in Amsterdam, specializes in assessing the sustainability of listed companies. The evaluation is also of financial importance. More and more investors and institutional investors are showing interest in whether sustainability strategies are effective and affect supply chains and product delivery. The annual appraisal gives you an independent assessment of your investments. Implenia is currently receiving “more favorable financing terms” due to its very good rating, writes the real estate company.

  • Hächler Group makes Baden city tower future-proof

    Hächler Group makes Baden city tower future-proof

    Specialists in the renovation of historic and listed buildings belonging to the Hächler Group have repaired water damage to the city tower in Baden. According to a press release from the Wettingen construction company, the damage was caused at a height of 30 meters and the entire tufa brickwork was saturated with water.

    In order to avoid such water damage in the future after the repair is complete, the most modern technology will be used on the historic building. Every year there will be a control of the drains by means of a drone, it says in the message.

    Reto Schwitter – foreman, remodeling and renovation of historic buildings at Hächler – reports on the course of events in the media release. On December 22nd, the remodeling and renovation department of Hächler AG received an emergency message with the information that pieces of plaster were falling from the Baden city tower. The damage was examined the next morning with the help of the turntable ladders of the Baden fire brigade at a height of 30 meters.

    The damaged area had been cleaned, but the heavy snow and rain in the following three weeks, followed by night frost, worsened the damage and more pieces of plaster fell off, reports the foreman. A protective net had to be installed in January. In March, the Hächler specialists scaffolded the city tower for the renovation of historical and listed buildings. The historic building material that was soaked in water was identified. After a period of drying out, it was possible to rebuild, reports Polier Schwitter. Now a new gutter has to be installed and then it is necessary to regularly check the Baden city tower at a height of 30 meters – by drone.

  • Umwelt Arena implements lighthouse project in Urdorf

    Umwelt Arena implements lighthouse project in Urdorf

    The development of the Umwelt Arena in Männedorf received the Watt d'or 2021 from the Federal Office of Energy. The two multi-family houses in Männedorf can cover their energy needs with photovoltaic modules on the facades and roofs and two wind turbines. This means that your residents are exempt from electricity and heating costs up to an upper limit.

    The Umwelt Arena is now following up with a new lighthouse project. In Urdorf, three more energy self-sufficient residential buildings are to be realized, is explained in an article on energeia + . The blog of the Federal Office of Energy will accompany the implementation of the project in a loose series of articles. In the first article, Walter Schmid, investor and initiator of the Umwelt Arena, explains the planned development.

    As in Männedorf, the buildings in Urdorf will also produce their own energy, explains Schmid. “Photovoltaic systems are installed on the facade, on the flat roof or the entrance to the underground car park.” Excess energy produced in summer is to be fed into the gas network and withdrawn in winter. In order to convert the gas back into electricity and heat, a hybrid box will be installed in the basement of the building. The tenants of the residential buildings are to be exempted from electricity and heating costs up to an upper limit.

    In the brochure for the project, the development in Urdorf is referred to as a “national future project”. Because the project should show "that it is worthwhile to build energy-efficiently and win everyone in the process," says the initiator Schmid. Männedorf has already shown that the idea works, that the larger project in Urdorf should "make it even cheaper, more economical". Because this is the only way to attract imitators.

  • DBS Group partners with Intercity Group

    DBS Group partners with Intercity Group

    The DBS Group and the Intercity Group want to combine their locations and competencies in real estate management, inform the two partner companies in a message. The respective branches of the companies are now appearing under the IntercityGribi brand. The DBS Group intends to use the cooperation to strengthen its market position in German-speaking Switzerland.

    Within IntercityGribi, Gribi Bewirtschaftung AG from DBS and Intercity Bewirtschaftung AG from Intercity will act as two independent legal entities, the communication further explains. As part of the partnership, the DBS Group takes over half of the Intercity Bewirtschaftung AG. All other real estate services from DBS and Intercity remain unaffected by the cooperation.

    "This step is a milestone for the DBS Group on the way to becoming one of the leading real estate managers in Switzerland," DBS Group CEO Christophe Hubschmid is quoted in the press release. "Even in view of the acquisition of Lucerne contrust immobilien ag by the DBS Group on May 27, 2021, the comprehensive presence of the group represents a considerable competitive advantage." Strengthen your own company.

  • Buildings of the Zurich city administration will be CO2-neutral

    Buildings of the Zurich city administration will be CO2-neutral

    According to a media release from the City of Zurich, all of the properties owned by the city administration are to become CO2-neutral by 2035. City Councilor André Odermatt (SP), Head of the Building Construction Department, presented a strategy for this this week.

    According to the announcement, a large part of the operating emissions can be traced back to fossil heat generation. Among other things, all fossil heating systems should therefore be replaced by alternative heat sources. The heat will come from heat networks or district heating systems. Further measures include technical innovations, improvements in energy efficiency and changes in behavior.

    The portfolio of Immobilien Stadt Zürich (IMMO) includes school complexes, office buildings and workshops. Since 2007, thanks to various measures, it has already been possible to more than halve the buildings' annual CO2 emissions by around 23,000 tonnes to around 20,000 tonnes. A reduction of 90 percent is to be achieved by 2030, before the buildings become completely CO2-neutral in 2035.

    “The goal is ambitious, but the size of our portfolio with around 1,800 buildings also obliges us to set ambitious goals. IMMO can make a significant contribution to urban climate policy, ”Odermatt is quoted as saying.

  • Also new for heat pumps: Switzerland-wide climate bonus for replacing oil and gas heating systems is being expanded

    Also new for heat pumps: Switzerland-wide climate bonus for replacing oil and gas heating systems is being expanded

    Switzerland-wide funding with no upper limit
    This is exactly where Energie Zukunft Schweiz comes in: The climate bonus is a large-scale, Switzerland-wide funding program with no maximum amount and is expected to run until 2025. The climate bonus for wood heating systems launched in August 2020 has hit the nerve of the times: a total of around 600 funding requests have been received since then.

    Fossil heating with a total output of 12 MW is already being replaced with the help of the climate premium. For a heating center for eight apartment buildings with an output of 316 kW, for example, a subsidy of CHF 110,000 was spoken, which covered around 60% of the investment costs. With this system alone, 56,000 liters of heating oil can be saved per year, which corresponds to emissions of around 125 tons of CO₂.

    Even more attractive thanks to the expansion to include heat pumps
    Following the successful launch for wood heating systems, Energie Zukunft Schweiz is now expanding the program to include heat pumps. The subsidy for water / water and brine / water heat pumps is 1.80 francs per liter of oil or cubic meter of natural gas saved. For an air / water heat pump, the amount is 1 franc. With correctly dimensioned heating, that is around 360 francs for a brine / water heat pump and 200 francs per kilowatt of power for an air / water heat pump.

    Energie Zukunft Schweiz provides an online subsidy calculator to estimate the expected subsidy amount. The funding is financed by the KliK Foundation for Climate Protection and CO₂ Compensation. The program is regulated by the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN.

    Funding contributions for all areas – also for public buildings, office buildings and industrial companies
    The fact that there is no upper limit for funding and not only for the residential sector makes the program for large-scale heating systems – for example for community buildings, process heat in industrial companies, apartment blocks, large commercial or office buildings or entire areas – particularly attractive. A substantial proportion of the investment costs are covered and complex, multivalent systems are also eligible for funding.

    Decarbonization is accelerating
    Renewable heating systems offer many advantages: They not only protect the climate by significantly reducing CO2 emissions, they also have a positive influence on the image and value of real estate. With the generous subsidies for wood heating systems and heat pumps and the uniform processing throughout Switzerland, the climate bonus accelerates the decarbonisation of heating systems in Switzerland significantly. The investment costs are massively reduced. The dilemma that climate-damaging technologies are preferred for reasons of cost has thus been overcome.

  • City Pop: New app for microliving

    City Pop: New app for microliving

    City Pop combines the need for microliving apartments with social living. This is how City Pop differs significantly from other microliving providers. «Our app should meet the needs of our guests and meet the requirements for sustainable living. All services relevant to everyday life can be accessed centrally in one place and are easy to use. We also want to provide tenants with an uncomplicated platform on which they can network and exchange ideas. The aim is to create a real community that helps new tenants to integrate into the respective city, ”explains Manuel Sassella, CEO of City Pop.

    Innovation and flexibility
    The app is the heart of City Pop and the key to the City Pop apartments and the associated services. For example, the apartment can be viewed autonomously before booking. A time slot can be reserved via the app during which individual access to the apartment is possible. Booking and management of the rental agreement for the apartment, ancillary rooms and services are also carried out directly via the app. City Pop confirms the conclusion of the contract in just under 30 minutes and unlocks the virtual house key. «Last year we focused on creating a new and leaner user interface – using solid, secure and scalable technologies. A brand new, engaging and interactive experience that adapts to the needs of our guests, not the other way around. The focus is on innovation and maximum flexibility, ”says Alex Sassella, City Pop's Chief Technology Officer and responsible for the development of the app. The experiences and needs of the guests are continuously integrated into the further development of the entire City Pop concept via the app's feedback functions and thus also flow into the future design of the houses and apartments.

    Community idea in the foreground
    In addition to the additional services such as laundry and cleaning service, delivery service or car and bike sharing, the app also offers "house chat" – the opportunity to easily get in touch with neighbors, to meet up and exchange ideas. The “Around you” column shows what offers and activities are available in the area. City Pop's social living concept includes not only virtual, but also physical spaces that are intended to promote exchange, such as common rooms for events and coworking spaces.

    City Pop is expanding nationally and internationally
    City Pop is the first provider in Switzerland to have developed a holistic microliving concept in which living space, innovative technology and social community ideas go hand in hand. The implementation takes place at national and international level. In Switzerland, the Swiss company offers apartments in Zurich and Lugano. The occupancy rate in the apartments is over 98% on average. Further projects in Lausanne, Zurich, Geneva and Basel are under construction and will be ready for occupancy over the next two years. In addition, City Pop took over around 1,300 apartments in Switzerland and Europe last year, which are currently being converted in accordance with the City Pop concept. Including cities like Milan, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Dublin, Berlin, Frankfurt and Prague. City Pop aims to operate 15,000 apartments in 57 major European cities by 2025.

    Further information on City Pop's innovative living concept is available at: www.citypop.com
    Download the app from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store

  • Federal government is satisfied with the law on second homes

    Federal government is satisfied with the law on second homes

    The population accepted the second home initiative in 2012. This means that no additional holiday apartments or houses may be built in municipalities with more than 20 percent second homes. The Federal Council has now carried out an impact analysis of the Second Homes Act. He comes to the conclusion that the law does not need to be adjusted.

    In its communication, however, the Federal Council emphasizes that it is still too early to conclusively assess the Second Homes Act. For example, there would still be transition effects. Certain construction projects were approved before the law came into force. Overall, the land consumption for newly built second homes in all affected municipalities decreased by around a third from 2013 to 2018 compared to 2007 to 2012. However, the law on second homes did not result in zero growth.

    The federal government does not see any need for reform in the Second Homes Act. However, he sees a need for action in terms of enforcement, the knowledge base and the key terms of the accommodation industry. For example, the tasks and competencies of the cantons are to be specified. In 2025, the federal government will re-examine the effects of the law.

    In a media release, the Intergovernmental Conference of the Mountain Cantons is disappointed with the Federal Council's decision. It is known that the law on second homes is "largely complex in terms of content and not optimally formulated". This leads to problems in the execution. Accordingly, according to the mountain cantons, the law could be improved. You now want to work towards adjustments in parliament. They also emphasize that the impact analysis was carried out two years later than the law provides. If it had already gone that way, the findings from the corona pandemic should have been incorporated.

  • JED wins design award

    JED wins design award

    The real estate development JED in Schlieren was able to convince in an international architecture competition. She received the Silver Award at theA 'Design Award and Comeptition . As part of the global competition, 2094 winners from 108 countries and in 104 design disciplines were chosen.

    JED was honored for its interior design, according to a message from real estate developer Swiss Prime Site on LinkedIn. In addition to Swiss Prime Site, the Zurich architecture firm Evolution Design is behind the design.

    JED was created on the former printing center of the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” in Schlieren. The development offers space for workplaces and events. JED sees itself as a “center for knowledge transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship”.

    "The project shows how industrial premises can be transformed into attractive destinations that revitalize local (economic) activities and create a platform for entrepreneurship," said the jury of the A 'Design Award and Competition. The architectural concept emphasizes the special features of the individual halls and gives the original structure a contemporary profile. The jury also praised the rooms in such a way that they enable knowledge transfer, creativity and innovation.

    The aim of the A 'Design Award and Competition is to make special architectural projects from all over the world known. This is intended to inspire new projects.

  • "Gupfengarten" in Niederweningen receives building permit

    "Gupfengarten" in Niederweningen receives building permit

    The building permit for the Gupfengarten residential development in Niederweningen is now legally binding. According to a media release, construction on a well-developed area south of the 3,000-inhabitant village should begin in late summer. The project is being implemented by the Zurich project developer Steiner AG on behalf of Evostate Immobilien AG.

    The Gupfengarten project comprises 36 single-family houses and three multi-family houses with 21 condominiums. It should be completed by the 3rd quarter of 2023. Graf Biscioni Architekten AG is responsible for the architecture.

    Othmar Ulrich, Head of Real Estate Development in the Eastern Region at Steiner AG, points out in the press release that the marketing of the apartments began last year. "With the legally binding building permit, another important milestone has now been reached," said Ulrich. The 36 row single-family houses with 4.5 and 5.5 rooms have their own private garden and are child-friendly. The 21 condominium apartments with 2.5 to 4.5 rooms have a covered outdoor area. The traffic-free settlement has an underground car park with direct access to the residential units.

    The Gupfengarten project focuses on sustainability with heat generation using a heat pump and photovoltaic system. The building envelope is made of wood for optimal thermal insulation values. The Gupfengarten development is within walking distance of the train station. From there it is 35 minutes by train to the center of Zurich.

  • FenX convinces with sustainable insulation material

    FenX convinces with sustainable insulation material

    FenX AG has secured 2.7 million francs in a seed financing round, according to a press release . Investors include the real estate company Swiss Prime Site, Zürcher Kantonalbank and CADFEM International, which specializes in simulation-based planning.

    FenX AG has developed a patented technology with which industrial waste can be converted into insulation boards using a cost-effective foam process at room temperature. According to the communication, the insulation boards produced in this way have good insulation properties and high mechanical strength. They are not flammable and cause almost no CO2 emissions.

    On the one hand, FenX intends to use the fresh funds to continue investing in research and development. On the other hand, the company wants to set up its first production facility and prepare for market entry. FenX's long-term goal is to produce recyclable building materials around the world. Production is to take place decentrally from locally available resources.

    FenX was spun off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH) in 2019. Behind the company are researchers from the ETH Laboratory for Complex Materials.

  • Stadtwerk Winterthur pushes conversion to renewables

    Stadtwerk Winterthur pushes conversion to renewables

    Stadtwerk Winterthur is consistently pursuing the conversion of the energy supply to renewable energies, explains the energy company of the City of Winterthur in a communication on the 2020 annual financial statements . In the year under review, Stadtwerk Winterthur installed 14 new photovoltaic systems, among other things. Since April, only biogas and CO2-compensated natural gas have been offered as basic gas products.

    In order to promote the switch to district heating, the company also refrains from actively selling new gas connections. The basic supply of electricity has been offered exclusively through electricity from renewable energy sources since the beginning of 2020.

    Stadtwerk Winterthur explains in the press release that biogas is currently around 13 percent of the total sales volume. This year the share is to be increased to 33 percent. The company also plans to install 100 new photovoltaic systems by 2025. In addition, it is planned to renew incineration line 2 of the waste incineration plant in the Grüze. This means that additional areas can be supplied with district heating, writes Stadtwerk Winterthur.

    In the year under review, Stadtwerk Winterthur generated total sales of 239 million francs, slightly below the previous year's figure. The profit, on the other hand, has increased significantly to 33 million francs, explains the company. The communication cites very good purchase prices for electricity and gas as a background.

  • HB-Therm builds new headquarters in St.Gallen

    HB-Therm builds new headquarters in St.Gallen

    HB-Therm is the “world's leading manufacturer of temperature control units for the plastics processing industry”, as an article in the “Tagblatt” reveals. With its 150 employees , it produces its products, which are sold in more than 50 countries, exclusively in St.Gallen. The various departments are housed in four buildings around the St. Fiden train station. This will change with the new headquarters in St.Gallen-Winkeln. HB-Therm is investing 60 million francs in the new building; the groundbreaking ceremony recently took place.

    With the new building, however, not only the departments will be brought together under one roof. In addition, HB-Therm will increase its production capacities. 100 of the employees work in St.Gallen, and there will be space for 200 jobs in the future. From the move planned for 2023, more optimal process flows should then be made possible in the future. When choosing the location, it was always clear that HB-Therm would stay in St.Gallen. "We feel very comfortable here, we will stay here", CEO Reto Zürcher is quoted as saying, who also emphasizes that the company will build "the future" with the new headquarters. This is underlined by the targeted Minergie standard for sustainable building, a solar system with a peak output of 300 kilowatts and charging stations for electric vehicles.

    This commitment to a future in St.Gallen is described by Samuel Zuberbühler, Head of City Promotion, as a “strong symbol for the business and workplace”. He is pleased "that the jobs are being preserved and even new ones are being created," he is quoted in the "Tagblatt" newspaper.

  • Procimmo realizes capital increase

    Procimmo realizes capital increase

    Procimmo SA has raised around 70 million francs on the capital market for its real estate fund Procimmo Swiss Commercial Fund 56, the asset manager of collective real estate investments informs in a message . According to her, the capital increase was significantly oversubscribed. The company sees this as "a clear vote of confidence on the part of investors in the fund," says the press release.

    The 64 million francs that have been brought in are intended, on the one hand, to reduce the fund's debt financing ratio. On the other hand, Procimmo wants to use the new capital for the continuation of existing construction projects, is explained in the communication. The company is also planning further property acquisitions.

    The funds brought in correspond to 594,128 new fund shares, explains Procimmo. A total of 2,970,643 shares are currently held by 56 investors. As of the end of 2020, the fund consisted of a total of 33 properties in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Friborg, Jura, Neuchâtel and Valais. The announcement puts his total assets at CHF 487.8 million.

  • Jakob Stark presides over Lignum

    Jakob Stark presides over Lignum

    Lignum held its spring meeting online at the end of April, according to a media release from the umbrella organization for the Swiss forest and timber industry. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin also sent a word of greeting and referred to the potential of wood. On the one hand, building owners and architects in Switzerland would increasingly rely on wood and, on the other hand, forests and wood would contribute to the achievement of the federal government's energy and climate targets. There is an enormous demand for the material worldwide.

    Lignum is now managed by Jakob Stark. The Thurgau Council of States has taken over the presidency from Sylvia Flückiger. On her departure, former National Council President Ruedi Lustenberger gave the laudation and underlined that the wood industry had benefited from Flückiger's work in terms of both forest and wood policy.

    The new President Stark sees more and more areas of application for wood as a material in the future. Not only in the building sector, but also in the infrastructure sector, for example in bridge construction, as he says in an interview. In addition, there would also be opportunities to use wood together with concrete: “Modern building is hybrid, you mix.” As a competence center for the use of wood in construction, Lignum would be of major importance for a positive future of wood in Switzerland. In addition, wood has the advantage in terms of climate policy, "that the wood used binds a lot of CO2 and can thus make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gases and slowing global warming, and that is still very cost-effective," says Stark.

  • MLP evaluates real estate with software from PriceHubble

    MLP evaluates real estate with software from PriceHubble

    In the future, MLP Finanzberatung SE will work with the digital solutions for live analysis of the real estate market from PriceHubble . According to a media release, the Zurich technology company is providing MLP with its headquarters in Wiesloch near Heidelberg with the software and extensive real estate data integrated into the MLP website. PriceHubble builds digital products based on the analysis of large amounts of data and artificial intelligence, with which current market trends and the development of real estate can be observed.

    "Our consultants can quickly and efficiently respond to the needs of their customers, assess the market value of a property for purchase or sale and, based on this, develop the best strategy for real estate investments," says Marc-Philipp Unger, Head of Financing at MLP and Executive Board member at the subsidiary Deutschland.Immobilien, quoted in the media release. Real estate investments are often the largest and most emotional asset in a private finance portfolio. Therefore, they should be carefully considered and based on reliable data.

    According to the press release, existing customers who already own a property will soon receive regular evaluation dossiers for their investment. Following on from this, MLP employees can talk to their clients about investments or a sale. The program is also intended to be used in discussions with potential customers who are just thinking about buying or selling a property, financing or converting a residential property and who just want to find out more.

  • Helvetica increases capital of Helvetica Swiss Living Fund

    Helvetica increases capital of Helvetica Swiss Living Fund

    Zurich-based Helvetica Capital AG is issuing new shares in the Helvetica Swiss Living Fund at CHF 109.68 each between May 10 and 26. With this, the company wants to generate additional equity. This is what she needs to buy 300 apartments worth a total of 130 million francs in the Zurich area and the Lake Geneva region, according to a media release .

    This means that the fund will grow to more than 800 apartments, which is intended to improve the diversification and distribution potential of the real estate investment. The purchase is planned for immediately after payment of the capital increase on May 31st.

    In total, a maximum of 342,789 new shares will be issued. This increases the number of shares in circulation from 1,371,155 to a maximum of 1,713,944. There is no trading in subscription rights for shareholders.

  • Empa and Eawag expand campus

    Empa and Eawag expand campus

    The symbolic construction work for the expansion of the research campus by Empa and Eawag in Dübendorf began on Wednesday. The groundbreaking ceremony gave the go-ahead for a new laboratory building. In addition, a multifunctional building and a multi-storey car park are planned on the 20,000 square meter site. According release Empa and completion is scheduled for the middle of the 2024th

    The laboratory building will provide space for around 60 new laboratories and offices, the multifunctional building 1000 square meters of office space and space for restaurants on the ground floor. All parking spaces will be moved to the multi-storey car park. A total of 260 vehicles should find space in it. This would make the outside areas more inviting and safer for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, more greening is possible.

    In the future, research will not only be carried out in, but also on and with the new buildings. Innovations from Empa's laboratories are to be used primarily in the areas of energy and building technology. For example, a field with geothermal probes is planned that will store the waste heat from the buildings and release it again in winter. A research project will then investigate how this innovation affects the campus energy supply.

  • Global Real Estate Run: Event with follow-up boost

    Global Real Estate Run: Event with follow-up boost

    Almost 1,400 participants from 46 countries and 6 continents ran for the “good cause” and set a sustainable example. With the cultivation of 6,000 trees, one for every kilometer covered, approx. 132 tons of CO2 are offset per year.

    According to the motto “Do good and talk about it”, the organizers thank all participants and look forward to one or the other great additional commitment as part of the running event sponsored by Homegate AG , SPG Intercity Zurich AG and PropTechMarket in Switzerland. Numerous pictures, insights and experiences were shared on the set up social media wall.

    Meno Lammers, founder of the PropTech for Good initiative in the Netherlands, collected a lot of rubbish from the roadside on the 6-kilometer route and thus gave the sustainability initiative its own “green stamp”. Others, on the other hand, used the Global Real Estate Run for their team building and were pleasantly surprised that the team spirit is still absolutely present despite the minimized exchange opportunities during the lockdowns. H&B Real Estate awaited the participating employees in Zurich with a spontaneous Slow Food aperitif and outdoor exchange. BuildingMinds, based in Berlin, used the participation for new employees to not only see their colleagues via virtual collaboration platforms, but also to get to know them personally in corona-compliant teams of two. PriceHubble was represented by 100 employees, friends and families in several countries – in Japan, Tunisia, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine and Singapore. Photos and videos were shared on a dedicated Slack channel, thus reawakening the international team spirit even in times of canceled business flights. However, many participants simply enjoyed the run for themselves, as a short break "to ventilate their heads" and to make room for new ideas.

    More stories and posts at:
    globalrealestaterun.com/socialmediawall

  • The most modern Swiss sawmill is under construction

    The most modern Swiss sawmill is under construction

    Tschopp Holzindustrie AG in Buttisholz is investing 75 million francs to replace its now 21-year-old and overloaded sawmill. According to the company, the most modern sawmill in Switzerland is to be built on an area of 20,000 square meters. The company is run in the third generation by the brothers Ronald and Daniel Tschopp.

    With this investment, Tschopp Holzindustrie AG is setting an important example for the domestic wood industry, according to a media release. This means that more wood-based materials made from Swiss wood could be made available to the market in the long term.

    The new plant is designed for 300,000 cubic meters of logs. They should be managed from the log yard in one-shift operation and from the sawing line, including the sorting plant and stacking systems, in a maximum of two shifts. The wood species spruce / fir from local forests would also be processed in the future. Tschopp continues to rely on the "long-term and professional partnership with the proven raw wood suppliers".

    Tschopp Holzindustrie AG specializes in the manufacture of formwork panels for the construction industry. Since 2005, pellets have been produced from the waste wood for the energy industry. Tschopp is the market leader in Switzerland in both areas.

    After the new sawmill has gone into operation, timber construction companies will also be offered products that have not yet been manufactured at home or not industrially manufactured in Germany and therefore have to be imported from abroad, such as three-layer natural wood panels.

  • Implenia is building an underground station in Stockholm

    Implenia is building an underground station in Stockholm

    Implenia AG has been commissioned by the Stockholm region to expand Stockholm's blue metro line. The construction and real estate service provider is to build the new Sofia subway station with associated elevator shafts, two single-track tunnels for the subway and a parallel service tunnel, according to a media release . The order is worth around CHF 110 million.

    The new Sofia subway station near Stigbergsparken is one of the deepest subway stations in the world with its location around 100 meters underground. Eight high-speed elevators will take commuters to the platforms and exits in 30 seconds. Construction work is scheduled to begin this summer and continue until the end of 2025.

    For Implenia, the new order is a continuation of the London Viaduct tunnel, the construction of which the company was entrusted with by the Stockholm region in 2019. Work is currently underway and paving the way for the future main tunnels in Sofia. "It is an honor to take on another tunnel project of this magnitude – a complex, multidisciplinary project that fits perfectly with our expertise," Per Linden, President of the Implenia branch in Sweden, is quoted in the press release.

    With the preparatory work on the London Viaduct, the tunneling experts could ensure that Sofia would be built safely and efficiently. Implenia is primarily responsible for the implementation work and the planning of the concrete work. The Stockholm client is responsible for the overall planning.

  • Single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis

    Single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis

    The speed at which sellers have been able to sell their homes over the past year has varied widely across regions. While single-family houses in the greater Zurich area became even scarcer and were sold within an average of 43 days, it took 100 days longer in Ticino. This is the finding of the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics (HWZ) and the online real estate marketplace Homegate in their biannual evaluation of real estate advertisements on the Internet.

    Accordingly, the average advertisement time for single-family houses on the leading online real estate portals in Switzerland rose by 26 percent in 2020 from 61 to 77 days. This development was driven by the regions of Ticino and Waadt / Wallis. In Ticino, advertisements were on the Internet 60 percent longer before they were sold than in 2019. In the Vaud / Wallis region, it took 25 percent longer and thus 71 days to sell a house than in the previous year.

    The authors of the study see a possible reason for the increase in the average tendering time in the uncertainty in the crisis year, which made many wait and see. Nevertheless, the demand remained high. “In some regions it took a little longer to sell a property for a short time. But we can see that the tide has already turned again and that single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis, ”Jens Paul Berndt, CEO of Homegate, is quoted in a press release.

  • Circulit concrete is being delivered for the first time

    Circulit concrete is being delivered for the first time

    In Stadel, the recyclable concrete was delivered circulit for the first time. This will create three apartment buildings on Hinterdorfstrasse. “The circular age begins with the delivery of the first cubic meters of circular concrete,” writes the newly founded company , which calls itself just like its product, in its press release .

    Thanks to the use of 1850 cubic meters of circular concrete, the builder EBI Immobilien saves 3260 primary raw materials. It also reduces the construction project's carbon footprint by 18,500 kilograms. This is achieved by using a “new type of technology” to store CO2 in the concrete.

    This building material "gives me the opportunity to achieve a significant reduction in the biggest influencing factor, concrete," Sarah Heinle from EBI Immobilien is quoted in the press release. "We hope that other clients will follow suit so that we can achieve the ambitious environmental goals together."

    Theoretically, according to Circulit, the construction industry can remove 7.5 million tons of construction waste annually and at the same time store over 42 million kilograms of CO2 in the concrete. The technology is ready for the market and the national expansion has started.

  • AKB Green Hypothek saves tons of CO2

    AKB Green Hypothek saves tons of CO2

    The Aargauische Kantonalbank has set itself the goal of becoming the most sustainable bank in the canton of Aargau for its strategy period from 2021 to 2024. To this end, the Green Mortgage and the Green Bond were launched in 2020. Now the AKB has had the effect of the green financing offers on the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of buildings examined.

    In the Impact Reporting of the Information and Training Center for Real Estate AG (IAZI), according to the AKB media release, the total annual savings in CO2 emissions are around 232 tonnes. According to the IAZI test report, the calculation is based on a list of 93 homes that were financed with the help of the AKB Green Mortgage in the year under review or granted as earmarked loans for sustainable renovation measures. The IAZI report was audited by EY's auditors.

    The 232 tonnes of CO2 savings in the projections of the IAZI test report correspond to the annual emissions of around 190 new, commercially available passenger cars, according to the report. Or they correspond to the average annual Swiss consumption of 16 individuals.

    The promotion of environmentally friendly construction leads to emission reductions in buildings, is stated in the AKB communication. With the Green Mortgage, AKB offers environmentally conscious property owners the opportunity to build or renovate their own home according to climate-friendly criteria. The financing takes place through a green bond that the AKB has issued.

    The Kantonalbank points out that, in addition to new buildings and individual measures to save energy, the Green Mortgage also covers comprehensive renovations to increase energy efficiency or the use of renewable energies.

  • LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim has strengthened its Heracles group in Greece. The Zug-based building materials manufacturer bought Halyps Domia Ylika, namely its large aggregates business and two ready-mixed concrete plants, from its competitor Heidelberg Cement. As stated in a media release from LafargeHolcim, this acquisition will strengthen the position of the Heracles Group in the flourishing metropolitan area of Athens with its important infrastructure projects.

    "I am excited about the opportunities and growth prospects of this acquisition in the Attica region in central Greece," said Miljan Gutovic, Region Head EMEA, in the press release. "With our leading range of sustainable building solutions such as the green concrete ECOPact, it will also support us in our pursuit of net zero."

    The acquisition will offer Heracles customers an expanded product portfolio of aggregates and concrete solutions that are suitable for all construction projects. This April, for example, the Heracles Group launched its ECOPact range of green concrete with a reduced CO2 footprint.

  • Swiss Prime Site Immobilien markets offices near Geneva

    Swiss Prime Site Immobilien markets offices near Geneva

    In the immediate vicinity of the Lancy-Pont-Rouge train station, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG is developing a building with 15 upper floors. Office and commercial space according to the latest standards for modern work is being built on 30,000 square meters. The real estate company based in Olten recently laid the foundation stone for the project called Alto Pont-Rouge , according to a media release .

    Marketing has already started. The first rental contracts, including with a co-working provider, have been concluded. The proximity to Geneva speaks for the location. Trains to the metropolis run several times an hour from Lancy-Pont-Rouge train station, which opened in 2017. Commuters reached Genève-Cornavin main train station in five minutes.

    France can also be reached quickly and will make the district a traffic and economic hub in the future, according to the media release. A new district is to be built in the former 230 hectare industrial quarter. 50,000 people are expected to settle there over the next 20 years. According to a press release, Pont-Rouge is the first major construction phase in the important Praille-Acacias-Vernets development area in Geneva.

  • April rents rise by almost 1 percent

    April rents rise by almost 1 percent

    The homegate-ch asking rent index was unchanged in April compared to the previous month at 115.6 points. The rent for apartments to be re-let, on the other hand, rose by an average of 0.96 percent. This index is calculated monthly in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank . It shows the quality-adjusted change in rental prices for new and re-let apartments based on current market offers.

    “As usual,” the rents developed differently depending on the canton, according to homegate.ch in a press release. According to this, the asking rents recorded an increase in rents, especially in the cantons of Bern (0.26 percent), Thurgau (0.52 percent) and Vaud (0.24 percent). In the canton of Geneva, asking rents have fallen by 0.93 percent. A similar picture emerges in the cities. The city of Geneva in particular recorded a decline of 1.27 percent.

    According to the company, the homegate.ch asking rent index is the oldest quality-adjusted rental price index in Switzerland. Real estate professionals use it as a reference source for determining the price of rental properties.

  • BKW, AEK and onyx are merging their networks

    BKW, AEK and onyx are merging their networks

    BKW Energie AG in Bern, AEK Energie AG in Solothurn and onyx Energie Mittelland AG in Langenthal will all operate under one roof on January 1, 2022. The merger of the three distribution network operators of the BKW Group is to be approved at the general meetings of AEK and onyx next year, according to a media release .

    The locations in the areas of Emmental, Oberaargau, Seeland, Oberland, Jura and Solothurn are to be retained, as are the more than 600 jobs in the areas of energy, buildings and infrastructure.

    The employees are to develop the largest distribution network in Switzerland in the future. For this purpose, a place for new, future-oriented cooperation models in the areas of energy and infrastructure will be created in Solothurn.

    The merger of the networks is a reaction of the companies to a changing market environment in the course of the energy transition, according to the media release. So there are increasingly high power peaks when owners of electric cars connect their cars for charging at the same time.

    In addition, more and more consumers who produce electricity themselves are feeding their surpluses into the grid. This leads to higher costs. These additional costs are to be cushioned through closer coordination, standardization and automation of the previously independent networks.

    The networks from BKW, AEK and onyx supply one million people with electricity. They include 425,000 connections and 22,000 kilometers of network along the Aare from the Grimsel to Solothurn and in the Jura.

  • Technopark Winterthur opens start-up meeting point

    Technopark Winterthur opens start-up meeting point

    Technopark Winterthur has completed the renovation of its 1000 square meter ground floor. The start-up meeting point, which was redesigned for around CHF 2 million, was opened to the public on Friday. It now offers spaces for networking, coworking, working groups and events.

    All conference, seminar and meeting rooms that were previously distributed in the building were moved to the ground floor, as was the coworking space called Workeria. According to a media release , new and significantly larger event spaces have been gained. This once again significantly increases the attractiveness for potential organizers. The offer for coworkers and for informal networking has now been significantly upgraded thanks to an inspiring interior design and acoustic measures. In addition, a bistro takes care of food, drinks and catering from morning to evening.

    "We discussed the plan for the renovation in detail with many stakeholders and optimized it several times – now it is a reality," says Managing Director Thomas Schumann. "I am convinced that the Technopark will further strengthen the business location and make it even better known beyond the region."

  • University of St.Gallen gets a house in the park

    University of St.Gallen gets a house in the park

    The University of St.Gallen ( HSG ) needs more space, according to a joint communication from the Canton of St.Gallen , the City of St.Gallen and the HSG. The canton of St.Gallen will therefore have a second campus built for the HSG on the Platztor site in the city of St.Gallen. The project had already been approved by the population of the canton in 2019.

    In the architecture competition organized by the canton, the project House in the Park by Zurich architect Pascal Flammer was able to prevail from among 59 candidates, informs the city administration. The winning project envisages a six-story building surrounded by a park. Large windows and a lot of wood made the building appear light and open, according to the announcement. On around 31,000 square meters, space will be created for around 3,000 students, lecturers and employees. The new building will significantly enhance the area “compared to the current situation”, write the authors.

    In the next step, the canton will now work out the specific construction project. The approval process is then to be started in 2023. Construction is scheduled to start in 2025. The Haus am Park should be ready for use in 2029.

    The communication estimates the cost of the project at CHF 207 million. The canton's population has already given their approval for the CHF 160 million allocated to the canton. The federal government and the HSG will contribute CHF 25 million and CHF 20 million respectively. The city of St.Gallen made a contribution of 2 million francs to the sale of the property.