Category: immoNews

  • Subscription model provides flexible set-up solutions for companies

    Subscription model provides flexible set-up solutions for companies

    Skollektiv GmbH offers its furnishing solution as a subscription model on the new Settility.ch website. Under this name, the Bern-based creative network provides pieces of furniture for temporary use that are consistently designed according to the principles of the circular economy, from design and use to the return and reuse of materials. “With Settility, companies and institutions can furnish places to a high standard, even though many industries lack a long-term planning horizon,” reads a press release.

    According to the statement, the Settility design allows for maximum design freedom, as all components are compatible with each other. In addition, all modules are mobile and multifunctional, so that a lobby can be transformed into an event venue, a work zone into a workshop space or a catering environment into an exhibition and sales area with little effort.

    The annual subscription costs are gradually reduced over the first five years. From the sixth year onwards, only a small annual usage fee is charged. “Our subscription model is also extremely flexible in terms of the period of use,” says co-founder Reto Waser, who is also responsible for the concept and realisation. “Anything from two days to many years is possible and makes economic sense.” In addition, customers receive scenographic advice every year. The technical maintenance of the modules is also included in the subscription costs.

    One of Skollektiv’s first customers was the Bluefactory in Freiburg, which rents out modularly customisable spaces to commercial and scientific players. Its Hospitality & Services Manager, Fabio Burri, explains why his company opted for a Settility facility: “The Bluefactory will continue to develop over the coming years. That’s why we appreciate the flexibility and service that Settility offers us.”

  • Double award recognises quality in property management

    Double award recognises quality in property management

    IAZI, Informations- und Ausbildungszentrum für Immobilien AG, presented this year’s IAZI Awards at the 21st IAZI Real Estate Investment Event in Zurich. According to a press release, the Rivora Collective Foundation, based in Winterthur, received the awards for Best Residential Properties 2026 and, for the first time, Best Pension Fund.

    “We are delighted to receive this double award, which is the result of a clear strategy and strong collaboration,” said Amet Bekiri, Managing Director of Rivora Collective Foundation, in the press release. “It confirms our ongoing commitment to responsible action and sustainable quality – for the benefit of our policyholders.”

    Rivora is a long-standing partner of Auwiesen Immobilien AG. The property company based in Winterthur supports Rivora in the portfolio management of direct investments in real estate. “Being honoured twice with the prestigious IAZI award is an extraordinary confirmation of our many years of joint work,” said Christof Schmid, Managing Director of Auwiesen Immobilien AG. “Together with the Rivora Collective Foundation, we develop an investment strategy tailored to their needs and are responsible for its implementation.”

    As a pension fund without vested interests, Rivora offers companies and their employees customised pension solutions. Auwiesen Immobilien AG manages property portfolios worth over CHF 4.5 billion, primarily in German-speaking Switzerland.

  • Research project promotes circular economy in the construction industry

    Research project promotes circular economy in the construction industry

    Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH) are working on the reuse of old building materials, according to a press release. In a project-based interdisciplinary course developed by Prof Dr Catherine De Wolf, prospective engineering students from fields such as architecture and computer science are looking for ways to recycle materials in the construction industry in order to save resources and use materials for longer.

    They apply their knowledge during construction site visits, workshops or in the workshop. The ETH researchers spend around 70 per cent of their time in the field. “They learn how to carefully remove materials from existing buildings, document them digitally, integrate them into new designs and finally realise them,” they say. The experience of dismantling a building and reusing this demolition material, which would otherwise end up in landfill, for new construction processes demonstrates “how sustainable construction methods can be implemented in practice”. In the Digital Creativity for Circular Construction course, teams work on realisable projects for external clients and users. Laser scanning, artificial intelligence and augmented reality are used to record the building fabric.

    The students’ work has been exhibited at the Kunsthalle Zürich, the Art Genève art fair and the Architecture Biennale in Venice and has been used by external clients and users.

  • Young adults help shape the future of a central area

    Young adults help shape the future of a central area

    In the municipality of Adelboden, young adults can contribute to the future use of the car park area. The municipality is organising a creative workshop in the Adelboden leisure and sports arena in cooperation with the Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg tourism organisation, Parkhaus AG and Hotel Adler AG to find ideas. On 19 June 2026, 80 young adults up to the age of 35 are invited to develop concrete proposals for a structural redesign. Interested parties can register until 5 June.

    According to a press release, approaches that go beyond the “classic planning logic” are in demand. The municipality is keen to make young people’s opinions on the future of their living environment visible. After all, “they make a valuable contribution to the long-term development of the village as a liveable residential and attractive tourist destination”. Before feasibility studies are commissioned, a “broad range of ideas” is required.

    Two options will be actively included and discussed in the “transparent, democratically supported” process: a panorama square with a view of the mountains and an adventure pool with existing development plans. There is also room for further and new concepts. The best project ideas will be professionally visualised, publicly exhibited and then examined in consultation with the local population and tourism stakeholders.

  • Renovation of the airport runway takes place during ongoing flight operations

    Renovation of the airport runway takes place during ongoing flight operations

    Walo Bertschinger AG, based in Dietikon, is participating in the renovation of the main runway at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse together with its partner TRBA from Péruwelz in Belgium. The large-scale project involves the dismantling and restoration of parts of the runway, according to a Facebook post.

    The work is being carried out at high intensity. Within 29 hours, 38,000 square metres of runway were dismantled. Over 15,000 cubic metres of concrete had to be demolished and replaced. At the same time, 500 people are working on the project at peak times. The work is being carried out in parallel with flight operations on the secondary runway 07/25. According to the airport, flight movements with larger A319 and A320 aircraft, which normally use the main runway, will also take place there. Work has been underway since 15 April and will continue until 20 May 2026, with the new runway due to reopen on 21 May.

  • Renewable energies remain on course for growth despite difficult market conditions

    Renewable energies remain on course for growth despite difficult market conditions

    Aventron has announced its key financial figures for the 2025 financial year. In total, the producer of electricity from renewable energies generated around 1.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity – around 15 per cent less than in the previous year (2024: 1.498 billion kilowatt hours). Aventron cites historically weak weather conditions and high price volatility, including negative electricity prices, as the reasons for this.

    Despite the decline in production, the result remains “solid” according to a statement. Net revenue amounted to 120.5 million Swiss francs (2024: 134.9 million Swiss francs), while the EBIT margin (earnings before interest and taxes) was around 21 per cent. Net profit after taxes reached CHF 10.3 million.

    In 2025, aventron continued its diversification strategy with solar, wind and hydro technologies and further developed its portfolio. In Switzerland, construction began on the Sedrun Solar (Grisons) and APV Sidenplangg (Uri) alpine photovoltaic projects. In Italy, realisation of the 25-megawatt Lazio 01 solar power plant began, while two wind farms are under construction in France and Germany. The company invested a total of CHF 67 million. At the end of the year, the portfolio comprised a consolidated total output of 819 megawatts (previous year: 797 MW) in operation or under construction.

    In the medium term, aventron intends to focus increasingly on successful electricity marketing and the expansion of data management and monitoring systems. The aim remains to build up a portfolio with a total output of 1000 megawatts. The Münchenstein-based company operates and develops power plants in the areas of hydro, solar and wind energy in Switzerland and selected European countries.

  • Regional butcher’s shop focuses on sustainability and short transport routes

    Regional butcher’s shop focuses on sustainability and short transport routes

    Metzgerhuus Stadt und Land AG in Füllinsdorf is working at almost full capacity. According to Managing Director Raffael Jenzer, the small regional butcher’s shop already processes around 30 cattle, 30 calves, 70 pigs and 20 sheep every week. The transport routes are short: the animals come from over 300 farms in the Basel region. The meat is used by 13 butchers in the region and over 125 direct-marketing farms.

    The Metzgerhuus, which opened in June 2025, also includes a self-service shop that is open every day. It offers 500 products from regional suppliers. In addition, the Metzgerstübli has already hosted around 80 events with over 1000 visitors. The first cookery courses have also been successfully launched.

    The Metzgerhuuse building itself is a power station. Thanks to its solar façade, solar modules on the roof, heat recovery and heavy insulation, it produces more energy than it consumes. It is therefore Minergie A-certified.

    The small regional butcher’s shop was founded by five butcher families from Baselland and Basel-Stadt, the Butchers’ Association of Basel and the Basel Butchers’ and Farmers’ Co-operative, who together raised CHF 4 million in capital. They no longer wanted to drive the region’s cattle to the Mittelland for slaughter.

    The two cantons of Basel supported the project with 2.5 million francs as part of the regional development project “Genuss aus Stadt und Land” (PRE). 120 lenders supported the Metzgerhuus with a total of almost 1 million francs. Anyone who still wants to support the Metzgerhuus financially today can buy so-called solar shopping vouchers: For 1,000 francs, interested parties can invest in solar modules; the proceeds are paid back in vouchers for meat.

  • Study shows high regional value creation by energy companies

    Study shows high regional value creation by energy companies

    Repower commissioned Hanser Consulting to analyse how much added value the Graubünden-based energy supplier generates compared to energy companies outside the canton. In its study, the consulting firm puts the additional added value of the Repower Group for the canton at around CHF 144 million for the year 2024. According to its press release, Repower presented the results to the Graubünden cantonal parliament at an information event on 23 April 2026.

    Hanser Consulting summarises the main findings as follows: Firstly, due to the Repower Group’s headquarters in Graubünden, more than twice the added value per kilowatt hour of electricity produced from Graubünden hydropower remains in Graubünden compared to companies outside the canton. Secondly, this would result in “many other advantages” for the Graubünden economy, particularly with regard to the diversity of the labour market, tax revenues for the canton and municipalities and the inclusion of local suppliers for headquarters activities.

    “Against the backdrop of the Graubünden hydropower strategy and the pending home cases in the coming years, the question of how the use of hydropower is organised in the long term and where the associated added value is generated is becoming increasingly important,” writes Repower. “The study aims to provide a factual basis for discussion.” As Repower emphasises, although the company paid for the study and provided the necessary basis, it had no influence on the methodology or results.

    Repower employs around 500 people in Graubünden and operates along the entire value chain, from production to the grid and supply to trading. The largest shareholders are Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (38.49 per cent), the canton of Graubünden (27 per cent) and UBS’s Clean Energy Infrastructure Switzerland fund (23.04 per cent).

  • Federal Council wants to accelerate residential construction

    Federal Council wants to accelerate residential construction

    According to its communication, the Federal Council is examining measures to accelerate residential construction. With its report of 22 April 2026, it is responding to five postulates from the National Council and Council of States. It is part of the federal government’s housing shortage action plan. The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications to submit a consultation draft by the end of 2026.

    One of these measures should create the legal basis for a national interest in housing construction. Such a legal basis would then take precedence over, for example, the protection of the townscape or listed buildings. The Federal Council is also having the restriction of the right of appeal for private individuals and the admissible complaints examined. In addition, the procedural costs for objections that are proven to be an abuse of rights could be imposed on the objectors, namely if the objection is clearly aimed solely at preventing or delaying a project.

    However, the sovereignty for planning and building authorisation procedures lies with the cantons. The Federal Council can therefore only recommend that they introduce a digital authorisation procedure and set binding deadlines in order to speed up the process. The Federal Council also recommends that planning applications should only be published once they are complete. It also points out that many licensing authorities do not have sufficient staff or expertise to process complex dossiers.

  • Residential complex to be sustainably renovated and extended

    Residential complex to be sustainably renovated and extended

    The Schlieren-based real estate and construction company Halter is transforming the Clochettes site in the Champel district of Geneva. As part of the project, Halter was commissioned by Baloise to carry out the energy-efficient renovation, conversion and addition of storeys to three residential buildings from the 1970s. According to the press release, a total of 70 existing apartments will be modernized by January 2029 and 15 new apartments will be created by adding two more floors. The work will start in May and will take place while the apartments are occupied.

    As part of the refurbishment, Halter will replace the technical systems and refurbish the façades. Heat recovery and the installation of photovoltaic systems are also planned, according to the project description. The aim is to obtain a Minergie renovation label.

    The architectural design by the Grenier Coretra architecture firm maintains continuity with the existing buildings and harmonizes with the neighbouring residential complex. The new apartments will offer a variety of floor plans and room concepts tailored to modern living.

    New areas for residents and neighborhood-related uses will be created on the first floor of the buildings. The outdoor areas will also be enhanced with wooded areas to promote quality of life and biodiversity.

  • Spreitenbach municipal council adopts property strategy

    Spreitenbach municipal council adopts property strategy

    The Spreitenbach municipal council has adopted a new strategy for municipal properties, as detailed in a press release. The property strategy is of central importance for both the residents’ and the local citizens’ municipality. The decision serves as the basis for the medium to long-term development of publicly owned properties.

    The aim is to manage the municipality’s own property portfolios holistically rather than in isolation according to individual properties. The municipality of Spreitenbach expects this to lead to better harmonisation of the long-term needs of the population, school, administration, associations and other users.

    According to the press release, the new strategy is particularly relevant for the municipality of Spreitenbach, which as a public corporation has a portfolio of 69 properties and five developed building rights plots, in view of upcoming investment decisions. In the coming years, the focus will be on the further development of the school and sports infrastructure, the renovation and expansion of existing facilities, securing additional space for school administration and day-care centres and the development of a municipal park, among other things.

    The local community should also benefit from the holistic approach. It manages a portfolio of 130 properties with a land area of around 2.77 million square metres and a building insurance value of around CHF 13.6 million. The strategy focuses on the areas of housing, the local museum, building rights in the industrial area, agriculture and forests.

    The property strategy is to be reviewed at least every five years and adjusted if necessary. The planning horizon currently extends to the year 2040.

  • Research project promotes the reuse of concrete in construction

    Research project promotes the reuse of concrete in construction

    The Materials and Structures Group of the Institut du patrimoine construit, d’architecture, de la construction et du territoire(inPACT) at the Haute école du paysage, d’ingénierie et d’architecture de Genève(HEPIA) is leading the Concrete Upcycling Techniques(CUT) research project. The project, led by Professor Maléna Bastien Masse, aims to integrate the reuse of concrete slabs into construction practice, as detailed in a press release. The aim is to reduce the industry’s CO2 footprint. The project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF) and is being carried out in collaboration with Professor Corentin Fivet’s Structural Xploration Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL).

    The project aims to preserve concrete slabs during the demolition of buildings. The slabs are sawn up on site and then analysed by HEPIA researchers. The aim is to find out whether these slabs can be reused. The panels approved for reuse are then used in new buildings. The project is also investigating how they can be joined together during reuse. Advanced techniques and materials such as high-performance fibre-reinforced cementitious composite (CFUP) will be used.

    “The construction industry loves concrete. It is an indispensable, versatile, adaptable and cost-effective material, but it is also extremely harmful to the environment. One solution is obvious: reuse,” reads the press release. “By recovering and reusing components from existing buildings for new construction projects, concrete consumption is reduced, resulting in a lower CO2 footprint.”

    HEPIA is a Geneva-based university that specialises in education and research in the fields of engineering, architecture and the environment, particularly in the areas of materials and sustainable construction. The university is part of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland(HES-SO).

  • Takeover strengthens position in the European energy market

    Takeover strengthens position in the European energy market

    In a press release, BKW announced the acquisition of the French energy company Volterres SAS. Volterres SAS operates a network of over 100 solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants and enables the tracking of electricity flows in real time. Volterres supplies more than 2 terawatt hours of electricity annually to companies and public organisations.

    The acquisition fits seamlessly into BKW’s existing strategy for France. The company had already previously expanded its activities in the country, including a contract to optimise 200 megawatts of battery capacity. BKW also markets numerous third-party wind, solar and battery projects in France and manages an annual renewable production of over 1 terawatt. With Volterres, BKW now covers the entire energy value chain.

    Strategically, the acquisition is an important step within Solutions 2030, according to the press release. With this focus, BKW is concentrating on the Energy Solutions, Power Grid and Infrastructure & Buildings business areas and positioning itself along the entire value chain of the energy transition. The aim is to achieve EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of over CHF 1 billion by 2030. France plays a key role in this.

    “France is a strategically important market for us. With the integration of Volterres, we are strengthening our position not only there, but in the entire European market and are further developing our portfolio of flexible energy solutions,” said Stefan Sewckow, Executive Vice President Energy Markets.

    BKW, based in Bern, is an internationally active energy and infrastructure company. Its range of services extends from engineering and consulting to building technology and the construction and operation of energy and supply grids.

  • Management change in the energy division of a large utility company

    Management change in the energy division of a large utility company

    Vertina Investment Foundation invested a total of CHF 74.3 million in four new-build projects in the first quarter of 2026. The fresh capital comes from the capital increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a press release.

    The construction projects are located on properties in Oberglatt ZH, Kloten ZH, Seon AG and Zurich. These selected locations are characterised by good infrastructure connections and a solid market environment, according to the press release. After completion, the market value of the four properties will amount to CHF 131 million. This will increase the value of the total portfolio of the Vertina Residential investment group to CHF 350 million.

    In total, Vertina’s property portfolio consists of 13 properties with varying degrees of construction progress. The start of construction on four further projects is planned for the current financial year. As recently announced, Vertina will raise new capital of between CHF 60 and 80 million for this purpose in the second quarter.

  • New branch strengthens presence in Central Asia

    New branch strengthens presence in Central Asia

    Sika is expanding its presence in Central Asia with a new subsidiary in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. According to a press release, the aim of the new branch is to increase customer proximity in the region and improve regional market access for the company.

    One of the reasons for the expansion into Kyrgyzstan is the positive economic outlook for the former Soviet republic. Forecasts predict annual growth in gross domestic product of up to 7 per cent until 2030, according to the press release. Growth drivers in the construction sector include large-scale industrial construction projects as well as infrastructure and energy investments, which further emphasise the strategic importance of Central Asia for Sika.

    “The local organisation in Kyrgyzstan complements our existing activities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and strengthens our regional network in Central Asia. This creates a basis for the targeted further development of our market position in the region and for further growth,” Christoph Ganz, Regional Head EMEA at Sika, is quoted as saying.

    The construction chemicals group Sika focuses on the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protecting in construction and industry. With the opening of the Kyrgyz site, the company is expanding its global network to 103 national subsidiaries. The company generated sales of CHF 11.20 billion in 2025.

  • Investments strengthen production capacities in the medical technology sector

    Investments strengthen production capacities in the medical technology sector

    The Burgdorf-based medtech company Ypsomed has invested 25 million Swiss francs in the remodelling and construction of a new machine tool park in Solothurn. In order to meet the growing global demand for injection systems and offer customers the highest quality, Ypsomed intends to significantly expand its position and capacity in the production of injection moulds, according to a press release. At the Solothurn site, the company intends to concentrate on the design and manufacture of plastic injection moulds for pens and autoinjectors.

    The commissioning of the mould construction facility marks the start of the implementation of a 200 million Swiss franc investment package to develop the site. Two new high-volume assembly systems with associated injection moulding systems for autoinjectors are to be opened in the coming months. The company has also announced plans to build a fully automated high-bay warehouse at the Solothurn site by the end of 2027. At the same time, a conference centre (Ypsomed Forum) is to be built there with space for around 300 guests. “The investment in the new toolmaking facility in Solothurn is a clear commitment to the development of our sites in Switzerland,” said Simon Michel, CEO of Ypsomed.

    The company also wants to continue to grow internationally in order to consolidate its position in the medical technology market and meet the increasing demand for injection systems for self-medication. in 2025, Ypsomed opened its first own plant in Changzhou, China, and started the expansion of its production site in Schwerin, Germany. A new site is currently under construction in Holly Springs in the US state of North Carolina.

    The investment also serves to double the number of staff in this area. The current number of 35 employees plus trainees is set to grow to 100 employees and apprentices.

  • Fuel cells to support power grids

    Fuel cells to support power grids

    Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) have conducted a joint project on the effect of hydrogen fuel cells in collaboration with the Hälg Group from St.Gallen, the Osterwalder Group, also based in St.Gallen, and Zurich-based H2 Energy AG. The experiment at the Empa Center in Dübendorf showed that the electrical energy generated by the fuel cells could relieve the burden on local power grids in district centers, according to a press release.

    The core of the project was to reduce the electricity consumption of heat pumps by producing electrical energy from local district energy cells using hydrogen fuel cells. This energy is fed into the grid to operate the heat pumps, thus reducing the load on the grid. At the same time, the experiment tested using special heat exchangers to supply average temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius to the heating network of the NEST innovation building and the Empa campus in Dübendorf. The test, which ran from October 2023 to September 2025, showed that the district energy cells were able to smooth out peaks in electricity consumption and reduce the overall cost of peak load by 10 percent.

    “Our trials showed that fuel cells can effectively balance electrical and thermal peak loads in buildings. This made it clear that hydrogen-based peak load shaving is technically feasible and provides valuable insights for the control of complex energy systems,” Binod Prasad Koirala, Deputy Head of Empa’s Urban Energy Systems research department, is quoted as saying in the press release. When using green hydrogen, the fuel cells also make a contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

  • Award recognises strong performance in the mortgage business

    Award recognises strong performance in the mortgage business

    Swisschange Financial Services AG, a financial boutique regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), has won the Baloise Broker Award 2026. The prize, awarded by Baloise Bank AG from Solothurn, is based on the parameters of submitted applications, completion rate, financing volume and mortgage portfolio.

    Four out of five mortgage applications submitted by Swisschange lead to a successful conclusion. According to the press release, the mortgage broker achieves this high success rate through careful dossier preparation. Swisschange begins long before the first bank offer with a structured analysis of the financing situation and the selection of a suitable financing partner.

    “This award confirms what we have been practising for years: Genuine buyer representation pays off measurably – for our customers and in a market comparison,” Lester Steinger, CEO and founder of Swisschange, is quoted as saying.

    Swisschange sees itself as a pioneer of independent buyer representation in the Swiss property market. The company has been assisting private clients and entrepreneurs with property, financing and asset decisions since 2003.

  • New development combines residential, commercial and local services

    New development combines residential, commercial and local services

    According to a press release, Schlieren-based Halter AG completed the AuPark plannmässig development at the end of March and handed it over to the client Swiss Life Asset Managers. The project involved the construction of five apartment blocks and commercial buildings with views of Lake Zurich and the Au peninsula.

    The AuPark development comprises a total of 300 flats, including 111 condominium units, according to the project description. There will also be commercial space and a Coop, which will serve as a local supplier for the neighbourhood. The eponymous AuPark lies at the heart of the project and serves as a central meeting point and recreational space for the residents with extensive lawns.

    “As part of our total contractor services, the project was specifically densified and the housing mix optimised,” the company said in the press release. “The result: a sustainable, marketable development with a high quality of living – including in the affordable housing segment.”

  • Electric bus marks a new chapter in regional transport

    Electric bus marks a new chapter in regional transport

    STI Bus AG, based in Thun, has put its first electric bus into service. According to a press release, it has been operating in Grindelwald since 15 April.

    The company has thoroughly prepared its staff for the transition to electric mobility. Staff have been trained in the technical fundamentals, high-voltage systems and energy-efficient driving with electric buses. These training sessions are ongoing.

    STI Bus AG plans to put three more electric buses into service in Grindelwald and two in Thun before the end of this year. By November, all STI depots will also be equipped for depot charging. A further 16 electric buses will follow next year. By 2036, the entire fleet of over 100 regular service vehicles is set to be electrified.

    “The first electric bus is an important milestone – but above all a promise,” says Jürg Lehmann, Managing Director of STI Service AG and E-Mobility Project Manager, in the press release. The company promises employees, passengers and the region to “continue to develop mobility responsibly”.

    According to Patrick Fankhauser, the switch to electric mobility demonstrates how the company intends to shape the mobility of the future. “Electric mobility is a conscious investment in the environment and in the quality of life in our region for both current and future generations,” the Director of STI Holding AG is quoted as saying.

  • Modernised wastewater treatment plant enhances water protection and energy efficiency

    Modernised wastewater treatment plant enhances water protection and energy efficiency

    The refurbishment and expansion of the Basel Wastewater Treatment Plant have been completed. The wastewater treatment plant was officially inaugurated on 17 April. One of the region’s most important infrastructure facilities had been thoroughly modernised and expanded whilst remaining in operation since 2019. It is now one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Europe. Over the weekend of 18 and 19 April, the public can see it for themselves during the open days.

    According to a statement from the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the aim of the project was to significantly improve treatment performance, adapt the plant to future requirements and make a long-term contribution to water protection. It is now state-of-the-art and ensures legally compliant operation for several decades. It is designed to have a capacity sufficient for 520,000 residents until 2050. It can also receive pre-treated industrial wastewater from the ARA Chemie.

    Following the modernisation, the Basel WWTP is now also equipped for nitrogen removal and features a treatment stage for reducing micropollutants. This is complemented by sludge digestion and photovoltaic systems. Furthermore, biogas is produced from sewage sludge digestion and more waste heat is fed into the district heating network.

    The operator of the Basel wastewater treatment plant is Prorheno AG. The parliaments of the two Basel cantons approved CHF 325.1 million for the plant’s refurbishment. The final accounts are not yet available.

  • People aged 55 and over moving house could ease pressure on the housing market

    People aged 55 and over moving house could ease pressure on the housing market

    The moving patterns of the ‘Best Ager’ generation – those aged between 55 and 74 – are becoming increasingly important for a functioning housing market in Switzerland, as shown by the new Helvetia Housing Report, according to a press release from Helvetia Baloise. The study was conducted by the insurer in collaboration with the Sotomo research institute in Zurich.

    When this age group moves house, they usually relocate to less central areas or, increasingly, abroad. This frees up larger, centrally located flats, which are subsequently occupied by families much more frequently. According to the study, this helps to distribute existing housing more efficiently across different stages of life.

    Furthermore, emigration abroad increased by almost 50 per cent between 2014 and 2024. At the same time, moves within one’s own municipality remain comparatively rare. It is only from the age of 75 that the trend reverses: older people then move more frequently back to well-connected, central locations.

    “Additional moves by this age group make an important contribution to better utilisation of living space,” says Michael Hermann, Managing Director of Sotomo. This dynamic is driven in particular by the moving behaviour of foreign ‘Best Agers’, whose likelihood of moving is 50 per cent higher than that of Swiss nationals. However, this trend is being held back by the so-called lock-in effect: homeowners move significantly less often – their likelihood of moving is over 60 per cent lower than that of tenants. According to the report, however, the often-discussed influence of affordable existing rents is significantly lower than assumed and is not the decisive factor behind the low mobility of older households.

  • Energy cooperative strengthens its brand and increases investment

    Energy cooperative strengthens its brand and increases investment

    The transition from EBM to Primeo Energie is now complete: at their annual general meeting on 15 April 2026, the delegates approved the change of name from EBM to Primeo Energie Genossenschaft. The company has been operating under the Primeo Energie brand since 2019. According to a press release, the name change is intended to ensure that the umbrella brand is also visible in the cooperative’s name in future and to avoid misunderstandings.

    Prior to this, the delegates had approved the annual accounts and the management report of the Primeo Energie Group. Operating profit (EBIT) rose to CHF 127 million in 2025. In the previous year, it had stood at CHF 124 million. Profit grew from CHF 91 million to CHF 109 million over the same period. In total, Primeo Energie invested CHF 187 million in energy infrastructure. This figure is set to rise to CHF 220 million in the current year.

    The contribution to the energy fund was doubled from CHF 2 million to CHF 4 million. CHF 3.1 million from the fund was allocated to grant applications, primarily for connections to district heating networks. Support is now also being provided for the conversion of photovoltaic systems with direct feed-in to self-consumption. The co-operatively organised company therefore expects an increase in applications. A further CHF 500,000 was made available for grants to charitable institutions.

    Gilbert Fuchs and Carmen Gerber-Balmelli were re-elected to the Board of Directors for a further term until 2030. Thomas Ernst was newly elected to the board. Long-standing Vice-President Urs Grütter stepped down.

  • Condominiums remain in demand even with record supply

    Condominiums remain in demand even with record supply

    The latest Online Home Market Analysis by ImmoScout24, in collaboration with the Swiss Homeowners Association and the Swiss Real Estate Institute, analyses the advertisements for condominiums in 2025. According to a press release, a new high has been reached with around 101,000 advertised properties – the highest since the survey began in 2016. At the same time, the growth in supply has slowed significantly. At the same time, the average advertising period has been reduced by eight days to 84 days, which indicates that demand for condominiums is increasing again compared to the previous year.

    The study cites the changed interest rate environment in particular as a reason for this: falling financing costs and easier mortgage lending in some cases are making home ownership more attractive than rental properties. In addition, the need for a secure long-term living situation is becoming more important again.

    “The fact that condominiums are selling more quickly again despite the large supply is a clear sign. Swiss people want to live within their own four walls. Fortunately, the dream of home ownership is still realisable for many people,” Markus Meier, Director of the Swiss Homeowners’ Association, is quoted as saying.

    There is also a uniform regional trend: In all major regions, the insertion period is shorter than in 2024, with condominiums continuing to sell particularly quickly in Central Switzerland (61 days), Zurich (64 days) and the Geneva region (65 days). A particularly dynamic development in demand can be seen in Ticino, where the time it takes to place an advertisement has been significantly reduced by 22 per cent despite a sharp increase in the number of listings (10 per cent).

    ImmoScout24 is an online property marketplace operated by the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group. SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

  • Cross-border heat supply moves closer to reality

    Cross-border heat supply moves closer to reality

    The Basel-based utility company IWB and Stadtwerke Weil am Rhein are examining the options for a joint, cross-border heat supply. A feasibility study has already demonstrated the technical feasibility of supplying the city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg with heat from Basel from mid-2028, according to a press release.

    The feasibility study has been running since May 2025 and the companies have been sounding out potential consumers for their interest in such a heating network since March 2026. The heat required in the area between the Rhine and the A5 motorway would be supplied by IWB, which should already be 80 percent CO2-neutral by the time of delivery. Once the results are available by the middle of the year, a decision will be made on realisation and possible investment plans, according to the press release.

  • Research project develops global corrosion index for construction applications

    Research project develops global corrosion index for construction applications

    Sky-Frame from Frauenfeld and the WITG are jointly investigating whether a global corrosion index can be developed on the basis of available weather and climate data. This project is being supported with an innovation cheque from Innosuisse. The maximum funding amount of CHF 15,000 from the Swiss Innovation Agency is a credit for a preliminary study. It enables ideas, idea studies and analyses of innovation and market potential to be commissioned from a Swiss research partner and collaboration with this partner to be tested.

    The WITG is contributing its expertise in corrosion and the evaluation of material properties to the project with Sky-Frame. According to a press release, the first step involves linking real project locations with available climate databases and systematically analysing existing empirical values from the application. Taking into account factors such as proximity to the sea, wind direction and project-specific microclimate conditions, this will result in an initial, scientifically sound approach to risk classification.

    “This project is an example of how innovation ideas do not have to be in the realm of ‘rocket science’ in order to be funded,” says the WITG. Instead, they should offer the company a sustainable benefit and future added value and include a risk component during implementation and thus the possibility of failure.

  • Investment secures funding for a major wind energy project

    Investment secures funding for a major wind energy project

    aventron AG has acquired a significant stake in the Sur Grati wind farm in the canton of Vaud, according to a press release. The wind farm is operated by the project company VOé éole SA. In addition to aventron, the energy supplier SIE SA, based in Crissier (VD), and the Vaud municipalities of Premier, Vallorbe and Vaulion also hold stakes in the company.

    Aventron’s entry finalised the shareholder structure and the financing of the project company. This followed a positive ruling by the Federal Supreme Court in May 2025 regarding the wind farm’s building permits; the wind farm is scheduled to come online at the end of 2027.

    VOé, which has been developing the project for several years, is a regionally based energy supplier and is contributing its local networks. Aventron brings experience in the construction and operation of wind farms in several European countries. “Together, we are realising one of the largest wind energy projects in Switzerland. In doing so, we are supporting the federal government’s energy strategy and strengthening security of supply, particularly in winter,” said Eric Wagner, CEO of Aventron.

    The wind farm is located on the Jura mountain range in northern Vaud and is currently under construction. Six wind turbines with a total capacity of 25.2 megawatts are planned. The facility is expected to produce around 45 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, which corresponds to the demand of approximately 11,000 households. Once completed, Sur Grati is set to be the second-largest wind farm in Switzerland.

  • The Federal Council plans to tighten the rules on property purchases by foreign buyers

    The Federal Council plans to tighten the rules on property purchases by foreign buyers

    On 15 April, the Federal Council launched a consultation on the revision of the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Persons Abroad (BewG). According to a press release, the consultation will run until 15 July. The aim is to further restrict access to the Swiss property market.

    The Federal Council justifies the tightening of the so-called Lex Koller, among other things, with the strained situation on the housing market. Consequently, third-country nationals – that is, nationals of countries outside the EU and EFTA – will in future require authorisation to purchase primary residences in Switzerland. If they move away, they will be required to sell their property within two years.

    Stricter rules are also planned for the purchase of commercial property. Whilst purchases for personal use will still be possible without a permit, purely financial investments – such as for letting or leasing – will no longer be permitted.

    In addition, the Federal Council intends to further restrict the purchase of holiday homes and residential units in aparthotels by persons abroad. To this end, the cantonal authorisation quotas are to be reduced and, in future, all such transactions will count towards these quotas.

    It is also proposed that persons abroad should no longer be permitted to acquire listed shares in residential property companies or regularly traded shares in property funds and property SICAVs.

  • Infrastructure project boosts efficiency and safety in flight operations

    Infrastructure project boosts efficiency and safety in flight operations

    Construction of new infrastructure for general aviation in the West Zone at Zurich Airport began on 14 April. Plans include a terminal building with a hangar and a dedicated apron area. According to a press release, the facility is scheduled to open in spring 2028.

    The new facility is designed to accommodate larger aircraft types and will also provide space for passenger handling and offices. Its proximity to the heliport is also expected to reduce transfer times. In addition, car parks for staff and passengers will be built, along with access via an extended Rohrstrasse.

    Flughafen Zürich AG is investing around CHF 100 million in the project. The new building is part of the development of the approximately 16.8-hectare Zone West, which is earmarked for apron extensions, logistics, and aircraft and airport maintenance, amongst other things.

    With the new building, the airport is responding to changing requirements in the field of general aviation. The existing infrastructure in the east has reached the end of its life cycle and can no longer meet the demand for hangar space, particularly for larger aircraft.

    Furthermore, the project is linked to the planned runway realignment at Zurich Airport. This is intended to reduce the number of runway crossings by landing and taking-off aircraft, thereby enhancing flight safety.

  • Investment foundation raises fresh capital for residential property

    Investment foundation raises fresh capital for residential property

    According to a press release dated 4 May, the Vertina Real Estate Investment Foundation is raising fresh capital until 6 July 2026. The target volume is set at between 60 and 80 million Swiss francs. This may be increased if there is sufficient demand. The funds are earmarked for additional property investments as well as for ongoing and planned developments.

    The capital raising is taking place after the foundation has fully and sustainably invested the funds entrusted to it as part of its seventh capital issue. Following the completion of four transactions in the first quarter of 2026, the portfolio currently comprises 13 properties, including four near-new existing properties, a new-build that is almost complete, and eight project developments. Upon completion of all ongoing projects, a market value of around CHF 350 million is expected. As at 31 March 2026, the residential share stands at 99 per cent.

    Launched in May 2022, the Vertina Investment Foundation invests directly in near-new residential properties in Switzerland that meet high sustainability standards. To this end, the foundation cooperates with the Markstein Group, a property services provider covering portfolio management, construction management, transaction management and marketing. The foundation focuses on providing marketable housing with the lowest possible environmental impact. With a consistent value creation approach, the investment strategy aims to generate stable and reliable long-term returns for investors.