Category: New construction

New innovative business park in Altstetten

Glass, metal and exposed concrete – the new commercial property Manufakt 8048 was created as a minimalist blank and at the same time a prototype for sustainable service and production facilities.
With the concept and the brand "Manufakt", the real estate developer Steiner AG wants to offer more utility with less resource consumption. Manufactory 8048 has various “shared spaces” – common areas such as reception areas, meeting rooms or meeting areas. This reduces the direct room costs and the operating costs for additional areas. This should also attract young companies.
The office building manages without load-bearing walls and thus offers a flexible spatial grid. In addition, Steiner AG has designed "room boxes" for individual workstations, which can be put together in modules if required.
The new tenants in Altstetten are currently in the process of individually designing their floor plans as part of the tenant fit-out and converting the up to 4.5 m high rooms into production and office areas, laboratories and showrooms.
The design of the building in Altstetten was developed and planned by Theo Hotz Partner Architekten. Although Theo Hotz (1928-2018) was considered one of the best-known high-tech architects in Switzerland during his lifetime, the Manufactory 8048 was designed as a "low-tech" building: the building technology and the standard of construction are minimal, the structural details are simple. The clear design language of the building results from a simple cubic outline with six floors. These can be recognized from the outside by continuous glazed ribbon windows and horizontal aluminum parapets. In the building, industrial
tial materials such as steel, exposed concrete and seamless industrial floors together with exposed installations.
In the center of the building is an airy atrium, which serves as an open inner courtyard for access and becomes an attraction, meeting point and relaxation area. The liveliness in the inner courtyard is supported by greenery, which is intended to contribute to a positive climate. Lifts and cantilevered arcades lead from the inner courtyard to the floors.
In Wädenswil and Winterthur, two more industrial parks will be built in the coming years based on the Manufakt concept. An important element is the networking of the various tenants across the locations.

February 2022
The Leuengarten district in Uitikon-Waldegg continues to grow

The “Leuengarten” district in Uitikon-Waldegg, which has been developed over the past four years, is growing again: Akara will be building 17 three- and four-story apartment buildings on four construction sites by around 2023. The development is set back from Birmensdorferstrasse in a quiet location between Panoramaweg and Leuengasse. The building permits for the three construction stages have been obtained, with the permit for the construction site for the second stage being the first to be legally valid.

Construction work is scheduled to begin with the second phase at the end of 2021. On an area of 19,303 square meters, 207 residential units, a small commercial part and 207 parking spaces will be built in the three construction phases “Leo”, “Lea” and “Leandro”. Zanoni Architects from Zurich are responsible for the first stage “Leo”, while the contract for the second stage “Lea” went to Dachtler Partner AG, Zurich and for the third “Leandro” to Atelier ww Architekten SIA AG, Zurich.

The 1.5 to 5.5 room apartments with a focus on 2 to 4.5 rooms are designed for families, couples and singles and are tailored to their individual needs. The floor plan concepts and the use of materials are tailored to the various target groups and underline the variety of the differentiating living spaces. Each stage will reflect its own attitude towards life.

When it comes to embodying the feeling of “self-realization”, the first stage, with the appropriate floor plans and materials, is primarily aimed at singles and expats. The surrounding landscape is incorporated into the buildings by the architects. Generous intermediate spaces are planned, which always allow an unobstructed view of nature. The optimal embedding of the building in the existing topography should ensure maximum sun exposure for all apartments. The apartments will be accessible via Leuengasse. Wooden formwork is planned for the first stage, which is based on the local agricultural buildings and reinterprets them. In order to strengthen the sense of community among the residents, a spacious launderette, a common room and two flexibly usable commercial units are planned.

In the sign of “well-being”, the concept and designs of the buildings in the second phase are aimed at the needs of families and communities. Six point structures fit harmoniously into the environment. The planned three-span building typology with two different orientations is intended to ensure that the urban planning needs and optimal sun exposure, including a view of the Limmattal, are guaranteed. 62 rental apartments are being built on a plot area of 6,059 square meters.

The third construction phase is tailored to the needs of two-person households with the motto “Self-determination”. In addition, barrier-free apartments for seniors or people with disabilities are planned. Here high-quality and modern residential units are to be realized. The architects Atelier ww are concentrating on the specifications of the public design plan and the claim to continue the continuity of the neighboring building sites in terms of typology and scale.

Great importance is attached to sustainability: the SNBS gold (“Leo”) or SNBS platinum standard (“Lea” and “Leandro”) labels are being sought for the apartments. Brine-water heat pump
pen with geothermal probes and air-water heat pumps ensure environmentally friendly electricity production. In addition, there is the self-production of electricity via photovoltaic systems on the flat roofs, whereby the electricity produced is marketed directly to the tenants in the form of a group for their own consumption. Charging stations for electric vehicles are available. In the Leuengarten there are also car sharing offers from Mobility as well as various common rooms.

The quarter under development scores with a wide range of services such as gastronomy, vinotheque, hairdresser, daycare center and a wellness oasis. The public transport connection is also given thanks to the bus stop right in front of the door. The motorway connection to the A3 is only five minutes away by car. Residents can reach the center of Zurich within 30 minutes by public transport.

The visualization shows the buildings of the second construction phase “Lea”, which has the lifestyle well-being on the flag.

The third construction phase “Leandro” is dedicated to the motto of self-determination.

February 2022
Litterna: Agreement finally reached

The people of Visper associate numerous memories with the Litterna Hall, built in 1978, as the hall was the home ground of EHC Visp from 1979 to 2019. Before the hall was demolished, the farewell was duly celebrated with a party in autumn 2019 – and at the same time the new ice sports and event hall, the Lonza Arena, was inaugurated. There has been a legally binding district plan for the Litterna site since 2018, which provides for several mixed-use residential and commercial buildings. Accordingly, the client Swiss Prime Investment Foundation planned to start construction work on the four buildings in total after the demolition of the hall in autumn 2020. However, a resident's objection to the planning application delayed the approval process. Nevertheless, the building application was approved by the Visper municipal council in December 2020, and the objection was rejected: the municipality argued that the buildings and facilities would correspond to the purpose and the district plan. The objector took his complaint further and reached the State Council in spring 2021. The Valais government also rejected the appeal against the municipality's decision, whereupon the objector went to the cantonal court as the next instance. However, before the Valais judiciary could make a further decision, the objectors and the client reached an agreement.
The construction work on the approximately 15,700 m2 area, which is an important building block due to its location along the railway line and the proximity to the public transport hubs
nothing stands in the way of the overarching settlement development of Visp. The four buildings will contain 138 rental apartments, commercial premises on the ground floors, a day-care center and a retail store. The first apartments should not be ready for occupancy until autumn 2023 at the earliest. The client Swiss Prime Investment Foundation is investing around 70 million Swiss francs in the Visper location. Total contractor is Eiffage Suisse, the construction work is being carried out by the Volken Group.

February 2022
A lighthouse at the gateway to Bern

Das neue Gewerbe- und Dienstleistungsgebäude am östlichen Tor zur Stadt Bern soll durch verschiedenste Nutzungen an Lebendigkeit gewinnen. Neben konventionellen Büroräumlichkeiten, flexibel buchbaren Büroräumen für Kleinmietende und Start-ups sowie einem zukunftsorientierten Gastronomie- und Eventbereich sind auch Gewerbeflächen für die Nutzung im Gesundheitsbereich möglich.

BERN 131 wurde als Multispace konzipiert, wodurch grösstmögliche Flexibilität in der Innenraumgestaltung besteht. Multispace ist ein modulares Raumkonzept mit offenen Bürostrukturen und verschiedenen Sonderflächen – etwa für den Austausch, Pausen oder Rückzugsmöglichkeiten. Diese Raumvielfalt macht Multispace attraktiv und eignet sich gut für die neue, individualisierte Arbeitswelt. Gespräche mit verschiedenen Mietinteressierten sind im Gange.
Die Architektur und die geschickte Planung von BERN 131 garantieren eine hohe Qualität des Arbeitsumfelds trotz der exponierten Lage. Der geplante Neubau profitiert von einer hohen Sichtbarkeit und der unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft zur Wankdorf City. In diesem jungen und aufstrebenden Stadtquartier sind zwei von drei Bauetappen abgeschlossen. Die SBB, die Schweizerische Post und andere Grossfirmen haben hier neue Hauptsitze bezogen. Rund um BERN 131 gibt es ausserdem verschiedene Gastronomie-Angebote, Supermärkte und Business-Unterkünfte. Der Bahnhof Wankdorf ist in rund fünf Gehminuten, diverse Autobahnanschlüsse sind in zwei Fahrminuten erreichbar.

Das Gebäude in der Form eines Kreisbogendreiecks wird sechs Etagen haben. Die einzelnen Etagen können durch die drei Erschliessungskerne und einen Ring, der sich um das begrünte Atrium legt, erschlossen werden. Die Geschossflächen können flexibel auf verschiedenste Flächenbedürfnisse aufgeteilt werden. Das Gebäude wird grösstenteils in Skelettbauweise mit Holzstützen, Holzunterzügen und Holzhybridecken errichtet. Bei der horizontalen Aussteifung des Gebäudes setzt man auf Erschliessungskerne in Massivbauweise.

Photovoltaik-Anlagen an der Fassade und auf dem Dach, Energieerzeugung über Erdwärmesonden, ein innovatives Lüftungskonzept mit Wärmerückgewinnung sowie die Nutzung von Regenwasser tragen zur Nachhaltigkeit und Energieeffizienz bei. Die Verwendung von Holz und Holzwerkstoffen schafft zudem eine schöne Raumqualität und ein angenehmes Raumklima.

Mit seiner Architektur, seiner ausgewogenen Betriebsenergiebilanz sowie zahlreichen gebäudetechnischen Innovationen soll das Gebäude ein Vorzeige- und Leuchtturmprojekt in Sachen Nachhaltigkeit und Ingenieurskunst werden.

Die Baueingabe erfolgte Mitte Mai 2021; die rechtskräftige Baubewilligung wird zeitnah erwartet. Der Baustart ist auf das zweite Quartal 2022 geplant. Im dritten Quartal 2024 soll BERN 131 bezugsbereit sein.

February 2022
Up to 10,000 new jobs in Sisslerfeld

The Sisslerfeld in Fricktal should develop into a place of the future. It is the largest contiguous and zoned industrial area in the canton of Aargau. With the further development of the Sisslerfeld, more companies should settle in the area and 5,000 to 10,000 additional highly qualified jobs should be created.
The four municipalities involved – Eiken, Münchwilen, Sisseln and Stein – the Fricktal Regio planning association and the canton of Aargau therefore decided at the end of 2018 to tackle the development of the 200-hectare work zone together and in a coordinated manner. Qualitative growth is in the foreground.
As early as 2019, people who live or work in Sisslerfeld, as well as companies and property owners, were asked about their needs. This resulted in guiding principles for further development.
From January to September 2020, four teams of specialist planners looked for solutions to implement the guiding principles. In this so-called test planning, the teams dealt with the question of how jobs in Sisslerfeld can grow while traffic can remain bearable and the beauty of the landscape with its local recreational value can be preserved. Experts from the fields of business, society, urban planning, mobility, open space and energy worked together on an interdisciplinary basis. They examined and compared different approaches and discussed their advantages and disadvantages.
Their solution approaches were intensively and critically discussed by a 16-strong assessment committee in three workshops. In order to give the younger generation enough weight, very young specialists were also represented on this body. The judging panel was chaired by Rainer Klostermann, an architect and urban planner from Zurich. In the test planning, it was important for him to "consider all the ideas and findings on how the Sisslerfeld can be designed as a future place of work, but also as a place to live and play". "On the other hand," Klostermann continues, "it is important to take local needs into account, indeed to protect them." The test planning not only explored how the Sisslerfeld could be developed. "It was just as important to discuss and reconcile different perspectives."
Following the test planning, the various concerns were brought together to form a coordinated overall picture. The judging panel approved this synthesis in early July 2021. It consists of eight directions and shows how Sisslerfeld could develop sustainably and what course can be set for this today.
In a next step, these directions will be discussed with the municipalities, the population and the landowners. The results of this dialogue are to be transferred in 2022 to plans that are binding on the authorities and then on the landowners.

February 2022
Implenia receives five building construction contracts in Germany

For Implenia ‘s Buildings Division, the new year begins with an attractive building construction contract worth CHF 227 million in Germany. According to a press release , the Opfikon-based construction and real estate specialist has been awarded the contract to build several sustainable residential and commercial buildings in five German cities.

According to the announcement, Implenia’s Buildings Division is constructing two residential and commercial buildings in Kiel , a high -rise apartment building for the Franklin site in Mannheim, which according to the announcement is “currently the largest site development project in Germany”, and the partially modular construction of a new rehabilitation center in Mosbach am Neckar Residential district in Neunkirchen am Brand and a school center in Delitzsch near Leipzig.

The model-based and software-supported working method Building Information Modeling (BIM) is to be used in the planning and execution of the new construction projects. Lean construction should guarantee the coordination of all processes and trades during the construction phase.

February 2022
New federal building receives certificate for sustainability

The new government administration building in Zollikofen has been awarded the platinum certificate of the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard. According to a press release , this is the federal government's third award for sustainable building since 2019.

In 2020, the new administration building on Pulverstrasse in Ittigen received the gold certificate, and in 2019 the administration center on Guisanplatz in Bern was awarded. "With the third award within a short period of time, the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics is being rewarded for its consistent focus on sustainable building," says a press release.

With its certificates, the Swiss Sustainable Building Network honors "high-quality and forward-looking objects" that make an ecological, social and economic contribution. In the assessment, the Zurich-based association takes into account a total of 45 indicators from the areas of business, society and the environment, including the energy consumption of a building, the flora and fauna of the surrounding area and the regional added value. The selection of the architect's office by means of a competition procedure and communication also play a role.

According to the press release, the certified new building at Eichenweg 3 houses parts of the Federal Office for IT and Telecommunications as well as the IT Service Center of the Federal Department of Justice and Police.

February 2022
Daiwa House Modular Europe names four trends that will be essential for the real estate industry in 2022

Global scarcity of resources
The prices of many building materials are currently skyrocketing. This will not change this year either – insulating materials, steel, everything will become more expensive and scarce. Construction prices are rising accordingly and threaten to make many projects unprofitable. In addition, the emerging countries in particular are currently asking for a lot of material and are buying the market empty. So the situation will continue to worsen. In the long term, only improved project planning with a greater focus on reusability can help, because circular economy and resource protection already begin in the planning phase. If entire buildings, parts of buildings and building materials can be recycled or found a subsequent use, this not only reduces the material requirement, but also contributes to greater sustainability at the same time. It is important to think big about Cradle to Cradle in the future.
Sustainability not only through energy savings in the usage phase
The German construction industry in particular has an urgent need to catch up when it comes to sustainability. In the Netherlands there is already a CO ₂ cap per square meter of new construction. With the new government with green participation, it is quite conceivable that such a cap will also become the new guideline in Germany. In addition, disposal costs will remain a major issue and will increase proportionately. Due to the still immature framework conditions for recycling processes and the low landfill capacities, waste is becoming a further driver of construction costs. This shows how important it will be in the future to use building materials and building parts for a long time and to reuse them later – as is already possible in modular construction by refurbishing reused modules. The circular economy should therefore be the focus of the project early on in the planning.
Digitization and AI also in construction
In order to increase sustainability across the entire industry and to counteract the scarcity of resources, both planning and production must be optimized. Both must become more intelligent overall and network. The use of “artificial intelligence” is ideal for this. It supports construction projects, for example, through generative design, proactive problem detection and the avoidance of delays and cost overruns. But it also has to be used in production. An example: Digitizing the cut leads to less offcuts and waste. Thanks to good advance planning and the use of an AI, the remaining material from a cut can be used for further use in other future projects. This not only saves material, but also additional work steps and thus increases the efficiency of the entire production process. After all, residual materials are also resources.
Industrialized manufacturing as in the automotive industry
The advance of digitization within the construction industry also enables the use of semi- or fully automated processes. They reduce sources of error and make production more efficient. Affordable living space can be optimally realized with robot-supported construction processes in connection with the necessary digital management of the construction data – from planning to construction site. In view of the acute shortage of skilled workers, which will not be solved in the next few years, this development is the logical consequence. Daiwa House Modular Europe will also rely on automated processes in the already planned German gigafactory.
These four trends should encourage the construction industry to rethink. In addition, there are a number of other changes such as a generational change in the ranks of managers as well as political and social change. Builders are now open to standardized building solutions. Modularly planned and built buildings offer a short construction time and high quality thanks to around 90 percent prefabrication in the factory. In the residential, care, hotel and education segments in particular, there are similar needs despite the different locations – so not every building has to be a prototype.

February 2022
Swiss Prime Site and Superlab are building laboratory space in Schlieren

Swiss Prime Site Immobilien has entered into a partnership with Superlab Suisse . Superlab is a provider of laboratory and research space. According to the press release , Superlab Suisse provides operational and fully equipped research and laboratory space as well as operational services. It already has such a location in Lausanne. Both partners plan to develop locations in Basel and Schlieren with a total area of more than 10,000 square meters. According to Superlab Suisse, the laboratory in Schlieren will have an area of 5,400 square meters.

The city on the Limmat is home to facilities of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), the University of Zurich (UZH) and research centers of numerous national and international pharmaceutical companies. The demand for laboratory space is correspondingly high, it is said. Swiss Prime Site Immobilien is planning a modern new building project on the JED site in Schlieren. In cooperation with Superlab Suisse, research and laboratory areas for start-ups, spin-offs or established companies are to be created on two floors.

“Due to the direct proximity to the Wagi area in Schlieren and the technology park in Basel, companies from the life sciences sector can benefit from significant synergy effects of these ecosystems,” says Zhang Xi, CEO of Superlab. In Basel, a state-of-the-art building with laboratory and research areas is to be built by Superlab Suisse at the Stücki Park in the next 18 months.

For Martin Kaleja, CEO of Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, the modern standard of construction, the flexibility of the space and the guarantee of support and services are key success factors. Kaleja is quoted as saying that Swiss Prime Site Immobilien and Superlab Suisse together had the necessary know-how to ensure the space required for laboratory and research areas.

January 2022
Balgrist builds a teaching and research center

The medical location of Zurich is getting a new surgical research and teaching center. The Operation Room X (OR-X) at Balgrist University Hospital has been under construction since January 26. Its commissioning for the test phase is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

According to a press release , the OR-X creates new opportunities for surgical research, development and teaching. According to the clinic, it should offer the opportunity to develop and validate new technologies based on augmented reality, robotics and artificial intelligence more efficiently. In this way, new technologies could be put into clinical use more quickly. In addition, prospective surgeons could learn and gain practical experience in a realistic operating room.

“Modern surgical innovation and teaching should happen in the most real environment possible, before use on patients,” said Mazda Farshad, medical director and initiator of the OR-X, in a previous statement from the hospital. “That’s why we’re building a simulation operating room, focused on orthopedics, but open to the field of surgery.” The OR-X creates an infrastructure that, according to Balgrist, contributes to “being at the forefront of the development of surgical innovations”. .

January 2022
Neubau Portal AG and Engel & Völkers cooperate in brokering new construction

According to a press release , the new construction projects and first occupancy platforms operated by Lucerne-based Neubau Portal AG and Engel & Völkers Wohnen Schweiz AG from Zug are joining forces in the highly sought-after new construction sector. The partnership aims to give customers faster access to the new property they want. The declining construction activity cannot keep up to cover the increasing demand for new properties. In addition, as a result of unqualified inquiries for Engel & Völkers, there is a high level of processing work, which often does not lead to the conclusion of a purchase.

According to Engel & Völkers, the demand for home ownership is unbroken. Inquiries about new properties have the edge. This would also be underpinned by the figures from the Credit Suisse Real Estate Monitor for the third quarter of 2021. In order to close the gap in demand, Engel & Völkers wants to give its customers access to exclusive real estate through the partnership. With paid subscriptions, customers of Neubau Portal AG are offered around 150 to 200 new construction projects every month that do not appear on any other portal. The globally active broker of residential and commercial real estate wants to increase its customers’ chances of success and serve inquiries promptly.

According to the company, Engel & Völkers has been a market expert for the brokerage of high-quality residential and commercial real estate as well as yachts and aircraft in the premium segment for over 40 years with over 900 locations in more than 30 countries.

January 2022
Basel Rosental Tower enters the planning phase

HRS Real Estate is taking over the overall management of the further project development, the search and selection of investors as well as the realization and marketing of the Basel project Rosentalturm at the Basel exhibition center. According to a press release , MCH Messe Basel and HRS Real Estate have signed a corresponding agreement.

A project competition is now being held in cooperation with the construction and transport department of the canton of Basel-Stadt and with the support of the Zurich planning specialists Planpartner . According to the information, seven architectural firms were invited: Buchner Bründler Architects, Herzog & de Meuron and Morger Partner Architects from Basel. Burkard Meyer Architekten from Baden AG as well as the two Zurich offices Michael Meier and Marius Hug Architekten and Armon Semadeni Architekten are competing for the best design.

The assessment committee made up of national experts is chaired by Thomas Hasler from Staufer + Hasler Architekten from Frauenfeld. The results are expected in autumn 2022. Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2023.

The Rosentalturm building is to be erected on the site of the existing trade fair car park. The parking lot will be underground. Of the total of 48,000 square meters planned, 40,000 are intended for housing and 8,000 for commercial use.

January 2022
Ina Invest takes over the implementation of Bredella in Pratteln

Ina Invest will take over the majority of the CERES Group Holding AG, informs the real estate company based in Opfikon in a message . Further shares in the company of the Lucerne investor Hermann Alexander Beyeler go to Ina Invest investment partners not named in the communication.

The Bredella development area in Pratteln is named as the heart of the new acquisition. The industrial and commercial park located here is to be replaced in the next 20 years by a city quarter with 70 percent living space and 30 percent commercial space.

Ina Invest writes that the market value of the properties on the 82,600 square meter area at Pratteln train station will increase from around CHF 300 million today to over CHF 1 billion. The commercial space in Bredella currently generates around 8.6 million Swiss francs in rental income. HRS Real Estate AG and Implenia as general contractors are to take on the implementation of the project in equal parts.

Ina Invest intends to pay part of the purchase price in the form of shares. Specifically, 10 percent of Ina Invest's share capital is to be transferred to Hermann Alexander Beyeler. Ina Invest intends to offer the current tenants on the site "in the course of the site development further suitable areas on the site".

In the same communication, Ina Invest communicates the appointment of Daniel Baumann as CFO. The business economist who works at Implenia has "supported Ina Invest in all business matters" since the company was spun off from Implenia and the subsequent IPO in summer 2020. Baumann will take up his new office at the beginning of 2022.

December 2021
Logistikcenter Luzern nimmt Form an

Imbach Logistik errichtet im Littauerboden sein neues Logistikcenter Luzern. Im August 2020 war der Spatenstich für den Neubau mit einer Gesamtfläche von rund 30’000 Quadratmeter erfolgt. Nun ist die Gebäudehülle fast fertiggestellt, informiert das zur Galliker Transport AG gehörende Unternehmen mit Sitz in Schachen.

Das Ende der Bauarbeiten ist für Herbst 2024 vorgesehen. Einmal fertiggestellt sollen im neuen Logistikzentrum rund 60 Mitarbeiter beschäftigt sein. Das Lager werde ein vollautomatisiertes Hochregallager mit Stellplätzen für 6500 Paletten und ein ebenfalls vollautomatisiertes Kleinteilelager beinhalten, erläutert Imbach Logistik. Im Zuge der Arbeiten werden zudem von Imbach am Standort bereits betriebene alte Hallen abgerissen.

Die Energie für das neue Logistizentrum will Imbach Logistik aus erneuerbaren Quellen gewinnen. Heizung und Kühlung des gesamten Gebäudes sollen mit Grundwasser erfolgen, eine auf dem Dach geplante Photovoltaikanlage ist auf eine jährliche Produktion von 950’000 Kilowattstunden Strom ausgelegt. Insgesamt investiert Imbach Logistik rund 60 Millionen Franken in das Projekt.

Aktuell werden Haus- und Gebäudetechnik installiert und die Fördertechnik für Paletten und Behälter eingerichtet. Im Kleinteilelager sind bereits erste Arbeiten für die Inbetriebnahme angelaufen.

December 2021
Steiner AG can realize the residential building project Haus Weiler

The building permit for the new building project Haus Weiler in Winterthur's Neuhegi district is legally binding. As Steiner AG , which was commissioned with the planning, informed in a press release , the first apartments should be ready for occupancy in spring 2025. Residents will find peace and quiet and close to nature, but at the same time can reach the city in around 15 minutes by bike or bus, according to the message.

The new residential development will close another gap in the KIM area. A modern building with 80 modern apartments with two and a half to five and a half rooms is to be built on 3328 square meters. The extraordinary room heights are a special feature. "While the apartments on the ground floor are equipped with private garden seating, the residential units on the top floors will impress with their large, private terraces," the company reports. The plans also provide for “a cozy inner courtyard”, which offers space for “cozy get-togethers, lingering, relaxing and playing”.

The KIM quarter, launched in 2018 in the Oberwinterthur district , sees itself as “a lively and multi-layered quarter with commercial and residential buildings of various sizes”. The new district combines the advantages of urban structures with high recreational value at the same time. Green areas, playgrounds and car-free zones as well as attractive shopping opportunities in the area are named as strengths.

December 2021
Rorschach: New district on a former industrial site

The beginnings of the field mill, once a grain mill, go back to the Middle Ages. Towards the end of the 19th century, embroidery, fabric and adhesive foils were produced in the factories on the Feldmühle site. In 2015, the adhesive tape manufacturer Scapa (Schweiz) AG gave up the Rorschach production site.
Since then, it has been quiet on the Feldmühle site at Rorschach Stadt train station. Only the historical buildings are evidence of the once industrial boom. But in the coming years a new chapter will begin on the site.
In 2017 the Steiner Investment Foundation bought the Feldmühle site. Together with the city of Rorschach and the project developer Steiner AG, she developed a concept for the area based on the urban development program “Seestadt Rorschach” in order to ensure both quality and economic viability. The renovation of existing buildings and the construction of new ones should bring the area back to life. From 2026 the Feldmühle site will offer the population more than 300 new rental and owner-occupied apartments as well as commercial space, squares, green spaces and quiet inner courtyards.
The project for the Feldmühle is also the result of an architecture study competition in 2018. The winning project combines individual buildings that are valuable in terms of building history and create identity with new buildings. The original character of the former industrial plant should remain noticeable and is underlined by the equivalent urban planning address. A green outside space connects buildings and inner courtyards. The area can be crossed via alleys and stairs.
The lively west of the area creates meeting places for the population, space for business and is located directly at the Rorschach Stadt train station. A quieter, more individual world, on the other hand, is emerging in the east of the Feldmühle area. It contains mostly apartments and is characterized by a strong relationship to the inner-city green space. In addition, there is the future open stream and the free space in the direction of the Evangelical Reformed Church. The two worlds are closely interwoven and give the quarter a varied overall appearance.
The area is currently being used temporarily. Under this name, the former gluing factory serves as an event space for events for up to 100 people. When the weather is nice, the glue shop runs a garden restaurant. She has an open
air area with a covered event stage and space for 300 people. In addition, the roofs of the Feldmühle area were home to a colony of bees from summer 2019 to summer 2020 – a collaboration with a local beekeeper.

December 2021
Sound house: Walk-in instrument in the middle of nature

At the Schwendisee in Toggenburg, a magical new building will be built between protected raised bogs: the so-called sound house, built as a walk-in sound box made of local wood, similar to the sound box of a violin. The aim is to create a house for the sound that itself becomes an instrument and resonance space, with acoustics that do not yet exist in this form.
It is intended to address and attract very different target groups. On the one hand, it is intended to attract musicians, choirs and orchestras for rehearsals, courses and symposia. It should be a special place for practicing and singing. On the other hand, it will develop into a place for events, concerts and performances. It also wants to give companies, clubs, schools and other organizations space for their events and represent an attractive point of attraction for those interested in architecture and hikers.
The sound house is to become the heart and architectural center of the tourist area around the Schwendisee. The President of the Foundation Council of Klangwelt Toggenburg said: “From the time the Klanghaus is put into operation, a functioning operation with a successful cultural and tourist offer should be ensured. This includes infrastructural, organizational, economic and content-related aspects that combine the needs of our guests and providers into a coherent ‹ecosystem of sound campus›. " The Toggenburg Sound World wants to establish a leading sound and resonance destination in Toggenburg.
The Toggenburg Sound House was designed by the architect Marcel Meili, who died in 2019. In the meantime, the implementation of the project has been entrusted to the architect Astrid Staufer, who developed the sound house in 2010 in contractual collaboration with Marcel Meili.
The former Hotel Seegüetli currently stands where the Klanghaus will be built. The canton plans to demolish it in the coming year. Today's street is currently being relocated. According to the current schedule, the sound house should be completed in autumn / winter 2024. In spring 2025, the canton of St. Gallen and the Toggenburg Sound World Foundation want to jointly open the unique wooden structure.

December 2021
Aepli Metallbau establishes a new location in Gossau

Aepli Metallbau normally builds metal construction for others – especially modern and energy-efficient facades made of glass and metal. The company's major projects include the HSG Learning Center in St. Gallen, the Basel Biozentrum and the Quadrolith in Baar. Today the family business, which has been based in Gossau for 108 years, has around 200 employees.
The previous headquarters on Industriestrasse is reaching its capacity limits despite extensions and the production halls spread over three locations. The third generation of the company's boss, Roman Aepli, decided to build a new headquarters. This is being built on the Sommerau-Nord site – right next to the Gossau motorway junction. Aepli was able to buy the 100,000 square meter land from the Migros Ostschweiz cooperative around two years ago.
The office building and a two-part production hall can be found on 35,000 square meters. The office building has five floors and a glass facade that tapers from top to bottom. This builds on the protruding and recessed Aepli Air Control facade elements. This is to ensure maximum energy efficiency. Photovoltaic systems on the flat roof of the production hall ensure sustainable electricity production. An underground car park with 166 parking spaces offers space for the service vehicles.
In this way, not only can Aepli Metallbau's production be bundled in one place, but the long-term future of the company in Gossau can also be ensured, as Roman Aepli says. Investments in the latest production technologies and digitization are planned. The automation in particular will take up a lot of space, which is why Sommerau-Nord is the ideal location. Thanks to the planned production lines, new processes are to be optimized, thereby increasing efficiency and quality.
The new building is the largest investment in the company's history. It is planned that production on the Sommerau can start in autumn 2022. The office space should also be ready for occupancy at the beginning of 2023.
Of the remaining 65,000 square meters of land, Aepli has kept 6,000 square meters as a reserve. The rest of the land was divided into three parcels and sold to three companies: The new owners are Huber Kunststoff AG, the powder coater Gema Switzerland GmbH and the cooperative butcher shop St. Gallen and the surrounding area.
But there are not only changes in the location, but also in the management: Since January 1, 2021, the new management team has consisted of long-term employees Matthias Elmer (Managing Director), Michael Röthenmund (Technical Director), Thierry Knöpfel (Head of Sales) and Marcel Rechsteiner (Head of Finance and HR). Aepli is concentrating on his duties as Chairman of the Board of Directors and on realizing the new company headquarters.

December 2021
Living more beautifully and energy-efficiently

SwissAlp Immobilien AG is a Swiss real estate company based in Buchs SG: “Our thoughts and actions are geared towards identifying and implementing the potential of properties, real estate projects and properties. From this we generate growth: for our investors and for us, ”says Ardian Emini, CEO of SwissAlp Immobilien AG. «Our main activity is value-added portfolio management. We acquire properties with very high quality requirements in selected locations in German-speaking Switzerland. Renovation properties are acquired if their value can be increased significantly through renovation, new construction or renovation. We market, rent and manage our properties ourselves. "
SwissAlp Immobilien AG has specialized in the development of a solid real estate portfolio: "Thanks to our know-how, our many years of experience and our professionalism, we offer our investors the best possible security to achieve their return targets," says Emini. "Thanks to our professionally managed property portfolios, we enable our investors to participate in all of German-speaking Switzerland."
A prime example is the new building project by SwissAlp Immobilien AG in a central location in Sargans SG. Within walking distance of the train station, 22 high-quality rental apartments will soon be built: “The apartment building impresses with its modern and exciting architecture, combined with the concept of sustainability. Both a photovoltaic system and efficient energy management are of course part of this concept. The parking garage and bike room are equipped with charging stations for electric cars and bicycles from the start. ”
The apartment mix of 2.5 to 4.5 room apartments appeals to singles, young couples and families alike. Shops and schools are in the immediate vicinity within walking distance. According to Emini, the apartments are characterized by a high-quality finish and leave nothing to be desired: "Each apartment has a small reduit, and the larger apartments have a master bedroom with its own bathroom." With this project, architects and specialist planners had the opportunity to create a special building: for today, for tomorrow and for eternity!

December 2021
On a bus tour through Wil West

Around 70 people were present on three Wil Mobil buses and explored various posts on the Wil West site in the style of a “scout exercise”. There were representatives from all the departments involved in the cantons of St. Gallen and Thurgau as well as the 23 member communities of the Wil region. And off we go: The northern network extension was discussed at the Ebnetsaal in Bronschhofen, aspects such as infrastructure and ecology on the terrace of the car world of Rotz and the details of the cantonal usage zone in Gloten.
The tour of the site met with a consistently positive response: many participants had real aha moments when it came to the “dimension of the project” or “how detailed ecological compensation measures have already been defined”. The area tour with various stations should also be a central instrument in the future to make Wil West more tangible. Corresponding implementations are being planned for both the media and the population.
The District President of St. Gallen, Marc Mächler, also insisted that Wil West be brought to life and that the project be brought to the next phase: "We must soon get away from the paper and the plans and show people specifically what is happening here." The CFO also submitted details of the special loan for the development of the site, which the Cantonal Council is expected to discuss in its first reading in November. In addition to Mächler, site manager Susanne Hartmann was also present from the government of the canton of St. Gallen. The Canton of Thurgau was also represented by the head of construction, Carmen Haag. The latter explained the network decision on the new connecting road and the footpaths and cycle paths, over which the Great Council of Thurgau has to decide. The Wil West motorway junction is at the center of the infrastructure construction. The Astra is planning this as an exciting high-spinning bridge and will then build it later.
The modernized “Wil West” logo with the claim “The future lies with us” also premiered at the location conference. The claim stands for the self-confidence that the future lies here in the region and that future generations will find attractive jobs locally and no longer have to migrate in large droves to other cities. In addition to the logo debut, a new, fresh website is also being planned.
Three young personalities from regional politics took part in the “Voices of the Future” podium: Meret Grob, City MP Green prowil; Salome Zeintl, President Jungfreisinnige Wil and the surrounding area and Serge Müller, Vice President SP Münchwilen district. They combined many positive aspects with the project, such as cross-cantonal cooperation or the economic strengthening of the entire region. However, they also expressed the need to involve the young and the population in general even more and to think more about the future, instead of just looking at today's forms of construction and transport.
On a bus tour through Wil West.

December 2021
«Johanna»: New residential development with a historical namesake

Grain, flour and bread: for centuries it was this triad that shaped human life and survival. This is also the case in Weinfelden, whose mill was built by the municipality in 1784. Around a hundred years later, it was bought by the miller Hermann Meyerhans. After his early death, his wife Johanna Meyerhans took over the management. Back in 1897, a woman with four small children at the head of a large mill was anything but ordinary. Johanna Meyerhans ran the mill for 19 years and with great success. She died in 1936 at the age of 82.
The Meyerhans mill is still in the Sangenfeld West area in Weinfelden. In the immediate vicinity, a street will soon bear the name of Johanna Meyerhans – and thus be one of the first two streets in Weinfelden to be named after women. On this street – today it is still called Thurfeldstrasse – the "Johanna" development is also being built. Two apartment buildings with a total of 33 condominiums are being built on a plot of 3005 square meters.
3.5 and 4.5 room apartments and a 5.5 room attic apartment are planned. The ground floor apartments have covered seating and private gardens, the apartments on the remaining floors have large balconies and terraces.
The development is located directly on the Thur Canal. There are shops, a kindergarten, schools and sports facilities, a vita parcours and an outdoor swimming pool nearby. A nicely structured architecture, bright facades, large balconies and terraces as well as small, secluded spots give the development a cozy and friendly flair.
The attractiveness of the residential development should not be based on superficial chic and unnecessary accessories, but on well thought-out solutions. «Johanna» wants to be an oasis in which people feel comfortable. It is expected to be ready for occupancy from February 2024. Construction work is expected to start in November 2021.

December 2021
Sargans Cantonal School is being renovated for 50 million francs

The Sargans canton school has been in operation in its existing form for over 50 years and is in need of renovation. It can no longer meet today's structural requirements in terms of earthquake security, building technology and insulation. There is also a lack of around 1900 square meters of school, preparation and group rooms that ensure modern teaching in the long term. In addition, central facilities such as the cafeteria are too small and there are only a small number of student and teacher workplaces.
The plan is to demolish the west and south wings dating from 1963 and 1969. They will be replaced by contemporary new buildings. L-shaped extensions are to be built, which together with the east and north wings form a rectangular structure. At the center is an identity-creating courtyard.
The new west wing will house the cafeteria with outdoor seating, a kitchen, foyer, auditorium and some classrooms. In the new south wing there is space for additional class, subject and group rooms as well as rooms for administration and teaching staff. In the east and north tracts, there are mainly renovations with regard to earthquake security. Continuous access corridors on the upper floors ensure short connecting routes with common areas.
A loan of CHF 49.9 million was granted for the project. Of this, 3 million are for the existing buildings and 46.9 million for the new buildings. Construction work is scheduled to begin in summer 2023 and will last three years. School operations in the east and north wing will continue – temporary arrangements will be built for the south and west wing.
The St. Gallen electorate approved the building project in 2014. A total of 17 objections were received in 2018. These were rejected by the municipality of Sargans, but a resident filed an appeal against the decision with the Department of Economic Affairs. This also rejected the objection, whereupon the recurrent filed the complaint before the federal court. In May 2021, the latter also rejected the complaint in the last instance. Now nothing stands in the way of the planned renovation and expansion of the canton school.

December 2021
Breeze Arbon: from hardware store to residential development

For thirty years there was a jumbo hardware store on the 8,600 square meter area in Arbon. It was demolished at the end of 2018. There are now two new buildings here: The Breeze residential complex offers a total of 63 apartments in two houses.
Breeze is located directly on Lake Constance, between the city's waterfront promenade, designed as a chestnut avenue, and Bahnhofstrasse, on a plot of land with a connection to the lake. The park-like surroundings, the proximity to the train station, the historic old town and the shopping facilities of Arbon are also intended to make the centrally located development an attractive place to live.
In modern apartments, classic, high-quality materials should convey style and comfort. The apartments with 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 rooms have large windows, spacious floor plans and bright rooms. Your terraces are large and partly all around. With its generously designed outdoor spaces, Breeze should blend in harmoniously with the surroundings and location directly on the water.
The architecture competition for Breeze took place in 2017. The jury decided in favor of the project by the Caruso St John Architects.
The two angular houses with receding outer corners each have five main floors and an attic floor. They are mirrored to each other and rotated 180 degrees. There is a shared underground parking garage under the two structures.
Towards the lake, the houses border a semi-private open space with seating and trees. The houses are accessed on Bahnhofstrasse. The re-entrant corner areas are transformed into clearly delimited, greened front zones by pavilions. From here, footpaths also lead to the open space on the lake side and on to Kastanienallee.
Breeze complies with the Minergie guidelines and uses environmentally friendly district heating. As a further contribution to sustainability, the flat roofs of the building are greened. The roof structure is chosen in such a way that the rainwater is largely retained.
Construction work started in early 2019. The development has been in place since December 2020. All 63 apartments have already been sold and will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2021.

December 2021
A lighthouse project for Wil

The development on Untere Bahnhofstrasse 1-11 is the result of a study commission to meet the high architectural and site planning requirements at this location, which is important in terms of traffic engineering and construction. The location between the railway tracks and Unterer Bahnhofstrasse placed high demands on the organization and floor plans in terms of emissions, living hygiene and quality of living: "In Eastern Switzerland, the first development of this size is being built here, which will be certified for a 2000 watt area," says the project manager Stefan Schreiber from real estate developer Mettler2Invest AG. "The new building eliminates a problem at the train station that has been referred to as a 'scand stain' in the local press for years."
A new, covered two-wheeler parking facility for over 600 bicycles is being built in the basement. This is operated by the city of Wil and is directly connected to the SBB pedestrian underpass. With 100 units from 1½ to 5½ rooms, the complex offers a wide range of living space, suitable for single households, couples, families and senior citizens. 4100 m2 of space is available for office, service and retail use. The central location directly on the station square and on platform 1 of the SBB offers tenants and customers very good public access. The building is architecturally and economically a lighthouse project for Wil.

December 2021
Park Ost: Entrepreneurship meets research

A lot of innovation is already happening three kilometers from the city center of St. Gallen. This is where Empa is located, the ETH Domain's interdisciplinary research institute for materials science and technology. Right next to it is a 35,000 square meter commercial property, where a community of start-ups, SMEs and technology-oriented companies has developed over the past ten years. The Startfeld association, a network for innovations and start-ups, is also located here. It provides managed premises – event rooms, meeting rooms, meeting points, a makerspace and a co-working space. There is also a publicly accessible canteen.
The Switzerland Innovation Park Ost aims to establish itself in this area by 2022. There are currently reserves of 9,000 square meters of commercial and industrial building land here. With a standard construction method of 18 meters high, this results in development potential of almost 18,000 square meters of usable space. For an initial expansion phase, there are plans to initially have around 6500 square meters of usable space. It is expected that this could be achieved by 2025. Two further expansion stages can be implemented as required.
The areas that are already available are suitable as clean rooms, laboratories and rooms for industrial production. Most of the available spaces have plenty of natural light and are therefore also suitable as offices, meeting rooms or for events.
Park Ost is to become a globally recognized center where companies in Eastern Switzerland promote innovations in selected areas on the basis of research by Empa, the St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital and the University of St. Gallen. The focus of innovation at Park Ost is dedicated to the development of technologies for health and medical technology as well as in the machine, electrical and metal industries. With regard to these technologies, he also deals with digitization – in particular artificial intelligence and the “Internet of Things”.
How does Park Ost actually create synergies between business and research? Companies can bring their projects to Park Ost. Depending on the scope of the projects, they also send employees to the park's location. The research institutions can also send employees to the park and thus bring research expertise into project operation. You support the project team of a company or work as your own project team.
Park Ost is run by a private stock corporation. Switzerland Innovation Park AG was founded at the beginning of September 2021. She gives herself ten years to make the Innovationspark Ost financially self-sustaining.
An external location of Park Ost is RhySearch in Buchs. A campus is planned there, where the University of Applied Sciences in Eastern Switzerland, the Buchs vocational and advanced training center and the Alpine Rhine Valley Precision Industry Center are located. The Buchs campus has 8,000 square meters of industrial building land reserves.

December 2021
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Rietbach Center has taken place

The starting shot for the Rietbach Center has been given. Representatives of the municipality of Bachenbülach, tenants and other guests attended the groundbreaking ceremony, according to a message from P&F Immobilien . Burger King, the hotel chain Schatz AG and Bodypalace Gym, which will also offer physiotherapy, have been won as anchor tenants.

The new health, commercial and service center in the Zürcher Unterland is only about three minutes from the Bülach-Süd / Bachenbülach motorway exit. It will have freely expandable areas that are just as suitable for medical practices and other providers in the health sector as for specialized shops. The health services offered are intended on the one hand to ensure basic care, while on the other hand medical specialists are also to be settled there. The future tenants should also benefit from synergy effects from the surrounding centers.

On the ground floor of the Rietbach Center, an area of 3000 square meters is available for trade and services. This is supplemented by 1,600 square meters of rental space on the upper floor.

November 2021
Steiner sells Immo-Projekt to Fortimo

Steiner AG has decided to “adjust the portfolio”. As a result, it sells the entire Widacher project in Fischbach-Göslikon to Fortimo Invest AG . According to a press release , Fortimo will begin with the implementation of the first construction phase in the coming year. There is already a building permit for this.

Initially, 16 terraced houses are to be built on an abandoned industrial site. This first stage also includes a further 42 apartments in three apartment buildings and two listed buildings. A total of 165 residential units in ten multi-family houses and 46 row single-family houses are planned on this site. They are to be built in three sections.

“With Fortimo we can hand over this great project to a long-standing partner company, which ensures the successful implementation and further development of this attractive residential complex,” Steiner CEO Michael Schiltknecht is quoted as saying.

November 2021
Implenia is building five buildings for SBB

As a general contractor, Implenia is building five buildings on the former Malley industrial site west of Lausanne, one of which has 19 floors and a second one with 24 floors. As the company reports , the order volume is CHF 200 million. It includes the construction of residential and commercial buildings for the first phase of construction called Central Malley . An area of 42,200 square meters is to be developed. 23,700 square meters are planned as office space, 3800 square meters for commercial units and 14,700 square meters for around 200 apartments.

The Central Malley construction project is the first step in the revitalization of the Malley industrial area. According to the information, the area is to be converted into a sustainable urban quarter with apartments, offices and commercial units. The concept for the development is based on ecological building, future ways of life and the Minergie P-Eco standard. The development of the new district fits into the spatial development plan for the Lausanne metropolitan area, which envisages several “ambitious architectural designs”. In this way, Implenia is making a contribution to the design of “promising future living and working environments,” says Jens Vollmar, Head of the Buildings Division, quoted in the press release.

The project was preceded by two architecture competitions. The designs are implemented by the offices of Aeby Perneger & Associés SA and Pont 12 Architectes SA .

November 2021
Laying of the foundation stone for the Osiris eco-quarter in Echallens

The eco quarter was developed as a joint project by Realtim, Equitim and ODS Investhome. The aim is to achieve Minergie-P-Eco certification, which includes the integration of environmental aspects in the construction process. That is why Steiner is using more than 50 percent recycled concrete in this project. In addition, strict criteria for reducing gray energy and labeling materials such as wood must be adhered to. The Steiner teams also pay close attention to effective waste and wastewater treatment on site.
The general contractor is aware of the importance of short transport routes and works with local subcontractors as far as possible on all projects. Currently, 75% of those involved in the project come from a radius of less than 50 kilometers around the Osiris construction site.

At the same time close to nature and in the city center
The planned eco-quarter comprises 15 buildings with a total of 410 apartments. It offers a natural, spacious outdoor area and foot and bike paths. Both the heating (heat pumps with geothermal probes) and the electricity (photovoltaic modules) rely on renewable energies. Another ecological advantage: the reversible heating system is used for surface cooling in summer (free cooling). Located not far from the center of Echallens, the eco-district has the ideal conditions for non-motorized traffic; the site will be equipped with paths and bicycle garages accessible for bicycles.

After the client had completed the earthworks, Steiner began building the shell in the summer of 2021. As the project was divided into several areas, the different areas are in different construction phases. The buildings in the first area are at an advanced stage, while the basement and first above-ground floors of the other two areas are currently only being built. The building handover of the Osiris project will take place in spring 2023.

November 2021
Bühler builds center for positive energy and innovations

Bühler AG has officially broken ground for its new Energy & Manufacturing Technology Center in Uzwil. The building in the immediate vicinity of the Cubic Innovationscampus, which was inaugurated in 2018, underlines the technology company’s long-term renewal strategy, according to a media release. Completion should be in the second quarter of 2023.

On the one hand, the building consists of an energy center. The center for “good, positive energy” is to become the center for vocational and advanced training as well as for health prevention. Young men and women are trained there in the areas of plant engineering, polymechanics, automation and IT. This center should also be accessible to external partners.

“We are clearly committed to the success model of our vocational training and lifelong learning. We are also expanding our health expertise much more and making a further contribution to keeping Uzwil as an attractive business location, ”said Christof Oswald, Head of Human Resources at Bühler, in the media release. Overall, the Energy Center aims to make Bühler more attractive as an employer.

The second part of the building, the Manufacturing Technology Center, will house the areas of innovation and prototype construction. “Here we will manufacture innovations for our customers as pilot projects that we will later introduce in other production plants around the world,” said Andreas Schachtner, Head of Business Development in Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain, in the media release.

November 2021