Category: Refurbishment

Schönau Wetzikon: creative and residential district in the middle of nature

Since the spinning mill was shut down at the end of 1991, the former Schönau textile factory site in Wetzikon has been used temporarily. A sound artist creates impressive sounding sculptures here, photographers, graphic artists, painters and sculptors have their studios here, there are cultural events, open studio days or, like last summer, a Schönau summer bar with concerts. A children's clothing store, a musical theater group, a carpenter's workshop or the job bus of the Stiftung Netzwerk also use the historic rooms, some of which are even used today. Since 2006, storks have lodged on the former factory chimney during the summer months. The natural landscape forms an idyllic setting around this colorful world of Schönau.
Hiag intends to develop the area in stages up to 2030, taking up the character of Schönau and continuing to tell its story. There will also be room for creativity here in the future. In the heart of Schönau, new public facilities are to be created, such as a café,
Shops, market stalls with regional products or a showroom, but also commercial premises. There will also be new residential buildings with around 100 apartments and innovative forms of housing such as studios or cluster apartments.
The almost 200-year-old listed factory buildings are to be carefully renovated. The historical buildings lie in a spacious park and are embraced on the west side by the Schönauweiher, which is actually a technical body of water: it was dammed to generate hydroelectric power. A historic hydroelectric power plant, which is to be preserved and renovated, still bears witness to this today. There is a small raft in the pond. It was installed in 2012 as part of the Wetziker Fjord Strategy, which strengthens the natural space along the Aabach from the neighboring Kulturfabrik to the Pfäffikersee. This natural area is preserved as a place for recreation and meeting, upgraded and partly made accessible to everyone. Large parts are reserved exclusively for the animal and plant world.
The Schönau lies on a hilltop. Wetzikon train station and Oberwetzikon town center can each be reached on foot in just under a quarter of an hour. There are various bus stops nearby.
Participation and communication are important issues in the process. The development of the Schönau should be a project in which everyone could participate. Information events are held regularly and there are various information channels. The current tenants participate and help with projects and events.
Since the end of 2020, the participation process for future uses in the historic cotton magazine, which is to become the public meeting place of Schönau, has been running. The collected ideas are currently being further developed into a concrete utilization concept.
The city of Wetzikon has drawn up a public design plan for the Schönau with various experts. To ensure that his specifications are as specific and meaningful as possible, several well-known architectural offices and landscape architects have carried out a guideline project for the area. The Wetzik city parliament is expected to vote on the design plan in the first half of the year. When it is final, the new building projects will be worked out. A first construction project could be the design of the future heart of the Schönau in 2023 at the earliest – the renovation of the cotton magazine. The main building will remain in its current state until at least 2025.
The historic buildings are to be gently renovated.
There should also be room for creativity in Schönau in the future.

February 2022
Halter establishes a research center in Lupfig

As of February 1, Halter AG took over the Futura Towers in Lupfig from Wisca Immo SA . According to a press release from the Schliere-based real estate developer and new owner, the two buildings with almost 25,000 square meters of commercial, production and storage space are to become a multifunctional center for teaching, research, manufacturing, leisure facilities and gastronomy. This should be repositioned under the brand name Futurama. The property, completed in 1992, has eleven upper floors and three lower floors with 287 parking spaces and 30 additional outdoor parking spaces.

Futurama stands for a modern working world of short distances for teaching and research institutes, industrial production as well as office and service companies, says Halter Managing Director Andreas Campi, who is responsible for developments. “We will attach particular importance to the quality of stay and create additional leisure facilities and gastronomy offers,” Campi continues.

The location is directly connected to public transport, a five-minute walk from the Lupfig train station. There is also a good connection to the A1/3 motorway with two motorway junctions, according to the statement. Futurama is in the immediate vicinity of green.ch’s Zurich-West campus data center.

The takeover of the Futura Towers by Halter “ignites the great hope that life will finally come into being in the properties, which have mostly been unused for almost 30 years,” said Richard Plüss, the mayor of the Lupfig municipality.

February 2022
Halter redesigns the center of Wetzikon

With the demolition of buildings in the northern part of the planned new development, the Schliere-based construction company Halter AG has started to redesign the center of Wetzikon . According to the media release , a lively center with shops, services and apartments is to be built there by the end of 2025. In the past two years, Halter AG, as the developer, has brought the project to construction maturity together with the Wetziker architectural office meierpartner . The investor is Turintra AG Zurich, represented by UBS Fund Management. The investment volume on the 9013 square meter area amounts to around 138 million Swiss francs.

The shell construction work for the building construction of the first stage is to begin in the spring. Delivery is planned for November 2023. The second stage should be ready for occupancy in November 2025. According to a statement by Halter AG, the superstructure offers space for shops and restaurants, public-oriented uses and a medical center. Rental apartments ranging in size from 2.5 to 4.5 rooms for different target groups are being built on the upper floors. Some of the rental apartments are offered according to the MOVEment concept, in which electronically movable room elements create living comfort in a small space.

114 apartments and 35 MOVEment apartments are planned. 3,100 square meters are planned for the services area, and 4,600 square meters for sales and gastronomy. Garages for 176 cars, 34 motorcycles and 450 bicycles will be created.

A central city lane for pedestrians and passers-by and a city square are to be created in Wetzikon. A "Spanish Step" is intended to serve as a cross connection between Bahnhofstrasse and Jörg-Schneider-Park as well as the Wetzikon vocational school.

January 2022
After successful restructuring, Novosan AG is returning to its roots

Bern, January 18, 2022: Novosan AG was acquired by Spycher Group Holding AG at the beginning of 2021. Now, one year after the takeover and the successfully implemented corporate restructuring, Novosan AG is returning to its roots. With retrospective effect from the beginning of January 2022, the fire and water damage specialist will go to the experienced industrial specialist Martin Schweizer.
The life partner of company co-founder Deneshini Santschi takes over the share package of the Spycher Group and the operational management of Novosan AG. The founder Hanspeter Santschi keeps his company shares and remains with the company.
Since 2021, Novosan AG has been restructured by those responsible at Spycher Group Holding AG. New business areas were also created and the structures adjusted. The renovators were thus able to arm Novosan AG for the future.
The makers of the Bern company have been carrying out fire and water damage restoration for years and are also popular and proven in drying, electrical and industrial renovation, odor neutralization and special cleaning. In the event of damage, the Novosan AG team is always on hand immediately.
The Spycher Group will retain the two newly created business areas "pollution remediation" and "facility management" of Novosan AG under a new name. The two business areas now form PuraTec GmbH and are based at Ey 9 in Ittigen. PuraTec GmbH perfectly complements the company portfolio of Spycher Group Holding AG and offers those responsible for it the opportunity to further expand their comprehensive real estate services.
Novosan AG
Novosan AG, founded by Hanspeter Santschi in 1992, became a successful fire and water damage restoration company under the joint management of Deneshini and Hanspeter Santschi. Far beyond the Bern region, the Novosan AG team is on the spot immediately after damage, to save what can be repaired with care and respect, to limit the damage and to protect property and cherished objects. For those who have suffered damage and their insurance companies, rehabilitation is often more ecological and economical than replacement. In addition to fire and water damage restoration, the team also specializes in electrical and industrial renovation, odor neutralization, drying and special cleaning. novosan.ch
The PuraTec GmbH
Shortly after the takeover of Novosan AG by Spycher Group Holding AG, Novosan harmful substances GmbH was set up together with its managing director, Pascal Meier. In addition, the Novosan Facility Management division was created. PuraTec GmbH, which also takes over the former Novosan Facility Management department, emerges from Novosan harmful substances GmbH. PuraTec pollutants specializes in analyzes and pollutant remediation for construction pollutants such as asbestos, PCB and PAH. PuraTec Facility Management, in turn, offers a wide range of services related to house maintenance and property services. puratec.ch
The Spycher Group Holding AG
The Spycher Group holds subsidiaries and holdings in the construction industry, in communications and in the tourism industry. In the construction industry, these are Maler Pfister AG, Intertapis AG, Fritschi Fensterbau AG, Akzent Küchen GmbH and GIO CERAMICA GmbH. The communications division includes the companies Prolith AG, Werbehorst and Witschi + Partner AG. In tourism it is Belpmoos Reisen AG. spychergroup.ch
Press Office Spycher Group Holding AG / Novosan AG / PuraTec GmbH
IMS Marketing AG; Dominik Rothenbühler, dominik.rothenbuehler@ims-marketing.ch , Gartenstadtstrasse 17, 3098 Köniz, +41 79 262 66 60, ims-marketing.ch

January 2022
Halter AG can realize the Attisholz-Areal project

The government council of the canton of Solothurn has approved the land use planning for the Attisholz area in Riedholz. The decision ensures the further development of the area in the next 25 years, according to a media release from the Schlierem-based construction company Halter AG . On the Halter project page , it says about the project that cellulose has been industrially produced on the site for 130 years. Since the end of 2016, Halter AG has been working with the municipality of Riedholz and the canton of Solothurn to redesign the area.

The usage planning that has now been approved was drawn up from 2018 to 2019 in a planning group of the municipality, the canton and Halter AG. After the preliminary examination, the participation procedure and the condition of the land use planning from 2020 to 2021, the municipality of Riedholz transferred the dossier to the canton of Solothurn in June 2021, according to the holder's notification. The decision of the government council now creates the planning law basis for a new zoning plan, as well as a zoning and development plan, in order to develop a living space for living, working and leisure out of the area.

It is important that "the population stands behind the project and that the effects on the community in social, economic and ecological terms are acceptable," said Sandra Morstein, Mayor of Riedholz. "That is why great importance was attached to informing and participating in the population as well as trusting and constructive cooperation with the canton and Halter AG in the planning and development of common objectives."

The results of a study by landscape architects on open space will be available in February. The planning of the infrastructure for public transport and community buildings such as schools and day-care centers is in preparation.

December 2021
Walo Bertschinger renovates the Bad Ragaz thermal baths

As part of a renovation work in the Bad Ragaz SG thermal baths, the Dietiker construction company Walo Bertschinger renewed the floor coverings. According to a message from Walo on Facebook, the Walo bedding Haypanol D was laid with a special system constellation.

According to the company announcement, high demands were placed on slip resistance, UV resistance and optics in the thermal baths. In the system constellation used by Walo, these conditions of the client Grand Resort Bad Ragaz were met. The multi-layer structure of the covering and its technical properties also showed high chemical resistance, so that various cleaning agents, greases, other deposits and chemical solutions cannot harm the covering.

According to Walo, the architecture of the famous thermal baths with its special appearance corresponds to the snow-white surface.

November 2021
Steiner AG is redeveloping the industrial area in Breitenbach

The Steiner Investment Foundation wants to convert the Isola area not far from the center of Breitenbach into a residential and commercial area. The owner of the eleven hectare site has commissioned the construction service provider Steiner AG with this, according to a media release . The residents of Breitenbach are to be included in the development process from next year.

The project developer also wants to open up the Isola area, which is located directly on the Lüssel, to the public. “This can look forward to new, attractive meeting and green areas, which will be created in place of the existing company roads and storage areas”, Stefan Gabriel, team leader for real estate development at Steiner AG, is quoted in the media release.

The new quarter is not intended to compete with the village center, but rather to complement it. An intensive exchange is currently taking place with the Breitenbach municipal administration about the respective ideas and expectations. As a basis for a common understanding of the spatial development of the area, an urban development and open space planning test planning process will also be carried out, according to the media release. Renowned architectural offices and landscape architects would be invited to come up with suggestions.

Construction on the first stage is expected to start in 2029. During the planning phase, however, the company wants to enable interim uses and, if necessary, bring forward individual conversion projects in existing buildings.

The Steiner Invest Foundation, a Zurich-based asset management company for Swiss pension funds and an investment foundation of Steiner AG, acquired the 114,280 square meter area with its largely empty industrial and warehouse buildings in spring 2021.

November 2021
Replacement building in Salzweg with up to 240 apartments

On the northern slope of the Uetliberg, in Zurich-Altstetten, the city of Zurich is planning to replace the Salzweg housing estate. This currently comprises 130 apartments. It was created in 1969 in prefabricated element construction based on the plans of the architect Manuel Pauli. The past 50 years have left behind damage to the structures and a considerable need for repairs.

The city of Zurich, as the client, decided on a new replacement building due to changed legal requirements, the current compression pressure and after examining the feasibility of repairs. The aim is to make the best possible use of the area and to expand the proportion of non-profit apartments in the city.

In order to find the optimal project, the Office for Buildings of the City of Zurich has launched an architecture competition. Zimmermann Sutter Architekten AG from Zurich was able to win this with its “Tartaruga” proposal. The jury was impressed by the delicate, staggered arrangement of shorter and longer rows of buildings. The balconies offer views towards Uetliberg or Hönggerberg. The buildings are also integrated harmoniously into the quarter and are created in the fall line to the slope. Good lighting, a clear cut and optimal room design also helped the project onto the podium.

Up to 240 apartments of different sizes and different common uses as well as a double kindergarten and a double daycare center are planned. The apartments are designed to be barrier-free so that they are also suitable for senior citizens. A caretaker base, practice rooms for bands, a common room and studios are also planned.
A Rue Intérieure and residential streets connect the various units with one another. The sustainable CO2 concept desired by the client is met by the Minergie-P-Eco standard, a photovoltaic system on the green roof areas and a car-free settlement.

October 2021
From office building to residential building

The office building with the plate facade from 1992 has been empty since the beginning of January. The five-story building was last used by artists from the Lemon Association. Mobimo decided to convert and build a new property at Im Tiergarten 7 in Zurich-Friesenberg: “We already own a commercial property with the neighboring building,” says Daniel Garcia, the project manager in charge at Mobimo. In addition, there is great demand for apartments in the city of Zurich. “The conversion was therefore obvious,” explains Garcia.

59 rental apartments in the medium price segment are to be built here by 2022. The architecture contract went to Theo Hotz Partner Architects: “With this architecture office we have found a partner who optimally embeds the property in the surroundings and does not make it look like a foreign body. Architectural details that reflect Mobimo’s values in the context of sustainable construction were incorporated into the project, ”says Garcia.

Visualization of the stairwell.

The architectural office has planned a free-standing, triangular block of flats that will form an urban hinge between the neighboring Friesenberg office building and the surrounding residential area. The 1.5 to 4.5 room apartments are intended for singles, families and senior citizens. The energy concept provides for central heat generation by means of a heat pump and the use of waste heat from the cooling network of the data center in the neighboring building.

Mobimo commissioned W. Schmid AG as total contractor for the new building. The owner is spending around 49 million francs on the new project. The first occupancy is planned for December 1, 2022.

October 2021
Hardau I is being rebuilt for 71 million francs

The aging Hardau I housing estate is located between Hardstrasse and the striking residential towers of Hardau II. It has existed since 1964 and was designed by the architect Eberhard Eidenbenz. Today’s 80 apartments are small-scale with a modest standard of fit-out. Noise protection, energy efficiency and accessibility leave a lot to be desired. Since the area has potential to be used and more family apartments can be built as a result, the City of Zurich has decided to replace it.

In 2018, the Office for Buildings of the City of Zurich selected the winning project by means of an architecture competition: Graber Pulver Architekten AG won over the jury with their “Laurel & Hardy” project. Two structures of different shapes and heights are planned. The six-storey courtyard building is clearly separated from the Hardau park. A seven-storey building block complements the existing block edge along Hardstrasse. Most of the apartments in the courtyard are oriented on three sides.

122 predominantly spacious rental apartments are planned for residents with low to medium incomes. Single rooms, studios and music practice rooms can be rented individually. Areas for services and a personal registration office are also being built along Hardstrasse on the ground floor. In addition, a kindergarten, studios and a youth shop of the Open Youth Work Zurich (OJA) are planned at Hardaupark. Together with the existing Hardau high-rises, which mostly comprise smaller apartments, a well-mixed urban housing supply is to be created.

At Hardau I, energy parameters of the Minergie-P standard in the sense of the 2000-watt society have top priority: Nevertheless, only the construction on the noise-polluted Hardstrasse is certified according to the Minergie-P-Eco standard. Because no controlled ventilation is installed in the quieter courtyard building. The mobility concept provides for a neighborhood with little cars: The number of parking spaces will be significantly reduced to 31 instead of the previous 249. Energy is generated directly on the property by a photovoltaic system planned and financed by the city of Zurich’s electricity company. So that the electricity produced on the roofs of the property can be used on site, tenants and property developers form a self-consumption community.

October 2021
Eye-catcher on Lake Zurich

With the winning project from CF Møller Architects resulting from the study, a modern and representative office building is being created. It is consistently oriented towards the lake and the lake promenade. Most noticeable are the storey-high glass surfaces and the canopies, which will be equipped with photovoltaic modules. The building will also meet high energy requirements, which is underlined by the desired LEED Platinum label. After the various requirements from the building permit have been met and the building permit has been received, the dismantling and renovation work is currently taking place. Since the property was built in 1974, the work also includes the professional disposal of asbestos-containing materials. A task that is demanding and time-consuming. A special challenge in the construction
ruktion is also the merging of the different design of the finishing details of the terrace and parapet. And last but not least, the construction site is in the inner-city area, which also brings logistical challenges with it.

Basic renovation
Bellerivestrasse 36 is a reference property for Allreal, as on the one hand it meets high standards in the field of sustainable building. This is evidenced by the desired LEED Platinum label. the
PV systems will also help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in the company’s portfolio of investment properties. Allreal wants to halve the proportion of fossil fuels in its portfolio by 2030. On the other hand, Bellerivestrasse 36 is also an example of Allreal’s business model. The property was operated as an investment property until the end of last year. When the anchor tenant moved out, it was possible to fundamentally renovate the building. In-house project development then carried out a study contract, then specified CF Møller’s winning project and made it ready for construction. The Realization division is currently implementing the project. From summer 2023, the property will then be occupied by the new tenants and reintegrated into the portfolio of investment properties and managed by Allreal. The company thus covers the entire value creation process from a single source.

After: This is how the building should look after the renovation.

Lots of flexibility
“In addition to the exclusive location directly on Lake Zurich and the collaboration with a foreign architect, the high quality of materials and details of the components used are extremely attractive,” says project manager Alain Granwehr from Allreal. “The facade in particular, with its protruding canopies and the photovoltaic elements mounted on it, is a challenge in the construction process”. The pandemic is changing user needs. A clear picture is not yet emerging. At the moment, many customers are still unsure which long-term changes will prevail in connection with the demands on the workplace, says Allreal on request. However, the company has not noticed any decline in demand, particularly for properties in very good locations. The property at Bellerivestrasse 36 will also benefit from this. In addition, once the modernization has been completed, the commercial building will be able to be operated as a multi-tenant property and thus offers a great deal of flexibility.

October 2021
Let there be light

Together with the Seefeld school complex, the Mühlebach school complex forms the Riesbach school unit. In order to cover part of the increased demand for classrooms expected in the Zürichberg school district in the long term, the Mühlebach school complex needs to be repaired and expanded. The range of school rooms is to be expanded to include two kindergarten and six primary school classes in day school by 2025. The completion of the repair and expansion work is planned for 2025.

The Mühlebach schoolhouse and the sports hall were built by Adolf and Fritz Brunner in 1876 and 1880, respectively. In 1950 Otto Dürr connected the school building and the sports hall with an intermediate building. The school complex is listed in the municipal inventory of monument and garden monument preservation. Comprehensive repairs were last carried out in 1981. The school house and the sports hall are in need of repair today.

The winning project “Lichtung” is convincing on several levels. The urban unbundling of the two buildings brings a high added value for the ensemble, which is worthy of protection, as well as for the surrounding area and strengthens the permeability of the area. With the partial dismantling of the intermediate building, the winning project creates an open atmosphere and re-establishes important pathways and visual connections between the outside spaces. A small roof for breaks will be added over the connection between the school building and the sports hall. All uses such as primary school, kindergarten, childcare and sports are now clearly separated and accessible.

October 2021
Millions for the Grossmünster

The Grossmünster Church in the old town of Zurich was built between 1100 and 1220. Together with the Fraumünster and St. Peter’s Church, it is one of the most famous churches in the city, and its twin towers are a symbol of Zurich. The name “Grossmünster” comes from the 14th century. Originally, the church was simply referred to in the documents as “Zurich Church” (Turicina ecclesia). In 1272 the “Münster” appeared for the first time under the name Monasterium praepositurae Thuricensis. Monasterium, German Münster, is the Latin name for monastery. “Grossmünster” appears for the first time in 1322, probably to distinguish it from the smaller Fraumünster.

The Grossmünster is and will remain one of the landmarks of the city of Zurich.

Every year the Grossmünster has around half a million visitors from all over the world. In addition to church services and other religious celebrations, there are also regular events and guided tours. Numerous repairs are due in the next few years. The aim is to preserve the valuable medieval building fabric and the effect of the cultural asset in the long term. This requires measures to regulate the indoor climate so that the decay processes slow down as much as possible. The protection of cultural property should also be improved.
Because the operational requirements have increased due to the great tourist importance of the Great Minster and the use has changed, targeted adjustments to the infrastructure are required in order to enable safe and adequate operation. For this purpose, for example, visitor guidance and personal safety are to be optimized. Furthermore, toilet facilities and warehouses are to be adapted to today’s needs and regulations. As a result of all the measures, the technical building installations, which are also to be improved, are also affected. In addition, the project creates the necessary basis for continuous monitoring.

Look into the hallowed halls.

The individual measures have yet to be defined in detail. The processing of all topics in a comprehensive project ensures that the different needs and requirements are processed in a coordinated manner. As part of the upcoming preliminary study, the overall project is defined and concepts for implementation are developed. The implementation takes place in staggered sub-projects. The government council has approved a preliminary study loan of around 2.5 million francs and a credit line of around 32.5 million francs as a tied expense for the entire project. The plan is to carry out the first work in 2022. Completion is scheduled for 2028.

October 2021
Photovoltaic surface of cantonal record

It is a building that responds to the growing demand for health and care beds for non self-sufficient elderly people that integrates initiatives and measures in support of families, also through an important redevelopment of the surrounding area, with public spaces accessible to the population of the Pregassona district.

Hence the name chosen for the structure, renamed “Polis”, following a competition open to the entire population and launched in recent months by the LIS. The term recalls, in fact, the concept of the city-states of ancient Greece “inhabited and frequented by young people, the elderly, professionally and not professionally”, and symbolically combines the two words “Poli” (from polyfunctional) and LIS (acronym for Lugano Social Institutes).

The structure located in via alla Bozzoreda stands out not only for its architectural characteristics, but also for being a real and innovative pilot project in the Ticino landscape, that of teaching at the cantonal level for “Towards solar buildings in Ticino”, aka “Towards -EST “, financed by the Canton’s Renewable Energy Fund (RES), which aims to promote large-scale solar envelopes capable of implementing renewable electricity production of high architectural quality, going beyond the objectives of the Energy Strategy 2050 in Switzerland.

SUPSI has the task of developing a replicable model
Today, photovoltaic solutions for the construction sector must be integrated and transformed to adapt as much as possible to the needs of different architectural projects, to take on the functions and performance of building elements and to satisfy an increasing flexibility of production processes. This was highlighted by Eng. Pierluigi Bonomo (researcher and head of the SUPSI Innovative Envelope team) who observes how «today’s industry allows for the customization of ‘tailor-made’ cladding systems for the roofs and facades of the building which, in addition to appearing as a normal constructive element , they also have the function of producing renewable energy ». For years Switzerland has been one of the most active countries at European and international level on this issue of the BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics), or rather “constructive integration of photovoltaic elements”, which has the Swiss Center of Competence on this matter within the Institute of Sustainability Applied to the Built Environment (ISAAC) of the Professional University School of Italian Switzerland (SUPSI) – located in Mendrisio on the new campus inaugurated last April – where since 2005 greater synergies between architects and specialists in the photovoltaic sector have been promoted.

Several pilot projects in recent years have addressed the issue of the active solar envelope, with a growing focus on achieving a hidden effect of solar cells in favor of an architectural language that approaches traditional building materials, rather than those of the panel. solar. Engineer Bonomo lists the many advantages linked to the use of a solar facade nowadays: the possibility of maximizing the self-consumption of the building in synergy with the coverage and increasingly competitive costs with traditional building materials. Cionono-
given, there are still some brakes with respect to these innovative solutions.

A Swiss example
With the multipurpose center of Pregassona, the city of Lugano wanted to launch a challenge in the name of a different concept of façade: not a classic cladding but an entirely photovoltaic surface that adapts to the chosen architectural language thanks to the possibility of integrating, in a system classic ventilated façade, photovoltaic colored glass sheets produced to measure by Sunage SA and installed by Alsolis SA.

This public building (financed by the canton’s RES) is equipped with the largest photovoltaic system integrated into the façade in Ticino, indeed it is among the façades of this kind with the largest surface area even in Switzerland, for an installed power of about 170 kWp, equal to to an area of over 1,600 m2 of photovoltaic glass, arranged on all the facades of the complex on various orientations and exposures.

The Polis building in Pregassona will therefore be a real case of a virtuous example destined to set a school for the use of an active solar facade that produces electricity and is a constructive element, contemplates numerous advantages by reducing self-consumption, has competitive costs and a high architectural quality.

October 2021
Renovation and expansion respectful of the original volumes

The Tavesio school center, located in via Preluna 25 in Comano, stands on a map of 1700 square meters and was built in 1969 on a project by the engineer Mario Torriani. Originally it comprised 4 classrooms, a special classroom, the teachers’ and management offices, the lecture hall, the gymnasium and the changing rooms.

The age of the building and the system – despite the continuous maintenance work – required the Municipality to reflect on what to do, also considering the need for new teaching spaces, compensated in the past with the replacement of the main hall with two additional school classrooms, but also municipal and administrative. For this reason, on 3 July 2020, the Municipality launched an architectural competition for the renovation and expansion of the building, also based on an appraisal already commissioned to SUPSI in 2012, whose purpose was to identify the state of decay. of the school complex, its technical and energy rehabilitation (compliant with Minergie ® standards), also providing for an expansion in the wake of new space requirements due to the settlement of new families in this beautiful hilly town in the Lugano area. From that study the economic advantages of a global and structural rehabilitation of the building rather than its demolition and reconstruction from scratch had also emerged, as well as the quality remained unchanged over the years of the original corpus.

Unanimous jury, very satisfied executive
In the session of February 22, the Comano Municipality ratified the decision of the jury which, unanimously, chose the corti.li project by the Canevascini & Corecco studio in Lugano, which was awarded the first prize for having better resolved the problems of rehabilitation and expansion of the Tavesio elementary school, managing to preserve “the delicate volumetric relationship of the existing with the context, thanks to the intuition of digging to the south in correspondence with the base of the basketball court, to locate part of the required spaces”.

As observed by the municipal council and president of the jury Silvano Petrini, head of the Education Department, “with this intuition the Canevascini & Corecco studio was able to control, from a volumetric point of view, the expansion by creating an interesting and dynamic dialectical relationship with the volumes originals “.
The jury also appreciated the precision, effectiveness and discretion with which it managed to insert the new contents in continuity and in compliance with the volumetric characteristics of the existing school complex, not failing in the second objective of the architectural competition. that is the extension, with the addition of four new classrooms and the recovery of a space dedicated to aula magna.
The designers were therefore recognized as having been able to preserve the sense of intimacy of this school, expanding its dimensions in the name of better organization and capacity, while remaining faithful to its values and pre-existing heights.

A fast process
The project architecture competition, with a selective procedure, was published on 3 July 2020 and aroused the interest of 18 architectural firms from Switzerland and Italy; of these, 9 were then admitted to the next phase of the project in collaboration with a group of specialists, submitting their documents by 18 December 2020.

The jury, which met in January and February 2021, expressed itself in unison on the project by the Canevascini & Corecco studio in Lugano, with which an interdisciplinary group collaborated.

The material choices that already characterize the architecture of the school, such as brick for the vertical elements and concrete for the horizontal lines or volumes that emerge in the classrooms towards the west, have been maintained and expanded, opting for continuity between the components of renovation and expansion.

October 2021
From Masseria to social center

In spring 2021, the restoration works of the former Masseria di Cornaredo started, which stands on land owned by the city of Lugano, which in 2019 granted a surface right to the Francesco Foundation for social aid in order to renovate and offer valuable contents to an area that, in the last thirty years, has undergone a major deterioration since it has been left in a state of neglect. To revive the rural complex – of which there are historical evidences dating back to 1351, which once belonged to the Castle of Trevano (begun in 1871 at the behest of the Russian baron Paul von Derwies, who had one of the most splendid residences in Switzerland built with huge investments) – the Francesco Foundation was able to count on the support of the city of Lugano, the Municipality of Porza and the Rotary Club Lugano-Lago, which decided to support the creation of this social citadel which provides for the architectural and structural recovery of the existing complex .

New project in a modern sector
The redesign and renovation of the former Masseria di Cornaredo are part of the reorganization of the new Cornaredo district, which since 2012 – the year the Vedeggio-Cassarate gallery was opened – is undergoing substantial changes. The Cornaredo sector, which extends over approximately 1 million square meters, will become the new gateway to the urban center, with other road connections, intermodal structures, parking lots and large construction sites with mixed content (residential-commercial and administrative), as well. as defined by the new Master Plan which involved the Municipalities of Lugano, Canobbio and Porza.
One of the pieces of this construction site is precisely the former Masseria, which will be enhanced to become a strategic point for the city and the area that revolves around it. The precarious state of the buildings requires static-structural consolidation interventions, respecting the existing architectural system.

The conservative restoration project contemplates the maintenance of the ancient charm of the buildings, in particular of the facades, which will be meticulously restored and completed with timely interventions in order to meet the new needs of the interior spaces.

The social canteen promoted by the Bethlehem Center with related services, the administrative offices of the Francesco Foundation, a multipurpose room will be located in the building. On the ground floor, in addition to the restoration of an ancient press, an inn with accommodation will be created, the proceeds of which will help finance and feed the Foundation’s charitable activity, also compensating for the important costs of the restructuring.

October 2021
Historical manor with a modern frame

Like a park, the spacious grounds of the Glockgut stretches through rural Herblingen. The former farming village is only a few kilometers away from the center of Schaffhausen. In the middle of the green surroundings and at the same time close to urban culture, it has a high recreational and leisure value. A total area of 24,223 m² offered the experienced Steiner AG project developers space right in the middle for the vision of creating a varied living environment for young and old – with a children's playground, flower meadows and open green areas full of tall trees and ornamental shrubs. At the end of March 2018, the project of the working group Theo Hotz Partner AG and Bergamini Partner Architects received the building permit. The main building of the former manor, which is worth protecting, formed the starting point for the development plan. After the Steiner Investment Foundation got involved in the project as an investor, construction began on the family-friendly and near-natural apartments in autumn 2018.
Open terrain
The old manor building is now gracefully framed by five modern apartment buildings. It was a particular challenge to design the different buildings and such a large area as uniformly as possible and to realize them from a single source. A special feature of the plot in the north-western area, which initially presented itself as a problem, helped here: a steep slope. The solution was to leave it undeveloped. The actually built-up part today covers an area of 10,330 m ² , while the preserved green space proves to be an enrichment for the quarter.
The first construction measure was the conversion of the two-storey manor into a daycare center – in close cooperation with the preservation of monuments. The adjoining shed, in turn, was torn down and replaced by a new multi-purpose building with the same location and similar cubature. On the ground floor, this new building houses a common room that is used by the after-school care center during the day and is available to the residents of the complex in the evenings and on weekends. "The space is intended to give the building an identity as a new center," explains Peter Herzog, team leader for real estate development at Steiner. The ensemble of the two buildings was therefore left free and fits harmoniously into the backdrop of the open slope behind. Arranged in a U-shape around the building, the new housing estate grew step by step.
The new residential buildings fit in with the simple manor with a straight-line architecture and corresponding colors and, with their loggias, balconies and terraces, bring the interiors together light and airy with the outside area. From the inside, they allow a generous view of the green area and sometimes into the distance. The buildings in the area are loosely distributed and connected by a network of paths. Kindergarten, primary school and various shops can be reached in a few minutes on foot from the quarter. In this way, the entire development is both naturally permeable and urban dense at the same time.
Sustainable investment
The five new multi-family houses comprise a total of 27 rental and 71 condominiums. These are 2.5 to 5.5 room apartments with an area of 65 m ² to 130 m ² . All apartments have a high standard and are tailored for families as well as for couples or individuals. With the prices and different apartment sizes, the aim is to achieve a mix of one-person and family households. "In terms of price, we are in the middle segment," confirms Peter Herzog. An underground car park with 136 parking spaces also provides space below the site. It is directly accessible for all new buildings.
The buildings are implemented in accordance with the Minergie standard and are heated with climate-friendly geothermal heat pumps. When possible, sustainable types of concrete with cement from mixed demolition were used for the construction. Recycled aggregates were mixed in here.
Planning tailored to your needs
The entire development is based on a design plan that was presented to both the responsible authorities and the local residents during the process. That contributed to the trust in this large project, explains Herzog and adds: "With the Glogguet development we have shown how we can build compacted and how the quality of the place remains." Despite the pandemic, the construction work could be carried out on schedule in compliance with the applicable protective regulations, so that the apartments were ready for occupancy in spring 2021.
www.steiner.ch
www.gloggeguet.ch
info@steiner.ch

September 2021
Baulink realizes the Marriot Hotel in Basel

Munich Hotel Partners GmbH ( MHP ) has commissioned Baulink with the realization of a Marriot hotel in Basel, informs Baulink AG in a message . Specifically, the Invita division, which specializes in hotel interiors, is to renovate the former Swissôtel Basel. The hotel, which has been closed since November 2020, was bought by MHP and the American HIG Capital .

Invita will act as the general contractor for the design of the hotel’s 125 rooms and public areas, the communication further explains. “With our experience from the first conversion phase, we offer the best prerequisites for successfully and efficiently carrying out the project for MHP,” Robert Diepenbrock is quoted there. The head of the Invita department at Baulink is convinced that “he can bring specialist knowledge of hospitality to a team of first-class partners”.

For the execution of the project, Invita will work together with the architects Oana Rosen from Frankfurt. The notification does not provide any information about the financial scope of the contract.

September 2021
The renovation of the Baden district building is about to be completed

The district building in Baden has been refurbished since March with ongoing operations. According to the media release, all natural stone and artificial stone components are being restored and the facade base plaster partially replaced. The construction work will be completed in October 2021. Under the project management of the real estate department of the city of Baden as the client, the work is strictly based on the historical model. The construction project is being accompanied by Heiko Dobler, building consultant for the cantonal monument preservation department.

The model for the renovation of the former schoolhouse, which was built in 1856/57, is the facade of the renovated Ochsen branch in the spa district. In the course of the renovation work, the existing plastic-contaminated plaster was completely milled off and a new lime plaster was applied based on the historical model. The facade was then given a new coat of paint and all 108 wooden windows were replaced. Both the planned construction time and the budget can presumably be adhered to, according to the statement from the city of Baden.

During the renovation work, two special factors had to be taken into account. On the one hand, there are nesting sites for the protected swifts and alpine swifts. The upper part of the scaffolding was designed accordingly by mid-April. "This meant that suitable nesting sites were available to the birds returning from the south in good time," the city councilor in charge Philippe Ramseier is quoted as saying.

Furthermore, special security requirements of the canton police and the district prison as tenants of the district building had to be met. For example, a three-meter-high board wall and a barbed wire at the end were installed.

September 2021
Residential locations in the countryside are becoming more attractive

Swiss people rarely move. And when they do, in half of all relocations the new place of residence is only five kilometers away from the old one. The average distance is 13 kilometers. This is shown by a representative survey of the house and living situation in Switzerland by Swiss Life .

As the life insurance group explains in a press release , almost 60 percent of homeowners and 25 percent of tenants have been living in their current home for ten years or more. At the same time, however, for around 30 percent of those surveyed, the desire to live in the countryside or at least with a terrace increased during the pandemic.

Around two thirds of homeowners have felt more quality of life and more self-determination since buying their own home. 37 percent said that they were completely satisfied with their current living situation, especially those who owned their own home. 15 percent are moderately or not at all satisfied. Most of them lack space or a garden, or they are bothered by noise and environmental pollution.

Over 60 percent of those who can imagine buying their own home in the next five years expect that this would improve their quality of life. But only 21 percent of them are actively looking for a home of their own.

Requirements for the ideal place to live in terms of costs, equipment and security vary depending on the language region. In addition, a garden is central in the country, and there is a connection to local public transport in the city. If this is perceived as good, the willingness of commuters to move decreases.

September 2021
The Dübendorf Innovation Park should focus on mobility

A project group set up by the government council of the canton of Zurich has been creating an overview of the Dübendorf airfield area since September 2020. The state chancellery of the Canton of Zurich informs in a statement that the members of the delegation of authorities have now signed the synthesis report. The airfield area is to be used as an innovation park, airfield and for military purposes.

“For reasons of economy and sustainability” and “with consideration for the population”, “only what is needed will be built in stages,” explains the State Chancellery. According to her, the project should become “a beacon for innovative urban development, especially in the areas of environmental compatibility, sustainability and careful use of resources”.

Specifically, the overall view provides for the area to be subdivided into four sub-areas. The innovation park with a focus on mobility, robotics, aviation, space travel as well as modern production technology and materials research is to be built in sub-area A. In sub-area B, the innovation park and a research and works airfield will combine to form an aviation cluster. Area C is reserved for uses with high security requirements. The aviation infrastructures are located in sub-area D, in which nature conservation will play a central role. A circular airfield path is intended to make the area usable for recreation and leisure for the population.

In the next step, planning rights are to be created for all sub-areas, according to the communication. Specifically, a cantonal and a regional structure plan as well as the communal structure and land use planning are named there. The cantonal structure plan will be made public from September 6th to November 5th.

The Zurich Chamber of Commerce ( ZHK ) welcomes the commitment to triple use as an innovation park, civil and military airfield. The vision of an internationally leading location for research and development on mobility solutions is worth supporting, she writes in a press release . However, she regrets the renunciation of business aviation. This is important for the attractiveness of the economic area. Therefore, the doors should not be permanently closed for them.

September 2021
The symbiosis of steel and drywall
- The made-to-measure and numbered steel profiles are assembled like a modular system.
- Set up within a very short time: the substructure was up in just half a day.
- View of the walk-in ceiling of the lounge. Thanks to RiModul®, the area can also be used.
- View from the new lounge into the high-bay warehouse.
- In a short time, an optimally used room was created that meets the highest noise and fire protection requirements.
- In the Coop distribution center in Gossau, employees now have a comfortable lounge.
The drywall builder was challenged: an extensive electrical and ventilation installation as well as a sprinkler system were to be integrated. A fire protection value of REI60 was also required. Since he had already completed product training at Rigips AG and knew the advantages of the new system, the case was clear: RiModul ^® . The architect was also quickly convinced: "We had also checked the wood variant, but we reached the limits of the spans and would not have complied with fire protection," says Peter Fässler from MFW Architects. In addition, the slim wall constructions provide more usable space.
Walk-in room-in-room solution
Coop had been considering building a comfortable lounge for its employees for a long time. A good 5 meter high room, a kind of gallery, which is also adjacent to other rooms, was ideal for this purpose. But it would have been much too big, with its sand-lime brick walls, not comfortable and not heated. A room-in-room solution therefore offered itself, which could be implemented quickly, without a lot of dirt, but in compliance with all statics and fire protection requirements. Because the assembly took place while the high-bay warehouse was in operation, everything had to be well prepared and done quickly.
Only half a day for the substructure
As with all construction systems with a high degree of prefabrication, precise planning data and error-free transmission to the manufacturer were decisive. All steel profiles were cut to size and provided with the screw and punch holes to facilitate on-site assembly. The individual profiles could be efficiently screwed together using numbers and an assembly plan. Thanks to the corresponding planking, the entire construction has a fire protection rating of REI60. Plasterer Hansjörg Alder was enthusiastic: "The steel structure was in the distribution center in just half a day, and within three days it was planked and ready for expansion." You don't notice the stylish room and its quality of stay that it was delivered as a kit and set up within a very short time.
Like lightweight construction, simply much more stable
RiModul ^® is actually nothing more than lightweight construction with stronger profiles. They achieve the best possible ratio of strength to weight, which among other things leads to dimensionally stable constructions – that is, walkable and resilient ceilings with additional usable area – and increased seismic resistance (earthquake security). And the system is based on the principle of prefabrication, which can reduce the overall construction time by up to 60%. RiModul ^® lightweight steel construction systems also result in significantly lower loads on the foundations than conventional construction methods. Complex objects in new construction and renovation can thus be realized safely, economically and with almost unlimited design flexibility. ^{The RiModul ®} lightweight steel construction systems are particularly suitable for additional storeys, extensions and, as in the case of Coop, room-in-room constructions. It also makes sense to use it as an external wall system for infilling in hybrid buildings.
In individual parts, prefabricated or pre-assembled
Customers can choose from three pre-production stages according to which delivery should take place. You order RiModul ^® flat if you want the individual parts and want to assemble them yourself. The profiles are numbered after processing and delivered bundled for each wall or ceiling element. With the help of an assembly plan, they can be easily assembled on the construction site or in an interim storage facility. With RiModul ^® frame, the profiles are pre-assembled into frame elements in the production plant and delivered to the construction site. Planking and insulation are then carried out on site. Finally, with RiModul ^® frameX, the frame elements are already planked with high-quality panels. It is advisable to make the choice of the degree of prefabrication specific to the property and already in the planning phase. Rigips designs the project in 3D based on the customer's plans and creates static dimensions and measurements. This includes, in particular, the definition of the connection and knot technology for the cold-formed steel structure. The plans for production in the factory are created on the basis of these documents.
Find out more about RiModul ^®
August 2021
Renewal of the Läbespark retirement home

The four existing main buildings and other auxiliary buildings in the Läbespark retirement home in Biberist are getting on in years: they were built between 1969 and 1995. In order to improve the quality of life for around 100 residents, the cooperative had a refurbishment project drawn up. Phalt Architekten AG, Wam Planer und Ingenieure AG and Neuland ArchitekturLandschaft GmbH were commissioned for this. A committee consisting of representatives of the Biberist community, the responsible cooperative and various experts accompanied the process.
The alignment project forms the basis for the design plan process and the further project elaboration. The oldest house at Blümlisalpstrasse 12 will be replaced by a new building. The height of this is based on the existing building. Compact small apartments based on the Bonacasa building standard are planned. The 1.5 to 3.5 room apartments will have a wet room with a laundry tower and a loggia facing the park-like inner courtyard. A reduit complements the larger apartments. «The existing restaurant / café Pintli will move into the new building. To do this, we are revitalizing the premises of the former Pintli with commercial and service uses, ”says Ronny Fluri from Bonainvest AG, which takes on the building owner function for the cooperative. A common room is also planned, which should also promote social contact among the residents. The new building will have a parking garage.
So the previous parking lot can give way to a piazza. “We are thus creating another meeting zone and upgrading the area. Our green park with a small pond will have a herb garden, more seating and various exercise elements that are intended to provide incentives for the residents, ”explains Fluri. The surrounding quarter will be better networked by footpaths. But there is still one problem to be solved: “The building that is being replaced has heating for two more houses. We would like to work with geothermal probes in the future. However, various investigations are still ongoing, ”says Fluri. When this has happened, the other buildings can at least be refurbished in terms of energy. There is still some time until construction begins: work is scheduled to start in 2023. The new building should be ready for occupancy at the end of 2024.

August 2021
Listed outdoor pool, newly renovated

In three consecutive winters, the Solothurn outdoor pool is transformed into a construction site. In the first winter, 2019/20, the sports pool at Badi Solothurn was renovated. In the second and third winter, it is the turn of the outdoor swimming pool to be built.
The two stages of renovation of the buildings were preceded by a municipal council decision, a municipal assembly decision and a referendum. In the latter case, the people approved the restructuring loan of 7.8 million francs in February 2020 with 86.7 percent yes-votes.
The renovation is intended to remedy safety deficiencies, the swimming pool is to be made more accessible, processes are to be optimized and visitor flows are to be unbundled, and there should be more showers and toilets. Overall, the outdoor pool should offer guests more comfort after the renovation. Since it is a listed building, the visible changes must be subtle.
With the start of the 2021 bathing season in mid-May, the first phase of renovation in the Solothurn outdoor pool was completed. In this first phase of renovation, underground technical work was the main task. The building structure was repaired and safety deficiencies were corrected. In addition, the northern parts of the extension from 1964, where the entrance area and cloakrooms are located, were renewed in this phase. The construction of new showers and a new cloakroom area also started, which will continue in the second stage.
The second stage of the building construction will begin this year after the end of the bathing season in September 2021. Then the southern part of the extension building with a restaurant, kiosk, cloakrooms, showers and toilets will be renewed. A new lift will enable people with walking difficulties to access the restaurant.
Some preparation and follow-up work may overlap with the end or the start of the bathing season. The outdoor swimming pool should always be possible. The renovated Solothurn outdoor pool is due to go into operation in mid-May 2022.

August 2021
Student creates concept for Bündner Crotti

Lucas Buschauer has received recognition from the Swiss Association of Engineers and Architects ( SIA) for his semester thesis. This has the technical college Grisons now informed . The graduate of architecture studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Graubünden is planning a revival as a brewery for some unused Crotti in Bondo in Graubünden.

The SIA specialist group for the preservation of buildings awards diploma and semester theses throughout Switzerland that present outstanding concepts for the exemplary handling of existing buildings and their preservation. This year a total of eleven works were selected.

Buschauer's semester thesis provides for the renewed use of some Crotti that were spared from the landslide in 2017. These little houses on the shady hillside were once used as natural refrigerators. He wants to convert it into a brewery and a meeting place for the village. Different uses are planned for the individual Crotti. For example, the first crotto would catch the spring water flowing by, and two more would be converted into malthouses. Four of these crotti are intended for the brewing process. He has also planned an inn and a master brewer's apartment.

"Lucas Buschauer's semester thesis impresses with its careful research, a captivating concept idea, which was implemented carefully and in detail and is presented convincingly," said the jury's explanation. As head of the study Christian Auer emphasizes, in addition to the architectural design, “the clarification of constructive and economic issues is one of the educational objectives of our architecture course. It was precisely this know-how that was required for this task. I am very pleased that the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences is competitive throughout Switzerland with its range of courses. "

August 2021
Construction activity is declining

According to the real estate barometer of Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ) for the second quarter of 2021, the number of projected apartments in planning applications has decreased by 23 percent compared to 2018. According to the ZKB analysts, this is related to high vacancy rates in peripheral regions, to which investors would have reacted accordingly. In urban centers with low vacancy rates, construction activity is picking up again in some cases, according to the barometer.

Lausanne and Zurich are cited as examples. In the cantons of Geneva and Basel-Stadt, however, the analysts have observed a decline in construction activity. They attribute this to the high regulatory hurdles typical of urban areas and the scarcity of building land. Overall, however, the analysts state that “new apartments are increasingly being planned where the demand for living space is high”.

In the canton of Zurich, the desire for one's own four walls, which has been intensified by the pandemic, is further explained in the barometer. According to him, house prices have increased by 5.5 percent over the previous year and 2.9 percent over the previous quarter. At the same time, the analysts see a shrinking of the offers advertised on real estate portals. They explain this with the fact that many properties are marketed by regional brokers or are already sold before construction begins. For this year and the following, the analysts are assuming excess demand in the residential property market across Switzerland.

July 2021
Jaisli-Xamax is working on the Vechigen school complex

The electrical company Jaisli-Xamax from Dietikon carries out all electrical installations for the overall renovation and expansion of the Stämpbach school complex in Vechigen. According to a report in the employee newspaper Brilli's News , the work will be carried out during the three implementation phases while the school is still running. “One of the challenges was to carry out the work while the school was still in operation,” the construction fitter Adrian Thürig is quoted as saying. Nevertheless, it was possible to "produce a clean performance".

The work will be carried out in three stages. According to Jaisli-Xamax, the new construction of the kindergarten, the day school, the special wing and the intermediate wing as well as the renovation of the two gyms were realized in the first construction phase. The renovation of the east class wing and the expansion of the group rooms were implemented in the second construction phase. The work on the third construction phase is still ongoing. The West class wing will be renovated.

According to project manager Luciano Matturro from Jaisli-Xamax, the cooperation with everyone involved in the construction and with the school went smoothly. Matturro was quoted as saying that he was proud that the on-site team did its job well while the school was in operation. Matturro: “We are now on the final spurt to successfully complete the third construction phase.” Two apprentices from Jaisli-Xamax also worked on the project in the canton of Bern.

July 2021
Complete renovation of the Olten Cantonal School

Work at the canton school in Olten has been going on for five years. Around 1000 pupils are taught at the school, which was completed in 1973 by the architects Marc Funk and Hans-Ulrich Fuhrimann. Construction work is ongoing in parallel. The architectural office Batimo AG Architekten SIA from Olten, which specializes in renovation strategies and has already renovated numerous school buildings, was commissioned.
"In order not to impair school operations too much, we have postponed the most noisy work to the school holidays according to specifications and in consultation with the school management," explains Dario Pagliari – he is responsible for construction management on the part of Batimo AG. The overall renovation includes a complete renovation of the building services and the facade, slight floor plan adjustments, the elimination of technical defects and an adjustment to the current standard in terms of fire protection, earthquake safety and energy efficiency.
Great attention is then also paid to improved energy efficiency: the modified building envelope, an optimized, natural ventilation concept as well as a geothermal heat pump system and the installation of a solar system reduce the energy consumption of the buildings by around 67 percent. The annual CO2 emissions are reduced by 732 tons, which translates into annual energy cost savings of around 200,000 francs.
The work was divided into different stages: "Right at the beginning we replaced the windows and carried out the insulation work both inside and on the flat roofs," explains Pagliari. The work on the indoor swimming pool, the cafeteria, the auditorium as well as the workrooms and gyms have already been completed. The premises are currently being adapted to the changing needs of school operations, as the site manager explains. A floor can be renovated in a three-month stage. The pupils of the corresponding classes are meanwhile being taught in the specially built temporary school facility with eight classrooms. There are a total of two school wings with ten and five floors each.
The last stage will include work on the surrounding area as well as the renovation of the sports fields and underground car park. Once all the work has been completed, the Olten Cantonal School should be fit for another 40 years of operation at its special location in the elevated forest area not far from the train station.

July 2021
An attractive future for Konnex

The Konnex building at Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7 in Baden caused a sensation after its completion in 1995: the owners let the former showpiece of energy-saving construction cost around 150 million francs. Theo Hotz, who has since died, was responsible for the building, which at the time had 2,100 jobs.
In 2015, the US company General Electric took over the energy division of Alstom Power and thus also the employees in Konnex. But at the beginning of 2020, the company announced its large-scale withdrawal from Switzerland. After the last employees moved out, the 42,500 square meter building has been vacant since March 31, 2021.
But this is about to change: Under the patronage of Brandenberger + Ruosch AG (B + R), a new use as a multi-tenant building was developed on behalf of the owners. B + R is responsible for the project initiation through to marketing and commissioning vis-à-vis the owners. Theo Hotz Partner AG was again engaged as general planner.
Although the building was designed for flexible use when it was built, some adjustments are required: “We are planning rental space from 550 square meters. These must be made individually accessible. In future, it should be possible to bill the ancillary costs individually for each area, ”explains Thomas Andermatt from B + R. From July 1st, the first tenants can move in for temporary use. For future long-term tenants, July 1, 2022 is the key date. Upon request, the project organization offers the planning and implementation of the individual tenant fit-out.
A bird's eye view of the Konnex building.
More attractive and livelier thanks to mix-use
Externally, too, the Konnex needs to be refreshed: “The building envelope is being renovated and the surrounding area is being redesigned. We replace the flat roofs and equip them with photovoltaic systems. In addition, the sun protection must be improved, ”says Andermatt. The building is already connected to the district heating of the city of Baden; now district cooling is added. Andermatt: "This is how we can further increase energy efficiency."
In a direct comparison to the development status of the ABB site in Zurich-Oerlikon, the site in Baden is currently lagging significantly, adds Andermatt. And: “In Oerlikon we have an attractive area with a strong combination of different types of living, work, schools, as well as catering and leisure options. The area in Baden is attractive – but today it lacks life outside of working hours, ”he is convinced. Konnex wants to make its contribution to a more attractive area design: "On the ground floor we are planning various catering units and service facilities such as a day-care center, shopping facilities and an outpatient clinic," Andermatt reveals.
The project development takes place in close consultation with the city of Baden. In the future, the ABB site is to include a mix of commercial living, working and service offerings. The Konnex will keep the main focus in the area of office use, but make it as attractive as possible. "We are planning various green zones inside and outside the building." The first lease negotiations are already underway. For Andermatt it is clear: "The new Konnex and the entire ABB site in Baden will in future be at least as attractive as the one in Zurich-Oerlikon."

July 2021
Pestalozzi Haustechnik opens a new plastic warehouse

Pestalozzi Haustechnik , part of the Dietiker Pestalozzi Group, has opened a new plastic warehouse in Dietikon with an area of 1000 square meters, according to a media release . This new warehouse offers products for the civil engineering / supply sector, for example sewer and drainage pipes as well as fittings.

Thanks to the new warehouse, Pestalozzi can now also offer a 24-hour delivery service for these products. The company's own transport fleet is used for this. But customers can also pick up their products from the new warehouse themselves. The Pestalozzi e-shop is available around the clock for purchases.

In addition to building technology, the areas of steel technology, building envelopes (GABS) and logistics (Transstahl) also belong to the Pestalozzi Group. This can now offer products for plumbing, heating, supply and civil engineering from a single source and in one place.

July 2021