Category: Espace Mittelland

Papieri Biberist – The quarter of tomorrow is created today

In mid-2012, Hiag acquired the premises of the former paper mill in Biberist. The area with around 277,000 m² of industrial space was used for paper production for a good 150 years. Accordingly, it is very well anchored as an industrial location in the region and is considered a development area of cantonal importance. The area is strategically located along the A1 and A5, between the metropolitan areas of Zurich, Basel and Bassin lémanique. Within the Solothurn industrial cluster, the Papieri area benefits from the networking with numerous companies and research institutions as well as a unique, high-performance infrastructure on the area. In addition to the largely commercial-industrial use, places are to be created on the area where work, culture and leisure uses as well as living can be found.
The Papieri area is ideally located and should become a destination in the suburban country.
Revitalization of the area
In cooperation with the municipality and the canton, work is being carried out on the transition to a binding sub-zone plan: "The sub-zone plan is currently being revised, which will encompass the entire area perimeter," says the responsible site developer Michele Muccioli to Immo! Nvest. “We expect 12 to 18 months before the zoning plan becomes legally binding. After three complete lines of paper machines have been sold in the past few years, the remaining lines are currently being sold. In addition, the settlement and provision of usable space will continue to be promoted. " Around 20 companies are currently located on the site, and around 120 people have their workplaces on the paper. Companies from a wide variety of areas are located here. The next step is the partial opening of the area in the area of the Biberist Ost train station. The aim is to activate and revitalize the area. According to Muccioli, this is now possible because the sales and dismantling of the large machines have now been completed.

August 2021
Spinning mill, girls' home and soon residential area

The Emmenhof is located in the center of Derendingen and looks back on a varied history: It began 150 years ago with the establishment of a cotton spinning mill. In 1897 a girls' home was also built. In 1932 there was another change of ownership: when Scolari AG moved in, the Emmenhof served as a pasta production facility until 1973. From then on, various SMEs settled on the 50,000 m² area. Even today there are around 100 companies that have their offices or warehouse here. The area, which has so far only been built on in the southern part, is characterized by its own hydropower plant, the striking factory and the former manufacturer's villa.
Emmenhof Immobilien AG has planned a fundamental transformation of the area: by 2030, a new quarter with residential offers, leisure facilities, various office and commercial space as well as a catering concept is to be built here. In addition to the preservation of some detached historical buildings, several new buildings are planned. A total of 270 apartments are planned, the construction of which is based on the history of the area.
Access to the new quarter is marked on the south side by the “Wollturm” with ten floors, an underground car park entrance and a visitor parking lot in front of it. This entrance is followed by the “cotton yard”, which is framed by two buildings and closed off by the historic factory building. The “Garnwerk”, “Turbinenhaus” and “Därberei” buildings are being built in the north of the site. Generous green areas and direct access to the Emmen Canal and the Schluchtbach give the quarter a natural character.
The development of the area is planned in six stages. The first stage has already been completed and includes the “Spindelgut” project in the southwest. The new building, designed by the architects Liechti Graf Zumsteg, consists of three wings with 14 apartments.
Emmenhof Energie AG is the area's electricity producer. This enables tenants and owners to obtain sustainable energy: from photovoltaic systems that are installed on the roofs of the new buildings and from hydropower. Hot water and heating get into the houses by means of district heating.

August 2021
Riverside benefits from pop-up pickling

The Riverside in Zuchwil combines the best of both worlds: urban amenities and rural tranquility. The owner is the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation, which not only attaches great importance to careful treatment of the environment, not only in this sensitive development. "For us, a holistic, sustainable development of this former Sulzer industrial area also includes regular exchange with the surrounding area and the community in order to be able to respond to the current needs of society in the further development of the existing master plan," says Tobias Hossfeld, Head Development at of Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG, the asset management team of the investment foundation. Markus Hauri, a genuine Solothurn native and his team from mha GmbH, is responsible for the structural developments. At the same time, Andreas Brunner and his team from Wincasa MUSM are working on the best possible management and marketing of the new quarter, which offers space for a wide variety of uses such as living, leisure and business. Seen in this way, around 20 people are permanently busy with the riverside area.
Lots of momentum
Last year the RiverYard garden pub was created in an industrial look, which not only received a lot of popularity from the region, but also works wonderfully as a marketing tool. Many guests were already interested in renting an apartment, even though the shell was not even finished. "We did not expect such a rapid momentum of its own", says Leo Smeets, Head Letting at Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG. He believes this development will continue in the future. The restaurateur would also like to stay on the site for the long term and is already working on new ideas with the development team. In the area of living, too, development is being advanced with care and continuity. Various projects are being worked out in line with ongoing demand and will be implemented in the coming years.
Proximity to the quarter
Riverside management is currently looking forward to inquiries from other interested parties, for example from the retail and service sectors or the catering industry. Seen in this way, the development from a former industrial area to a lively, diverse quarter is working very well. According to Hauri, more and more people are recognizing the qualities of the area and are able to establish a closeness. The effects of the pandemic have also resulted in only a few changes in rental inquiries.

August 2021
Solothurn receives a new waste incineration plant

Kebag in Zuchwil disposes of 221,000 tons of waste annually and supplies the region with district heating and electricity. It is the third largest waste recycling company in Switzerland. 85 percent of the waste comes from the 1,178 municipalities in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn. However, the plant will be 50 years old in 2025 – and will thus reach its age limit. In order to ensure environmentally friendly disposal in the future, a new system is essential. Because with increasing age, failures increase, which lead to expensive business interruptions and disposal bottlenecks, as the company writes on its website.
The company in Emmenspitz is already the largest electricity producer in the region. Throughout Switzerland, the largest proportion of electrical energy is obtained from the rubbish. The planned plant, called Kebag Enova, will in future be able to generate up to 15 percent more energy from the same amount of waste thanks to the latest technology. A special fabric filter and multi-stage flue gas cleaning lead to an almost complete reduction in pollutants. The investment costs amount to between CHF 450 and 500 million. But the new building cannot be implemented without any compromises: 11,000 square meters of forest had to be cleared. As compensation, Kebag is providing the same amount of replacement afforestation at other locations in the canton of Solothurn.
The company TBF + Partner AG from Zurich was commissioned with the planning mandate. Penzel Valier AG won the architecture competition in 2017. The Kebag Enova will have two instead of four incineration lines. Larger furnace lines are planned for this, which ensure greater energy efficiency. The building envelope is fitted with solar panels, making it currently the largest photovoltaic facade system in Switzerland. The chimney is attached to the side of the building and rises 80 meters in height. There is a viewing room at the top of this concrete shaft.
One or the other challenge had to be overcome beforehand: A significant change had to be made in 2018 to the cooling. The kebag has always used river water cooling. Cooling is essential so that electricity can be generated and the steam required for this can be used. Due to the revised Water Protection Ordinance, which came into force in mid-2018, the decision was made to use air instead of river water cooling for the new building. In addition, a test showed that the subsoil was not stable enough for the Kebag Enova. Thanks to a pile and slab foundation, this problem could also be solved.
The planning application was finally submitted in 2019. The groundbreaking took place on May 7, 2020. Commissioning is planned for the beginning of 2025.

August 2021
Create new living space

The Attisholz-Nord area is very large and has massive industrial buildings from bygone times. Cellulose was produced industrially on the Attisholz site for 130 years. Over the next 20 years, the area is to become a lively place for living, working, business, education, research, living, experiencing and enjoying. «There will be offers for all population groups with the most varied of needs in
find all phases of life », says Andreas Campi from the real estate developer Halter AG. “The area has huge development potential for the realization of a new living space in an intact landscape with diverse typologies, renovated factory buildings and new buildings. In addition, the city of Solothurn with its high density of cultural offerings is located a short distance away. "
The former factory halls can be used as an event location.
Start of construction in autumn 2023
The public edition of the land use planning has just been completed. As the next planning step, study orders are carried out, which form the basis for the subsequent design plan and the building permit process. In fact, the pandemic had no impact on the planning: “Since we made the relevant information available digitally and online, the planning could take place as originally scheduled. Video presentations made comprehensive information possible. This was also possible thanks to the good cooperation with the municipality of Riedholz. " The planned start of construction for the first stage is now in autumn 2023.

August 2021
From the biscuit bakery to the center district

In 2022, the Trimbach community will say goodbye to its longstanding figurehead: the Wernli biscuit factory. Since the beginning of the 20th century, they have been making their biscuits, which are known throughout Switzerland, on the Breiti site.
Following the takeover of Wernli AG by Hug AG in 2008, the production site will soon be relocated to the new owner's headquarters in Malters, Lucerne. This frees up the space in the best location in the center of Trimbach for a new use.
The new owner of the area, Aare Liegenschaften AG, is developing a new residential area in close cooperation with the municipality. In order to determine the most coherent concept, a study contract was awarded. The Rykart Architekten AG project emerged as the winner from the proposals submitted. The architects won over the jury with an overall urban planning concept that provides for a residential complex with around 150 apartments. The few, compact buildings fit harmoniously into the existing structure of the district.
Four 4- to 6-storey buildings are planned for the front, flatter part of the site. Three higher buildings with up to 9 storeys will be erected in the rear part along the edge of the forest. Thanks to the different heights, the various buildings fit smoothly into their surroundings. Condominiums are planned in the three rear buildings and rental apartments in the four front buildings. An underground car park and bicycle parking spaces are also planned.
The “Wernli-Haus” on Baslerstrasse has been preserved as a witness of the industrial past and forms the entrance to the development. A place with trees, which is also available to the surrounding quarters, serves as a meeting place. The future residents are to have their own square in the center of the settlement in the upper area. To the side of this there are two tree groves, a playground and a lawn. The exposed Gämpfibach flows through the entire site.
Public-oriented commercial uses are planned on the ground floors along the streets. Thanks to its location right in the center, the new quarter already offers optimal connections to public and private transport. The area itself remains car-free and is characterized by a well-developed network of paths.
The winning project is currently being further developed and revised. At the same time, the development and layout plan is drawn up. The planning work should be completed in mid-2022.

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
The canton master builder as a bridge builder

You have been a cantonal master builder since August 1, 2019 and thus head of the building construction department. What were your motivations for taking on this post?
Before that, I had already been the deputy of the former cantonal master builder for several years. This gave me a good insight into the area of responsibility. I like the interaction between the various players from politics, the private sector and the public sector. I like to take on the role of the “interpreter” between the parties and try to find solutions based on consensus. The plans and projects to be worked on are exciting and often unusual. We mainly take care of structures with special or specific uses.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
One quality that all of our employees must have is the ability to multitask (laughs). I deal with personnel issues, budget planning and try to think with my team as forward-looking as possible: What requirements will buildings have to meet in the future? I also deal with innovative technologies such as new digital planning landscapes, increasing automation in the construction industry or the use of robotics and 3D printers.
You worked in the private sector until 2004. How do you experience changing sides?
The change was big, especially at the beginning. The canton has around 2,650 employees, 630 of whom are in the building and justice departments. An enormous amount of know-how is concentrated here. I first had to realize that I could fall back on these skills. The complexity of the buildings – for example a museum, a prison or a hospital – are extremely demanding in every project phase. The work as a cantonal master builder is thematically diverse in any case. In contrast to before, I am present in every phase of the planning and construction process.
Government councilor Roland Fürst addressed the planned new administrative building. What's the schedule?
By the end of 2022, we would like to create a basis for decision-making for the government council and show possibilities where suitable land or buildings are available in the canton of Solothurn in order to implement the project. The corona pandemic will certainly have an impact on space requirements and working methods. We are currently in the process of analyzing them. Our findings will be incorporated into a possible implementation of the project.
What does the real estate portfolio you have to manage look like?
It is made up of financial, administrative and foundation assets. The administrative assets, with the buildings required for operation, have the largest share. But we also have interesting uses and buildings in terms of financial assets: For example, a hotel and various restaurants and plots that are available for the settlement of interesting companies or for any personal use. We have 320 canton-owned buildings, 60 of which are in the city of Solothurn. The purpose of our real estate strategy is to ensure a sustainable real estate portfolio that is suitable for use in order to fulfill the cantonal tasks.
What are the largest items in the portfolio in terms of value?
The building insurance value is CHF 1.628 billion. Until the planned transfer to Solothurner Spitäler AG, half a billion will be allocated to the hospital and educational buildings. The other properties such as administration buildings or penal systems make up the remaining almost CHF 600 million. In any case, I have never before dealt with such a heterogeneous portfolio: It ranges from underground historical military facilities to ruins, castles, churches, agricultural land and ultra-modern laboratory and hospital buildings.
"We check the use of BIM on a case-by-case basis"
What values does the building department represent in the projects to be worked on?
The government council has formulated a strategy which, on the one hand, provides for property before rent. We had and still have many rental properties today. Now one would like to rely more on property again. That is why we are currently also working on a possible new central administration building. In addition, the overall concept comes before individual measures. Furthermore, spatial planning, urban planning and architectural aspects are very important to us. Just like ecological and energetic issues. Ultimately, we build people for ourselves.
What challenges do you see yourself confronted with in the future?
Covid-19 has changed a lot. This could have an impact on society and the construction industry. Increased home office and desk and room sharing may free up usable space in very attractive locations. These could be used differently and influence the housing shortage in numerous small and large cities in Switzerland. Climate changes in cities are also current issues. The possible use of recycling materials is exciting. Likewise, conversions, new ways of working and changing demands of employers and employees should continue to occupy me. An additional point is the emerging change in the conclusion of service and work contracts, especially in the conclusion of building rights contracts.
What energy strategy is the building construction department pursuing?
The installation of photovoltaic systems is a matter of course for us. We have analyzed the entire portfolio for the suitability of such systems and have already implemented various. With us, Minergie or Minergie-Eco is standard. This gained a foothold in Switzerland in 1998. We recently compared the energy consumption of our buildings before and after 1998: The buildings before the introduction require around three times as much heating energy. On the other hand, after 1998 we recorded electricity consumption in the buildings that was approximately twice as high. The share of electricity-dependent installations in general and operating facilities in particular has increased sharply in new buildings.
What does the digitization strategy look like for new construction projects?
In current construction projects – such as the planned new construction of the central prison – we intend to use Building Information Modeling (BIM) during the entire planning phase. For now, we will examine the benefits of BIM on a case-by-case basis.
Could you imagine working with virtual reality in the future?
Virtual reality brings great advantages – especially for people who cannot imagine models or visualizations so vividly. I am very confident that we will use such solutions in the years to come.
What future plans do you have for the civil engineering department?
We would like to continue to analyze, plan and implement high-quality buildings with foresight and care. With a good team behind us, this will also be possible in the future.

July 2021
"We will launch the electronic submission of building applications this year"

You are head of the building and justice department. What is the attraction of this office?
I've been on the road for community welfare for over 40 years. Of these, I was the mayor of the community of Gunzgen for 14 years, then a cantonal councilor for 8 years and since then a member of the government council for as long. I am attracted by the active participation and shaping of political, social and cultural issues as well as searching for and finding solutions. I not only want to manage the canton, but also to advance it. What I generally like about my department is the range of topics and the diversity of the employees in terms of expertise and character.
Where do you see the specific challenges that the office brings with it?
Spatial planning and mobility are and will remain important issues. But there are also changes in the climate, digitization and society that must be taken into account.
How far is your department specifically on the subject of digitization?
In the department, as well as in administration in general, we are still relatively new. I am surprised that the public sector has not made any significant progress in 2021. We have been trying to advance digitization in the department for a long time – accompanying workshops are intended to support this. I see digitization as a key issue that absolutely has to be implemented quickly. However, there are still obstacles, starting with data protection aspects and ending with a lack of financial or personal resources.
The canton of Aargau, for example, has introduced the digital submission of building applications with eBau. Is that also an issue in the canton of Solothurn?
It's not just an issue. The project is already well advanced: We are already working internally with a pilot project. This works fine; we will soon be ready to offer this service throughout the canton. The aim is for all interested municipalities to be able to submit building applications digitally this year. We are also currently working on the introduction of document management software (DMS). A pilot project that provides for a digital archive is currently running in the building construction department.
It feels like the canton of Solothurn is in a real building boom. Is this perception deceptive?
No, it really is. The largest projects with an investment volume of 450 million francs include the new Kebag Enova facility, 340 million francs are being built for the new citizens' hospital, and 86 million francs have been budgeted for the overall renovation of the Olten Cantonal School. But big things are also happening on the Attisholz North and South areas. An important project is Biogen's biopharmaceutical production facility in Luterbach: the first stage was 1.6 billion Swiss francs. Hopefully more stages will follow. But we also have around 2000 residential units in and around the city of Solothurn that are either planned or already under construction.
What about your own projects?
We are currently looking into building a new education campus as well as a new administration building where different locations could be concentrated. Optimizing the sports infrastructure in the city of Solothurn is also an issue.
From a cantonal point of view, are there still sufficient building land reserves to implement all of these projects?
We are currently busy with spatial planning development. Here we find that the building land reserves should be sufficient for the next 15 years. But this also means that no new land will be zoned during this period. In return, none have to be zoned out. We also have many industrial wastelands or otherwise fallow land that we can convert.
"The building department stands for solutions – not for managing problems"
What makes the canton of Solothurn so attractive for new construction projects?
On the one hand, we are very central and also offer a lot of quality of living and tranquility. The people of Solothurn particularly appreciate the Jura landscape and the diverse cultural offerings. Solothurn is also known as the most beautiful Swiss baroque city. We are also well connected to public transport and private motorized transport. And our land prices are still affordable. From an economic point of view, we have many innovative companies and niche players who are attracting attention worldwide, such as Ypsomed (insulin pump system) or Jura Elekt-roapparate (premium coffee machines).
Which construction projects have you helped shape during your tenure so far?
As a government councilor, of course, I don't work on projects myself – but I pave the political path and thus enable the start. I was most actively involved in the development of the Attisholz Süd area: As a former director of the Solothurn Chamber of Commerce, I was already involved in the test planning. One highlight is the transformation of the former Schöngrün prison into a residential complex. But I also have fond memories of the renovation of the Altes Zeughaus Museum and the indoor swimming pool at the Olten Cantonal School, where, by the way, I went to school myself. I also accompanied the project for the renovation and conversion of the Rosengarten property intensively – with this project we had to go to the federal court.
The Capuchin monastery in Solothurn, the Fridau psychiatric clinic and the Allerheiligenberg high altitude clinic are considered problem children. What exactly are the problems with these objects?
These three projects are simply not a sure-fire success. They are located in zones that do not allow every use. The Allerheiligenberg, for example, is located in the agricultural zone. There are additional usage restrictions here: the surrounding hospitals must not be allowed to compete. In addition, there is the financial outlay, which is immense for such large projects. The Capuchin monastery, for example, is a listed building. The Fridau Clinic is located together with the Allerheiligenberg in the Jura protection zone. The difficulties mentioned require a lot of patience from investors and owners.
An inventory of spatial planning is currently taking place at the cantonal level. What is the detailed plan?
The whole of Switzerland is challenged when it comes to spatial planning. The revision of the Spatial Planning Act from 2014 requires all cantons to revise the structure plans. We have already done this. Now all municipalities have to revise their local planning. We count 107 municipalities in the canton of Solothurn – it takes time before all thoughts on further development within the framework of the cantonal requirements have been made. The inward development of the settlement poses major challenges for the community. The Solothurn municipalities will have completed this process within the next five years.
What about urban sprawl in the canton of Solothurn?
In the past, people certainly paid too little attention to this – but that should apply to all of Switzerland. The municipalities supported the new spatial planning law by a majority in the run-up to the vote. What a law really means can often only be seen when it is implemented. This is also the case here – the accusation arises that the canton or the federal government would prevent a municipality from developing. In the canton of Solothurn, however, we are on the right track. The need for internal densification is now firmly anchored in the minds of those responsible for the community. The majority deal very well with the new challenges and framework conditions.
The municipalities enjoy a great deal of autonomy in the canton of Solothurn. Do you perceive these as an advantage or disadvantage in the performance of your office?
I know both sides. As a mayor, it's an advantage – as a councilor it's a disadvantage (laughs). No, seriously: The autonomy is one thing, the other is the high number of communities: We have 107. But we maintain a good exchange with the community association, so we always find solutions.
They are stepping down in the summer for health reasons. Do you already have plans for the time after that?
I will definitely continue to be active. I have already accepted various board memberships and have other open inquiries. But first I'll take care of my old sports injuries and then I'll see how things go from here.
What do you wish for the future of the building department?
The building department stands for adherence to deadlines, adherence to budgets, speedy work and high quality. It should stay that way even after my retreat. Of course, I don't just want to hand over the projects to the new hands, I also want my heart and soul to continue to flow into it. Our credo is: The building construction department stands for solutions and not for managing problems.

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
Solothurn economic barometer

The evaluation of the first-time survey among the members of the Solothurn Chamber of Commerce and the Cantonal Solothurn Trade Association on the Solothurn Economic Barometer shows that the economy is returning to the growth zone. There are big differences in the industries. The sectors affected by the lockdowns are suffering, but since the beginning of the year large parts of industry and economic services have returned to a steep growth path.

July 2021
Bern gets a new festival hall

The voters from Bern have not only approved the construction of the new festival hall, but also the city's investment of CHF 15 million, according to a press release by the trade fair operator Bernexpo AG . This should enable events with up to 9,000 visitors in the future. In addition to trade fairs and congresses, concerts and cultural events are also planned.

"With the New Festival Hall, we will upgrade the Bern event and trade fair center and thus make a significant contribution to strengthening a diverse range of cultural and entertainment offers that radiate beyond the city and into the region and throughout Switzerland," says Franziska von Weissenfluh in of the announcement quoted, Co-Chairman of the Board of Bernexpo AG.

The old festival hall is now being demolished. Work on the new festival hall is to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and is to be completed by 2024.

March 2021
Solothurn further strengthens location development

The Department of Economics of the Canton of Solothurn wants to strengthen the development of the location, according to a media release . In this context, the business development department is renamed the business development department. Organizationally, the department changes directly to the department secretariat.

The new name of the department is intended to express that it will deal more intensively with site development in the future. In addition, it should, for example, be more networked and cross-departmental when implementing projects within the framework of the location strategy or the new regional policy of the federal government (NRP).

In addition to site development, the support of companies in Solothurn and the processing of settlement projects will continue to be part of the core business of the department.

December 2020
Fischermätteli Burgdorf: Future-oriented area in the Minergie-A-Eco standard

In December 2019, the excavators drove into the former industrial site in Burgdorf and the new Fischermätteli district should soon come to life: the first apartments will be ready for occupancy in summer 2021. By 2024, ten apartment buildings with 169 inexpensive 2.5 to 5.5 room apartments and living spaces between 52 and 140 square meters are to be built in a total of three construction phases. Located in an idyllic location in the immediate vicinity of the forest, the buildings are grouped around a central meeting zone with five differently designed outdoor spaces.
Largest Minergie-A-Eco quarter made with Swiss wood
The Fischermätteli settlement will one day be the largest development in Switzerland that will not only be built with Swiss wood, but also meet the Minergie-A-Eco standard. This requires a positive energy balance and the expenditure for space and water heating, air renewal as well as for all electrical devices and lighting must be covered by renewable energies. The addition Eco focuses on the issues of health and building ecology and ensures a high level of living comfort. "Based on the positive experiences we have made so far, it was the only right decision for us in terms of ecology and sustainability to build the Fischermätteli in the Minergie-A-Eco standard," explains Bruno Kälin. He is Head of Marketing and a member of the management team at Strüby Konzept AG. The Strüby companies act both as builders and as full service providers (project development, architecture, engineering, production, implementation, customer service, customer service) and are also responsible for sales.
For the Fischermätteli, the client relies on spruce and silver fir from Swiss forests: “There is no better building material than wood. It is available locally, is growing steadily, is CO ₂ -neutral, creates jobs in the region and ensures a good and healthy indoor climate, ”explains Kälin. The wood required for construction is bought directly from the forest owners, sawn, glued and processed in the region. Long transport routes are eliminated, which means that the embodied energy is very low.
Sophisticated energy concept
The client had put out a tender for the energy concept, which ewz won. The energy service company is responsible for planning, financing, realizing and operating the energy supply. The contracts run until December 2044 and begin in stages according to construction stages. The ewz Energy Solutions division has developed an integral concept for the Fischermätteli district, which, in addition to a sophisticated heat and power supply, also includes ancillary costs accounting that covers all media.
All buildings on the site are connected to an area heating network. The heart of the heat supply is the heating center with an output of 550 kW. Wood pellets from the region are used as energy sources. The quality management system of the working group QM wood heating plants ensures efficient heat production. The energy service provider finances and implements the heating center and the lines for heat distribution to the house. The client, on the other hand, builds the installations for the domestic hot water and for the fine distribution of heat in the houses. A heat pump instead of wood heating could not be considered due to the geological conditions at the site.
100 percent renewable solar power
In addition to the heat supply contracts, ewz agrees electricity supply contracts with the owners. These regulate the supply of electricity to a total of seven floor and site owners. Since the Minergie-A building standard requires 100 percent coverage with renewable electricity, a photovoltaic system is installed on every house roof. The ten plants in the final stage will have an output of 722 kWp. According to project manager Christian Rolli from ewz Energielösungen, the challenge was to achieve the required solar power yield and still have enough space on the roofs for maintenance and servicing of the photovoltaic modules. The solution was to choose monocrystalline high-performance modules with a higher degree of efficiency, which produce more yield in less space, but this is reflected in a higher price. Around 3200 m ² of photovoltaic modules are installed on the site. If, for example, there is such a high overproduction during the summer holidays that not all of the electricity can be fed into the grid, production can be reduced.
The overall concept worked out by ewz Energielösungen convinced the client: "Our specifications for an ecological and economical solution that can be implemented and maintained holistically by one partner were implemented very well by ewz," says Bruno Kälin.

October 2020