Category: Switzerland

Live and work in stackable towers

The plans of the association Vision Zukunft Bösch are ambitious: 3000 jobs for 600 companies are to be created on 30 hectares in Hünenberg on the Bösch site. The aim is to upgrade the area and make it a leading location for innovative SMEs in the service, trade and industry sectors. Keeas designed the first development model in 2018 on behalf of the Zugwest Economic Region Association. At the same time the club was
Vision of the future of Bösch founded.
The challenge in developing the area: space is limited. So that numerous companies can still settle, three high-rise buildings are to be built. These are not classic high-rise buildings, but stackable towers: Energy self-sufficient boxes are attached to large lifts. Companies could easily grow taller here: Additional boxes can be flexibly stacked.
Creative SMEs in particular are likely to feel addressed by this location: there are slides instead of stairs. But the topics of energy and sustainability are also taken into account. Due to its high daily consumption, Bösch offers optimal conditions for the installation of photovoltaic systems on the roofs. The waste heat from the nearby Perlen paper mill could be used as heating and cooling energy.
A range of e-cars, car sharing and e-bikes through to pooled company and visitor parking spaces is conceivable. The so-called energy and mobility hub works with large batteries. These optimize the energy consumption of the solar systems and charge electric vehicles at the same time. Truck and commercial ramps are to be built around existing commercial buildings. In addition, an autonomous bus is planned that will provide direct access to the IT campus and the Rotkreuz train station.
The municipality of Hünenberg owns a piece of land in the immediate vicinity of the International School im Bösch, which it would make available for the construction of a reference company. This future “Campus Bösch” is likely to lay the foundation for the overall project. The vision is constantly being developed.

March 2021
Second stage of the Quadrolith activated in Baar

You cannot overlook it: the Quadrolith in Baar immediately catches the eye with its golden facade. The plans of the real estate company Alfred Müller based in Baar envisage two modern commercial buildings with space for 1000 workplaces on 30,000 square meters. The first building alone, which was completed in 2018, takes up 12,600 square meters. From the beginning, the aim was to build it in two stages.
The remaining 17,250 square meters are currently being built on. The reference date is set for September 30, 2021. Marketing is already in progress. Companies of all sizes should be addressed with a flexible usage concept. The areas can be divided up and expanded individually. The U-shaped new building is then directly adjacent to the headquarters of Alfred Müller AG.
The office complex has a modular structure and a functional architecture. Thanks to the design, the overall depth of both buildings, each with six floors above ground, could be deliberately kept low. This ensures optimal lighting conditions and space efficiency. Gold-colored, vertical metal strips give the facade its striking color. The overhang of the top two floors creates a futuristic appearance. Numerous trees and two green inner courtyards also characterize the exterior.
Inside, the stairwells and toilet facilities are made of natural stone. The floors of the terraces on the 3rd and 5th floors are made of porcelain stoneware tiles. The height of the room varies from 2.40 to 2.54 meters depending on the floor. The windows are room high. An environmentally friendly heat pump heating system with energy piles and support from natural gas heating ensures reduced operating costs and reduced CO2 emissions. The concrete energy piles connected to the subsurface are provided with plastic pipes in order to exchange heat or cold with the subsoil. In addition, there are charging stations for electric vehicles in the open air and in the garage.

March 2021
Steiner plans a new residential complex in Winterthur

The real estate developer Steiner AG is planning to build a new residential complex in Winterthur, according to a media release . It is to be built on the KIM site at Winterthur Neuhegi train station. The so-called Haus Weiler is to be built on a plot of 3328 square meters and comprises 80 condominiums. Twelve of these will be built as studio apartments on the ground floor with private garden terraces. A further twelve are being built as attic apartments with private roof terraces.

The design plan for the KIM area already became legally effective in September 2013. The newly emerging quarter combines living and working. It includes green areas, playgrounds and car-free zones. Grocery stores, cafes and restaurants are within walking distance. In addition, Zurich Airport can be reached in 25 minutes by car or train.

According to the announcement, the building application was submitted to the city of Winterthur on March 25th. Steiner AG expects construction work to start in summer 2022. Completion is planned for spring 2025.

March 2021
A “grand projet” for Zug

Even the former French President François Mitterand described the conversion of large areas of the city of Paris as "grand projets". Christian Salewski & Simon Kretz Architects, pool Architects, Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur are planning just such a “big project” together with mrs partner: The Landis & Gyr area (LG area) is to be redesigned. Et voilà: After an urban development study contract and the transfer of the revised concept into a guide project, the next planning step can take place in summer 2021. According to the planning and building law of the canton of Zug, a development plan is required for the further development of the area. Because this ensures that the qualitative requirements for the urban and architectural design of buildings and open spaces are met.
A family of places
The winning team convinced the five property owners Alfred Müller, Credit Suisse Funds, Park Lane Zug, SBB and Thoba Immobilien with four theses: The LG area has a radiance (1) and historical depth (2). It connects people (3) and represents a kind of family of places (4). Its urban planning concept enables a very high density and at the same time creates attractive open spaces. The height development mediates between the track area in the east and the garden city in the west. A free space ring connects the subareas and thus enables easy orientation. In addition, old industrial
riebauten are preserved and become part of the new quarter.
New old train
Eliane Birchmeier, city councilor and head of the building department of the city of Zug, would like the quarter to open up: “We want a lively, tangible, very green quarter with a high quality of stay, in which inexpensive living and business are possible. A district that connects the city, including a new underpass for the railroad tracks, which will be good for the city. " There are already startups and large corporations that work from the LG area. But many Zug residents would hardly have the opportunity to enter the area if they didn't work here. "It is currently in a kind of deep sleep," says Birchmeier. That changes fundamentally with the presented project. "We are already seeing harbingers of how this area could be revitalized," says the city councilor. "For example in the Club Lounge & Gallery, in the Modi Lab Museum and especially in Freiruum, which the Zug population would no longer give up." The LG area has the chance of real change that meets the highest demands. A new piece of Zug will be created here, but it will still be Zug.

March 2021
This is how the paper energy system works

The Papieri area is to be operated in a CO2-neutral manner and to play an important role in the implementation of the desired 2000 watt society. The sophisticated energy system consists on the one hand of its own river power plant, which has been producing electricity since 1890. Now it has been upgraded with the latest technology as part of the site development. In addition, the water from the Lorze is used as a heat source and electricity production is supported by photovoltaic systems on the building roofs. Newly installed heat pumps complete the advanced energy system. Not only is the CO2 neutral
Real heating of the buildings in winter, but also the cooling of all residential and commercial units in summer.
Modern technology also sets the tone when it comes to living: All apartments are equipped with fiber optic connections and a smart living system. The control of the heating, ventilation, shading or also the light and energy management can be controlled via a centrally installed touch panel or via mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.

March 2021
This is how blockchain is conquering the real estate industry

The term blockchain should be familiar by now. Most associate it with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. That's right, where blockchain is just the technology and Bitcoin is a resulting application. Even if the technology may seem complicated, the Swiss blockchain expert Michael Trübestein is certain: “Blockchain technology is comparable to the beginning of the Internet. It won't go away anymore. At the moment it is just uncertain how it will develop. "
First you have to understand how a blockchain works: It consists of individual blocks – each of which stores data such as transactions. A blockchain works decentrally. In other words, anyone around the world can join a blockchain – virtually via a computer, of course. Every single computer stores all and exactly the same blocks that form a chain. Each block has its own «DNA». A new computer will only be admitted if it has been checked and verified by all other computers. Once programmed on a blockchain, it cannot be changed retrospectively by a single computer. For this, all computers would have to be involved – and that is exactly what makes the blockchain so secure. If a single computer tries to change the blockchain, the chain is immediately interrupted and the culprit is excluded.
"Hello World" in Baar is the first property in the world to be tokenized
The possibilities of blockchain technology are enormous for the real estate industry, as Michael Trübestein says. He is professor for real estate management at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences, with a focus on real estate investment and real estate asset management. Numerous companies are currently researching possible areas of application. “Currently there are only a few applications, such as in the land register or in the investment / financing area. The world's first tokenization of a property, the “Hello World” property in Baar, ”says Trübestein, is an outstanding example. 20 percent of “Hello World” (CHF 3 million) of the property value was tokenized by the Zug-based company “Blockimmo” and sold to four investors.
The company “Crowdlitoken” has also specialized in real estate: the start-up founded in 2018 sees itself as a digital real estate bond. «Investors can participate in selected Swiss real estate from 100 francs / euro. After the investment, our users can put together their own real estate portfolio by placing their purchased bonds (Crowdlitokens “CRTs”) individually on the various Crowdlitoken properties, ”says Domenic Kurt, CEO of Crowdlitoken, explaining the concept. By participating in the real estate, the investors generate returns of up to 7 percent per year. You can either have this paid out monthly to your bank account or receive it in CRTs.
Access to the financial market is being liberalized
A bank does not have to be interposed for a digital bond, which is cheaper for the investor. Crowd
litoken already has 630 investors with a volume of 18 million CRTs. The real estate portfolio is constantly being expanded. The Swiss professional footballer Diego Benaglio is one of the prominent users of Crowdlitoken. Kurt defines what distinguishes Crowdlitoken from other companies that also rely on blockchain technology: “There is no comparable competitor who enables investors to invest such a low amount as an entry point for a stake in several properties. Investors can access the portal from their smartphone, where they can manage their entire investment. "
It is clear to both Trübestein and Kurt that blockchain has disruptive potential. The CEO of Crowdlitoken says: “Banks are becoming obsolete for investment products like ours. New sales channels are emerging and access to the financial market is being liberalized. " On the one hand, the digitization of the capital market is inherently completely disruptive, as this leads to an opening of the market. «There are no entry barriers; Entry sums are reduced. " On the other hand, the digitization of securities is inherently disruptive: “This means that values are no longer transferred via third parties. With blockchain-based securities, it is possible to send values without duplicating them, ”explains Kurt.
Trübestein adds: “Some applications such as crypto currencies have already influenced the world and the way market participants think. Nobody knows how the applications will develop in the future, but the advantages are already clearly visible. " The prerequisites are also in place in Switzerland: "We have target-oriented framework conditions and innovative companies here," says Trübestein. Cooperation between companies is important when implementing innovations. This is what happened, for example, with the “Hello World” property – the transaction results from a collaboration between Block-immo, Elea Labs and Swiss Crypto Tokens.
Michael Trübestein
Domenic Kurt
What is a token
Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: A digital asset (token) based on the blockchain. It is a digital representation of a security. It contains property rights to the bond as well as the right to returns and represents a repayment obligation.
What is blockchain?
Michael Trübestein, Expert: A sequence (= chain) of information (= block). These are "time stamped" and are stored on several computers. This guarantees a high level of protection against forgery. There are also public and non-public systems. It can be used around the clock, seven days a week.
What can blockchain technology do better than a bank?
Domenic Kurt, Crowdlitoken: With blockchain-based securities it is possible to send values without duplicating them. It replaces the book of creditors and ensures that processes are designed and implemented in a leaner, more cost-effective and efficient manner.

March 2021
Unique office and commercial space on the Papieri site

Tailor-made office space and studios for every business idea
Spread over the entire area, an extraordinary variety of areas will emerge over the next few years, which are suitable for the most varied of uses and sizes of businesses. Do you want 5m high rooms with industrial charm or something more modern in a contemporary new building with a representative appearance? Do you only need a small retreat to fine-tune your latest ideas, or as an anchor tenant would you like to play a key role in the planning process for your new headquarters? Everything is possible on the Papieri site and, thanks to the state-of-the-art infrastructure with fiber optic connections, you don't have to compromise anywhere. Areas from 50 m2 to 5,000 m2. Move-in from the end of 2022.
Kesselhaus bistro with coworking.
Lively ground floors for small businesses and services
Lively ground floors are an important quality feature of any functioning quarter. Whether gastronomy, graphics office or physiotherapy, whether yoga room, flower shop or showroom: Innovative ideas with added value for residents and visitors are very welcome on the Papieri area. Areas from 100 to 1,000 m2. Move-in from the end of 2022.
Sustainability is a top priority
Thanks to our own hydropower plant on the Lorze and large-area photovoltaic systems on the roofs, all buildings are cooled and heated 100% CO2-neutrally. In addition, around a third of the electricity consumed is produced on site. All parking spaces are prepared for electromobility and are equipped as required. In addition, there are several quick charging stations available on the site. Don't own a car? Car and bike sharing offers ensure that you are still mobile.
Maisonette studios in the new building.
Become part of a lively neighborhood
As a tenant, you can benefit from the attractive framework conditions on the Papieri site. Do you need a room for a new employee for a few months? Book a micro apartment directly on the area! Fancy a business lunch? The future Kesselhaus bistro is only a stone's throw away. Or do you feel like jogging or jumping into the cool water to clear your head? The attractive location of the Papieri area directly on the Lorze, not far from Lake Zug and the idyllic Villette Park, offers you countless opportunities to switch off and recharge your batteries and then start over.
Get in contact with us and convince yourself of all the possibilities that are open to you here. Grow with us!

March 2021
"Best overall package thanks to the Spirit of Zug"

To person
Beat Bachmann is lic.oec. HSG and has management experience in the areas of business development, sales, finance and project management in domestic and foreign markets. His industry experience includes life sciences / medical technology, wholesale / sales of consumer goods, real estate, information and communication technology.
You are the head of the Business Contact Point in the Canton of Zug. How can you imagine a normal working day?
Beat Bachmann: Every day is different. As a "one-stop-shop", we primarily support and advise local companies on a wide variety of issues. This also includes support in finding office space. With over 100 company visits per year and by networking the companies with one another in the industry clusters, we help ensure that the companies can operate successfully in a business-friendly location. In addition, we support many companies each year in setting up in the canton of Zug.
How are the companies based in the canton with regard to the pandemic?
The Zug economy with its strong international ties is also affected and cannot escape the structural changes. The effects are to be mitigated thanks to the measures taken by the federal government and the canton. Due to the strong constitution of Zug's economy before the Corona crisis and the broad diversification, I estimate that the negative effects will be slightly lower compared to the rest of Switzerland. Nonetheless, our team was able to look after the same number of relocations in 2020 as in previous years.
In the Credit Suisse location ranking, Zug almost always ranks first – not least because of the low corporate income tax rate of 12 percent. What else do you offer more than other cantons?
We primarily offer the best overall package of excellent location conditions: These include long-term financial and political stability, tax and finance policy, great innovative ability, high availability of skilled workers in important industry clusters and efficient infrastructure. The fascinating living space and thus the quality of life are also very important. Last but not least, we often hear that economic friendliness – our “Spirit of Zug” – is very much valued.
What tasks does the Business Contact Point take on in site development?
In particular, we help ensure that the needs and requirements of the economy and companies are incorporated into the site developments. And when the properties are completed, we offer support in arranging the space for new tenants or buyers.
Does the site development show that the potential is being exhausted?
We are very happy that the landowners and site developers have made a significant contribution to the sustainable and qualitative development of the canton for decades. It is in line with the long-term strategy of the government council that Zug should remain an attractive place to live and live. There is still enough arable land. I therefore think that the canton of Zug can continue to develop in this way over many generations.
«Zug, Baar and Rotkreuz score points with the
Companies"
Several commercial buildings are under construction in the canton of Zug. In the wake of the pandemic, however, the trend is towards home offices. Still, are you confident that all of these projects can be brought to life?
Yes, I am confident that these surfaces will be absorbed. Switzerland and the canton of Zug are and will remain a leading international economic area. In the case of new settlements, the availability of ready-to-move-in space is an important location factor. It is difficult to estimate the long-term impact of Covid-19 on office space demand. The trend towards more home offices is countered by a trend towards more space per capita, as well as co-working spaces / business centers.
Besides Zug, which city in the canton is the most popular location for companies?
On the one hand, the Lorzen plain (valley communities) has had the most companies and jobs for decades. Since the canton records around 40% train commuters on working days, the proximity to train stations with IC and express train connections is playing an increasingly important role. Accordingly, along with Zug, Baar and Rotkreuz have been the most popular locations in recent years; Cham follows behind.
What makes the canton of Zug attractive as a place to live?
Zug offers a good international infrastructure, excellent schools and political stability. The standard of living is high and the living spaces are intact. There are lakes, mountains and diverse landscapes in the smallest of spaces. Zug therefore offers an outstanding quality of life and the proximity to central Switzerland and Zurich.
How do you assess the current demand on the housing market?
It is consistently high in the canton of Zug. At the same time, the vacancy rate in the canton of Zug is only increasing minimally.
How do you rate the building potential in the housing market?
Since we at the Business Contact Point primarily deal with companies and, accordingly, with office and commercial space, I am not an expert on the housing market. However, I observe that many apartments have been built unchanged for decades and that they are constantly finding residents. As the smallest full canton in Switzerland in terms of area and due to our sustainable growth strategy mentioned above, we will continue to see a high proportion of commuters in the future.

March 2021
"The city of Zug should become greener"

To person
Eliane Birchmeier (FDP) has been city councilor and head of the building department of the city of Zug since January 2019. The 58-year-old studied business administration and is federally certified. dipl. PR consultant and founded Birchmeier Communications AG based in Zug in 2005. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Kursaal-Casino AG from 2004 to 2017 and co-owner of C-Matrix Communications AG from 1992 to 2004.
You are the head of the building department of the city of Zug. Where do you see your core tasks?
Eliane Birchmeier: My core tasks include the classic areas of responsibility in construction: On the one hand, there are building permits and building projects for city-owned civil engineering and structural engineering projects. On the other hand, we deal with planning, design and legal aspects in town planning and urban planning. This is about the future development of the city of Zug in terms of urban development and spatial planning with settlement, landscape and traffic.
The city of Zug is forecast to have around 10,000 population growth by 2040. What structural measures are planned to do justice to this development?
The forecast growth depends on the development of the project by private owners and investors. We have already done our homework in many areas. For example, when it comes to infrastructure projects in the areas of drainage, energy and disposal. In education, we – like other communities in Switzerland – have a certain amount of catching up to do. Various plans are currently underway for expanded and new school facilities. But we also want to upgrade the green and open spaces and improve the network of footpaths and bike paths in the coming years.
The economy should also continue to grow. Where do you see the greatest potential for new commercial buildings?
There is still great potential for expansion for trade and services in various former industrial and urban areas. These include the technology cluster with the V-Zug area, urban areas east and west of the station such as Metalli, Baarerstrasse West and the LG area. Then there is the area on the Aa II, which is being developed by the Zuger Verkehrsbetriebe, the Hertizentrum and the outer Lorzenallmend. In the future, these areas will offer mixed, urban uses of living, leisure and work.
Where in the canton can you find larger land reserves?
As elsewhere in the canton, growth in the city of Zug will mainly take place in the interior through densification. In addition, there are a few construction areas that have not yet been built up, such as the outer Lorzenallmend, areas in the Herti and Unterfeld, in the Lüssi / Göbli and in a southerly direction in the Salesianum and in Oberwil. Actual zoning is not the focus of ongoing local planning.
"We expect planning applications for the Lüssi / Göbli area and the area of the Salesianum country house soon"
Which projects are planned there?
In the outer Lorzenallmend, a development plan is being drawn up for a residential and work area and in Herti Süd one for a residential development. There are currently no plans in the Herti Nord, Unterfeld or Spielhof. In the Lüssi / Göbli and the Salesianum there are legally binding development plans for residential developments. We expect planning applications for this in the near future.
What are currently the most important construction projects that you are involved in?
City-owned projects are the construction of the recycling center and the Ökihof in the north of the city. School complexes are being planned and projected throughout the city. The project competition for the extension of the lido starts this year, and in summer the Zug population will be able to use the new emergency rooms in the Göbli district.
The city of Zug is in the middle of the local plan revision process. Is there already an initial strategy for mobility and open space?
The city's spatial development strategy will be drawn up in several stages and steps up to autumn 2021. The first thrusts based on the technical basis, the population survey and the first participation phase are clearly emerging: the city should become greener. In addition, a diverse and high-quality range of different open spaces should be available to the population.
What does the population want?
She would like the growth in mobility to be absorbed by expanding and promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well as public transport. Traffic routing in the center is to be simplified and designed in a way that is compatible with settlement. Particular attention is paid to optimizing commuter traffic. In cooperation with the canton and neighboring communities, but also with employers, we are focusing on an increased shift towards public transport, which is already excellently developed, and non-motorized private transport.

March 2021
The ZugerKB – the strong partner for professional real estate investors

In 2020, Zuger Kantonalbank financed over two thirds of all residential units approved for building in the canton of Zug and supported various important major projects in their development. This unrestricted market leadership of Zuger Kantonalbank in the financing of real estate is the result of a range of services that is consistently geared towards the specific needs of real estate investors.
What can professional investors count on at Zuger Kantonalbank?
Our extensive knowledge of the market
Zuger Kantonalbank knows the Zug real estate market better than any other bank. We continuously analyze the development of the real estate market in the canton of Zug very precisely and comprehensively. We work with leading providers of real estate market data. In addition, the close exchange with professional investors in the canton of Zug gives us a valuable view of the market. With this knowledge we can provide you with a lot of important information for the development and planning of your projects: Which apartment sizes are in demand? How is building activity developing? Or what prices are marketable? We answer these and other questions together with the investors in a strategic dialogue. An experienced team of ten specialists is available at Zuger Kantonalbank for this purpose.
Our reliability
The ZugerKB is committed to its customers in the long term, and has been for over 125 years. Our senior consultants are personally at your side and do everything in their power to ensure that your construction project is successfully implemented. With our expertise, we can quickly carry out an initial project assessment and outline possible financing in an early planning phase. As soon as the project becomes more specific, our short decision-making channels allow quick and needs-based financing offers: from the first planning loan to a comprehensive and flexible financing structure.
Our solution orientation
Your construction project is also our project. That is why professional advice is important to us. We make the processing and support of the project as easy as possible for you. In addition, we support promoters along the entire sales process, for example. In addition to the prior plausibility check of the planned sales prices, we offer various sales support. For example, our website www.zugerkb.ch/bauprojekte, which is accessible to everyone, informs interested apartment buyers about future projects and enables a direct link to the websites of the respective providers. We would be happy to show you further sales support in a personal conversation.
To person
Peter Bucher has been Head of Real Estate Investors at Zuger Kantonalbank and a member of the Board of Directors of a listed real estate fund since 2015. The passionate rider and jogger has a profound knowledge of the real estate market in the Zug region.

March 2021
Focus on qualitative development

Zug is one of the most popular economic and living areas. This is proven by numerous studies and rankings. The success is based on a long-term development strategy and attractive framework conditions. Zug offers a unique combination of excellent location factors such as the availability of skilled workers, stability, attractive taxation, central location, quality of life, level of education and economic friendliness.
The Zug business center is dynamic, as evidenced by developments on the real estate market and in the transport infrastructure. The strong presence of value-added industries and service providers as well as a high concentration of high-growth sectors are important for the quality of economic development. The broadly diversified industry structure and the unique mix of small, large, local and international companies are an important driver for the innovative development of the canton. The focus of economic management by the Department of Economics is on the existing and established companies. Their growth makes the greatest contribution to the canton's economic development.
Testimonials
Silvia Thalmann-Gut, member of the government, economics director and governor of the canton of Zug
The canton of Zug offers excellent location conditions for everyone. This includes the "Spirit of Zug" that is lived. The distances are short, the authorities work quickly and efficiently. Zug's success is based on a long-term strategy.
Heini Schmid, lawyer, former Cantonal Councilor and long-time President of Zug Tourism
Zug is in Switzerland what Switzerland is in Europe: small, surrounded by large neighbors and therefore open and adaptable. For us, changes are always an opportunity to do things differently and better. Zug is Switzerland to the power of two; it is the total package that counts.
Matthias Rebellius, CEO Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Chairman of the Board of Directors Siemens Schweiz AG
From Zug, we are driving digitalization at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. For us, Zug is an ideal location for our global headquarters, as we can attract and promote the best local and international talent here.
Johanna Friedl-Naderer, President Europe, Canada & Partner Markets, Biogen
Zug is the hub of our international headquarters. From here we coordinate our operational and administrative activities worldwide. The central location and high quality of life make Zug an attractive location for top talent.
Contact point for the economy of the Canton of Zug
Welcome to the canton of Zug. Our services are aimed directly at you as an entrepreneur. We are your partner and promote Zug as a business location.
Business contact point, Aabachstrasse 5, 6300 Zug, T +41 41 728 55 04, economy@zg.ch
Alberto Diaz, Deputy Ladder; Peter Müllhaupt, jur. Employee; Yvonne Valentino, assistant / back office manager; Ursula Kottmann Müller, Marketing / Communication; Beat Bachmann, Head (from left to right). Photographer: Peter Hofstetter

March 2021
Steiner celebrates the topping-out ceremony in the new industrial park in Basel

The new Werkarena business park in Basel celebrated topping-out on Friday. After construction began in autumn 2019, Steiner AG was able to complete the shell of the building complex, according to a media release.

The first tenants should be able to move in from autumn. The Werkarena is designed for different types of companies. The lower floors offer a ramp system for small vans especially for the storage and logistics industry. Tenants can also use the existing office, meeting and conference rooms jointly.

The upper floors offer a marketplace, a forum and rooms for new business models. They are primarily intended to address startups and small and medium-sized companies that are expanding their network and looking for a place for inspiration and exchange. The trade association Basel-Stadt and the Business Parc Reinach operate part of the commercial and business park, which particularly want to promote start-ups.

The Werkarena is being built near the border with Germany, the A3 motorway and the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse airport. It is an initiative of the trade association Basel-Stadt , Immobilien Basel-Stadt , Business Parc Reinach , Steiner AG, smeyers AG and Picard Angst AG as well as other large companies.

March 2021
Basic report on the merger of Baden and Turgi is available

The basic and financial report on the opportunities and risks of a community merger , drawn up by seven working groups with representatives from Baden and Turgi, is now publicly available. According to a media release from the city of Baden, it can now be viewed publicly on the project website under Reports.

According to the press release, the seven working groups from Baden and Turgi examined topics such as authorities, administration, spatial planning, schooling, the local community, forest, factories, and the fire brigade. An independent auditing company analyzed the financial situation and the prospects for the merger.

In addition to the publication on the project website, several information events are planned. On April 7, the two ammen Markus Schneider and Adrian Schoop and the two women vice-men Regula Dell'Anno-Doppler and Astrid Barben will be discussing the knowledge gained in the first phase of the project in a live broadcast. After completing the basic work, those responsible for the project came to the conclusion that the chances of a merger outweigh the above.

On May 6th, a Thursday, and on May 22nd, a Saturday, representatives of the working groups will be available for talks at market stalls on Baden's Schlossbergplatz. On May 7th, the information stand will be set up in Bahnhofstrasse in Turgi.

On June 13, 2021, the citizens of both municipalities will vote on whether they want to commission the Baden City Council and the Turgi City Council to draw up a merger agreement in a second project phase. According to the media release, if both municipalities are yes, the merger agreement would come before the residents' council and the municipal assembly in autumn 2022. The second referendum would take place in March 2023. The merger would take place on January 1, 2024.

If only one of the municipalities voted no on June 13, 2021, the project would end.

March 2021
Andermatt Reuss continues to grow

Andermatt Swiss Alps AG notes a sustained high demand for residential property in the mountains. The company plans, builds and develops the year-round destination Andermatt. The new district of Andermatt Reuss will be built according to a master plan by 30 international architectural offices, it says on their website.

Six apartment houses are currently under construction, according to Andermatt Swiss Alps AG in a media release. 36 of the 46 apartments are already reserved. After the snow melts, the construction of two more houses will begin. In the past few months, several houses around the Piazza Gottardo have grown in height. Some of them were already sold out in the shell construction phase or only had a few apartments left.

In the coming months, the infrastructure base, known as the podium, on which the new buildings are located, will be expanded further. The next expansion will cover around 19,000 square meters and offer space for 16 houses. In addition, it is planned to start preparatory work for the third hotel in the summer.

March 2021
Dietikons Bahnhofsplatz is being redesigned with the SBB

The planned competition program for the redesign of the Dietikon station area can now be started. The Dietiker city council has approved a loan of 56,000 francs for the preparation of the "Bushof / Bahnhofplatz competition program" and the necessary clarifications, according to a message from the city chancellery. The contract for procedural support had been awarded to the Zurich consulting firm Eckhaus AG. In addition to upgrading the public space with quality of stay and a wheelchair accessible hub for public transport, an attractive location for living and working is to be created on the SBB site, according to the city of Dietikon about the project .

The city of Dietikon and the SBB jointly awarded an urban planning study contract for the Dietikon station area in 2019. The "in-depth study of the Dietikon station area" was exhibited in plans and models in November and December 2020 on the window front of the Dietikon town hall. The results report was also available on the Internet.

According to the plans of the city of Dietikon, the bus station is to be redesigned around two islands. This creates a largely traffic-calmed space in front of the train station, which is to be landscaped and planted with trees to create a lingering zone. According to the announcement, the SBB wants to develop a lively district from its parcels west of the track field. The station building is to be extended. Two construction sites for an office building and a complex with 200 apartments are planned on the parking lot.

March 2021
There are plans for the Rorschacher Feldmühle site

The Zurich-based project developer as well as total and general contractor Steiner is planning, together with the Steiner Investment Foundation , to develop the largely fallow land of the Feldmühle site in Rorschach. A sub-zone and a design plan, which was drawn up together with the city of Rorschach, will be available to the public from Monday until April 21 at the Office for Building and Urban Development. They can also be viewed on the city's website. An identical press release from Steiner and the city provides information on this.

On the 27,500 square meter inner-city area near the train station, 40 percent residential buildings for 760 people are planned, a total of 142 condominiums and 162 rental apartments. Commercial space is to be 20 percent or 9,000 square meters.

An underground car park, e-parking spaces and a car sharing provider are also planned. Individual, historically valuable and identity-creating buildings are retained and placed in context with new buildings. The original character of the former industrial plant should remain noticeable. Completion of the project is planned for 2025 if everything goes smoothly.

March 2021
Hächler rebuilds Spreitenbacher Waldhütte

Hächler AG from Wettingen has rebuilt the forest hut belonging to the municipality of Spreitenbach, which had become dilapidated due to subsidence. From spring onwards, the forest hut will again be available to citizens for festive occasions with 40 seats, according to the press release . There is a new hall with a fitted kitchen and an open fireplace both inside and outside.

The new building in the middle of the forest on Heitersberg became necessary because of subsidence. The forest hut was built in 1968 and renovated in 1990. According to the Hächler Group, the municipality of Spreitenbach decided to rebuild the popular forest hut due to the subsidence of the ground by around 20 centimeters. In May 2020, the timber construction department at Hächler AG was awarded the contract to build the new forest hut.

According to a report submitted by Günter Ebner, Head of Timber Construction at Hächler, the replacement building in timber element construction in the Neuenhof workshop was prefabricated in the same dimensions as the old hut. The finished wall elements with built-in electrical preparation and cutting of the roof components were produced in just three weeks. The shell assembly in the forest on the Heitersberg was carried out with millimeter precision using the company's own truck crane. The inner wall surfaces made of multi-layer panels in spruce and fir were protected from moisture during assembly. According to the Hächler report, only ecological and sustainable building materials were used.

The materials are technically state-of-the-art and enable a comfortable room climate as well as heat, cold and noise protection. The combination of vapor-permeable and multi-layer materials with good soundproofing properties would have made this concept of the forest hut a really great project, construction manager Ebner is quoted as saying.

21 cubic meters of domestic spruce wood, 45 cubic meters of mineral insulation and 450 square meters of multilayer wood panels were used for the supporting structure.

March 2021
Coop turns a Basel department store into a luxury hotel

The BâleHotels group, which belongs to Coop, is opening a 4-star boutique hotel in the middle of Basel's old town. The Hotel Märthof will open its doors on July 28, 2021. The renovation of the historic building began in 2019. Its neo-baroque facade will be preserved and will be combined with generous window fronts, according to a message from Coop . From 1983 a department store was housed in the complex.

In the Märthof there will be space for 68 high-quality rooms as well as the Bohemia restaurant with a spacious bar and a terrace directly on the market square. The hotel also has a fitness and wellness area, a banquet room and a roof terrace.

The BâleHotels Group is thus continuing to invest in the Basel location, according to Coop. The BâleHotels Group operates five hotels in Basel, Muttenz BL and Bern.

March 2021
Renovation of the Mandarin Oriental Palace Lucerne is making progress

The Hotel Palace Luzern is currently being extensively renovated. It is to be reopened next spring as the Mandarin Oriental Palace Lucerne.

The modernization is progressing, according to a press release . Invita Hospitality Projects, which belongs to Bündner Baulink AG , has now been commissioned to handle FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) and SOE (Small Operating Equipment).

Specifically, Invita will be responsible for purchasing loose furnishings for the 146 rooms and suites and redesigning the public areas. In the spa and fitness area, the Baulink subsidiary even received the entire specialist coordination contract. She also coordinates the redesign of the public areas, which include the catering area as well as conference and meeting rooms.

The interior design is meanwhile taken over by the London office Jestico & Whiles. Architecturally, the project is being accompanied by Iwan Bühler Architects from Lucerne.

The hotel is located in the middle of the city of Lucerne, directly on the shores of Lake Lucerne.

March 2021
Fundamenta Real Estate posts record profit

According to a release from Fundamenta Real Estate AG , the Zug-based real estate company generated net rental income of CHF 33.47 million in the 2020 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 13.4 percent. The announcement mentions the purchase of two new properties and the completion of three of its own projects as growth drivers. In addition, the company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year by 0.2 percentage points to 3.5 percent.

A new record of CHF 26.69 million was reported as net profit in the 2020 reporting year. In the previous year, a net profit of CHF 22.51 million was realized. In the year under review, a slightly lower revaluation effect than in the previous year was more than offset by “an excellent operating result” and the sale of three properties, explains the real estate company.

"The stability of our real estate portfolio, which is dominated by residential space, has also been shown in this special year," Andreas Spahni, President and Delegate of the Board of Directors, is quoted in the press release. "The corona crisis only had a marginal effect on the result."

The balance sheet value of Fundamenta Real Estate's real estate portfolio rose from CHF 908.91 million to CHF 991.94 million in the course of the year under review. In February of this year, the company acquired another residential property. In addition, the “further repositioning of two existing properties in Zurich and one property in Bern” has started, according to the announcement. Fundamenta Real Estate plans to carry out a capital increase this year to finance ongoing projects. Details are to be communicated after the General Assembly on April 8th.

March 2021
Porsche supports start-ups in Zurich

Porsche supports innovative start- ups through its Forward31 program. Now the German carmaker has also included the Zurich start-up The Embassies in this program, according to a media release .

The Embassies is developing a new solution for living in old age. This consists of a digital platform and habitable rooms. The company wants to build a network with around 30 locations worldwide. She wants to focus on big cities like Zurich, London, New York or Berlin. The first location is scheduled to open in Europe in 2022.

At the locations – so-called embassies – of The Embassies, residents and visitors should have publicly accessible catering and leisure facilities available. The goal is to encourage social interaction. Traveling by older people is also supported. This also gives residents and members access to other The Embassies locations around the world.

"We created our offer for people who want to lead a self-determined, fulfilled and healthy life for as long as possible," says Jan Garde, founder of The Embassies, in the press release.

Forward31 will now continue to develop the business model together with the founding team of The Embassies and support the company as a strategic partner in the future.

March 2021
Timber Corporation is the guardian of our forest

The Schlieren wood corporation and the forest ranger Limmattal Süd have their diverse tasks under control despite the many challenges. They are pleased that this year, with the new cloakroom in the Zelgli, a building will be built by the city of Schlieren with local wood and that other buildings (after-school care center, new retirement center) will be tendered or planned in wood. This role model function of the city of Schlieren was also carried over to private real estate investors. The “Kesslerplath” project of the Migros Pension Fund is also to be realized in wood.
Around 100 cubic meters of spruce wood from the Schlierem Forest will be used for the new cloakroom building at the Rohr sports field. Financially this is not a big deal for the Schlieren wood corporation, but President Fredy Füllemann is very pleased that the city of Schlieren not only sets an example for building with local wood with this decision, but also appreciates the work of the wood corporation.
The Schlieren wood corporation was founded as a private corporation in 1851 and manages a total of around 180 hectares of forest. A milestone in the history of the Schlieren wood corporation was the great amalgamation of forests in 1984. This resulted in large and much easier-to-manage parcels. The city of Schlieren also contributed its forest and has since then been a member with partial rights, like all other private forest owners. Almost without exception, these are long-established Schlierem families.
The prices for domestic wood are poor. These prices have been falling for a long time and the storm Lothar in 1999 intensified this trend. So there is hardly any more money to be made with the forest and the timber corporations are happy when they can cover the costs of care and maintenance with the proceeds. A further complicating factor is that significantly cheaper wood is delivered to Switzerland from abroad.
The forest belongs to private individuals, but can be used by the public. Very few people know that the forest owners are responsible for a great deal of work in the forest, including the maintenance of the forest paths, which are highly valued by the population, and that they also have to bear the costs.
In some Swiss cantons, wood corporations are supported in this area, but unfortunately this has hardly been the case in Zurich so far. "As the price of wood continues to fall, it is becoming more and more difficult for forest owners to cope with the financial burdens," emphasizes Roland Helfenberger and Fredy Füllemann adds: "We will probably have to make ourselves heard more in the canton in the future."
In our time, the forest has to struggle with various influences. In particular, global warming is causing him a lot of trouble, some tree species will probably disappear in our forests in the long term. While spruce, fir and beech trees suffer from the higher temperatures, oaks, Douglas firs and nut trees have significantly fewer problems.
It is typical of forest management that everything has to be considered over long periods of time, or – as Revierforster Helfenberger aptly puts it: "We benefit from the work of our ancestors and work for future generations." As the district forester Limmattal Süd, Helfenberger from Aesch has also been responsible for the care and management of the Schlierem forest since 2013. He and his team are faced with great challenges in a variety of ways. The heavy snowfalls in the past few months have caused a lot of extra work and the clean-up work is far from over.
Ecologically and economically
This is not the first time that the city is building Schlieren with wood. The multi-part factory building in the city on Bernstrasse was made of wood and even made it into the 20 best best practice examples in Switzerland. The double after-school care center at Schulstrasse 12 was also made entirely of wood in 2007. More wooden structures are to follow. The Migros Pension Fund MPK is currently examining the procurement of wood for the new Kesslerplatz building from the Schlieremer Wald, or from the Limmattal-Süd forest district. Spruce and fir trees are available for the harvest season. At best, the MPK plans to source the wood for the ceilings and facades from the region. The latest study by Wüest Partner AG shows that wooden buildings are not only ecologically convincing, but also keep up economically.

March 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
Canton approves Rai design plan in Bergdietikon

The design plan submitted by the municipal council for the Rai area in Bergdietikon has been approved by the Department of Construction, Transport and Environment of the Canton of Aargau. This is announced by the municipal council in a message. It contains a look back at the 40-year history of the land of Rai. It began by buying four parcels of land in the Rai area between 1980 and 1990 so as not to leave the potential building land to speculators.

After the canton's approval, the next step will be to implement the construction project. According to the communal council, the first step is to take measures to stabilize the hillside area. Implenia Immobilien AG has to submit a planning application for the planned work to the municipality of Bergdietikon. The concept developed by Heinrich Jäckli AG and Basler & Hofmann AG suggests slowing down the slope movements by means of deep drainage ditches arranged in the direction in which the slope falls. For the future development and development of the Rai area, subsoil investigations and movement measurements were carried out between 1991 and 2005. It follows from them that the slope movements can be reduced to such an extent that development and development are possible.

In the years since the municipality acquired the Rai area, the topic of use has repeatedly dominated the political debate, writes municipality clerk Patrick Geissmann in the report on the Rai area. Pius Achermann, mayor from 1994 to 2005, has their say. He is quoted as saying: “The importance of the Rai area achieved a high priority during my tenure. Hardly a council meeting went by without addressing the subject of Rai. Rai became a constant topic. "

For Paul Meier, mayor from 2006 to 2009, the state of Rai was “a stimulating word during my 16 years on the parish council.” And Gerhart Isler, mayor from 2010 to 2017, is quoted as saying that the subject involved the involvement of Implenia Development AG and specific planning work has been objectified. Ralf Dörig, mayor since 2018, is quoted as saying: "I am of course very pleased that the 40-year history of the country 'Rai' can now be concluded with a legally binding design plan." Solutions have been worked out, but there have also been setbacks. The entire planning has now been successfully completed.

March 2021
Pandemic cuts profits at Zug Estates

According to a statement from the Zug Estates Group , the real estate company was able to increase its property income in 2020 by 6.1 percent year-on-year to 57.8 million francs. In the accommodation business, income from the effects of the pandemic was reduced by 57.8 percent to 7.0 million francs. In 2020, income of 72.5 million francs was generated from the sale of properties. In the previous year, 45.6 million francs were posted here.

In 2020, income would have been offset by 15.6 percent higher expenses of 9.0 million francs year-on-year, writes Zug Estates. As a result, the operating result before depreciation and revaluation fell by CHF 3.8 million to CHF 49.6 million. The reported operating result (EBIT) was CHF 43.7 million, 38.0 percent below the 2019 figure. Consolidated earnings excluding revaluation and special effects fell from CHF 31.4 million to CHF 25.9 million.

The value of its own portfolio of real estate increased by 1.5 percent to 1.65 billion francs in the year under review, explains Zug Estates. In addition, in 2020 the company was able to renew leases with a total volume of over CHF 2.6 million per year. For the current year, Zug Estates anticipates increasing rental income and lower property costs compared to the year under review.

March 2021
City of Zurich gives its own tenants a subscription for Mobility

The city of Zurich wants to promote environmentally friendly mobility. To this end, it is now providing the tenants of their apartments with an annual subscription to the Mobility auto parts service free of charge, the city and Mobility write in a joint message . Anyone who lives in one of the 9,200 city apartments and has a category B ticket has been able to take advantage of such an annual subscription since March. Users then only have to pay for the duration or range of use of the Mobility vehicles.

The city pays Mobility a flat rate of CHF 12,000 for this. The issue has no impact on rents or taxpayers, she writes in her communication.

March 2021
Implenia sees itself in a good position

According to a message from Implenia , the construction and real estate company from Dietlikon generated sales totaling CHF 2.99 billion in 2020. In the previous year, sales of 4.43 billion Swiss francs were posted. The operating result at EBIT level fell year-on-year from CHF 63.5 million to CHF -146.8 million. A loss of 132.1 million francs was reported as the consolidated result; in 2019, a profit of 33.9 million francs had been realized.

The order backlog remained at a high level at CHF 6.39 billion and is also well distributed across business areas and markets, Implenia writes in the press release. More than 80 percent of the sales targeted for the current year are already secured. In the current year, the company intends to be back in the black.

The return to the profit zone should be achieved through restructuring in the portfolio and measures for profitable growth. Implenia writes that the company has already started to reduce business areas that are not part of its core business or that are unprofitable. For profitable growth, "an effective management of opportunities and risks was introduced".

Implenia wants to report an EBIT of at least 100 million francs in the current year. At the corresponding rate, the target is 2.8 percent. In the medium term, an EBIT margin of 4.5 percent should be achieved.

March 2021
Plazza defies the pandemic

Plazza AG achieved a very positive result in 2020 and exceeded its own expectations, writes the Zurich real estate company in a press release . Specifically, the company, which has been listed on the SIX since 2015, was able to increase its property income from CHF 24.3 million in the previous year to CHF 24.6 million in the year under review. At the same time, the operating result before depreciation and revaluation increased from 18.9 million to 20.0 million francs.

The profit was 63.3 million francs, compared to 36.7 million francs in the previous year. The increase is primarily due to success in revaluations, explains Plazza in the press release. Without taking them into account, the profit remained unchanged from 2019 at 17.0 million francs.

Plazza cites the high proportion of residential properties in its own portfolio as the background for the good developments. It was unchanged at 73 percent in the year under review and will continue to rise this year through the purchase of 80 apartments in the Tiergarten estate in Zurich's Friesenberg district, the statement said. According to her, none of the apartments managed by Plazza had been vacant by the end of 2020. Overall, the real estate company was able to reduce its vacancy rate year-on-year from 4.0 to 3.7 percent. The company writes that it mainly affects free commercial space.

For the current year, Plazza is aiming for an operating result before depreciation and revaluation "at least in the order of 2020". Subject to the building permit expected in the first half of the year, the first stage of the development project in Crissier VD is to be tackled. The construction of a nursing home for a foundation and a primary school for the community of Crissier were agreed in the reporting year.

March 2021
Visionapartments offers 500 new apartments

Visionapartments will open three new buildings this year and next, according to a media release . The opening for the project in Basel is planned for July 2021. In a central location behind the Basel SBB train station, 125 studios in five different furnishing styles will then be available. A gym, restaurant, communal office and swimming pool will also be set up in the building.

The projects in Glattbrugg and Lugano will follow in the coming year. 316 new apartments are being built in Glattbrugg alone. These are located in the immediate vicinity of Zurich Airport. In addition to the new apartments, a restaurant, a communal kitchen and a fitness and wellness area will also be built there. The property in Lugano will also open next year, on the shores of Lake Lugano. 55 new apartments are being built there. "Despite the current global crisis, we are following our mission to expand further," said Anja Graf, CEO and chairwoman of Visionapartments, in the press release. "We are proud of our growth and look forward to the completion of these real estate projects," she says of the projects in Glattbrugg and Lugano.

Visionapartments was founded in Switzerland in 1999 and specializes in the rental of furnished temporary apartments. The company offers corresponding properties at 850 international locations.

March 2021
The old spinning mill in Turgi becomes a commercial and industrial center

Limmatkraftwerke AG wants to turn the listed old cotton mill in the center of Turgi into a modern commercial complex by leasing 7000 square meters of space for offices, studios, production or storage in the central and western parts of the building. The premises can be rented from April 1st. In a media release from the owner Limmatkraftwerke AG, a subsidiary of Regionalwerke AG Baden , it is said that the tenants could design and expand the rooms according to their needs, as far as this is possible on site.

"We would like to see a lively and inspiring mix of various commercial and industrial sectors in the Turgi spinning mill," said Martin Schoop, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who lives in Turgi himself. He wants to promote the character of a modern economic center in Turgi by transferring part of the income for the promotion of Turgi. Schoop: "Part of the rent is used to feed a fund that is supposed to promote this sense of community."

The spinning mill, which was built in 1826 and was the largest spinning company in Switzerland until 1858, is located in the center of Turgi and is easily accessible. According to the announcement, there are enough parking spaces available and the spinning mill is within walking distance of Turgi train station.

The redesign also pays attention to sustainability. two parking spaces are to be equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles. The building is to be supplied with district heating from the KVA Turgi and in future it will again draw electricity from the neighboring hydropower plant operated by Limmatkraftwerke AG.

Limmatkraftwerke AG see the purchase as a strategic decision. Schoop: “We operate one of our power plants right next to the spinning mill building. Thanks to the purchase of the spinning mill, we can also ensure the operation of this power plant in the long term. ”As the owner, the use of the building can be optimally coordinated with the operation of the power plant.

March 2021