immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Zurich

  • Location promotion with new management

    Location promotion with new management

    The handover in the management of Limmatstadt AG has been completed. Stephanie Kiener has taken over from long-time Managing Director Jasmina Ritz, the location promotion agency announced in a press release. Following her withdrawal from the operational business, Ritz will continue to be involved in Limmatstadt AG as Vice President of the Board of Directors.

    One of Kiener’s new tasks is to lead the process with which the location promotion agency intends to define its future direction. To this end, joint seminars with representatives from the Board of Directors and the Executive Board as well as the member municipalities and the Economic Advisory Board are planned from November. They will be supported by external consultants. “I am pleased to inform you about the results and the strategy for the coming years once the process has been completed,” Kiener is quoted as saying in the press release.

    In recent months, the location promotion team has created promising conditions for the future, according to Limmatstadt AG. The member municipalities want to make a greater financial commitment in future. The member municipalities of the Zurich Limmat Valley Planning Group are planning to increase their contributions as of 2025, while the four member municipalities in Aargau want to follow suit in 2026 and have approved a project contribution for the coming year.

    In addition, the number of members with annual contributions has been increased. This serves the objective of securing funding in the medium term in equal parts from the private and public sectors. The acquisition of new members will continue.

  • Bank gives cautious all-clear for real estate bubbles

    Bank gives cautious all-clear for real estate bubbles

    UBS has presented this year’s edition of its Global Real Estate Bubble Index. According to a press release, the bubble risk in the residential real estate market has fallen slightly for the second year in a row. For its study, the Zurich-based bank examined the real estate situation in 25 major cities around the world. Of all the cities, Miami on the east coast of the USA shows the greatest risk. The Japanese capital Tokyo ranks second. Zurich also has a high bubble risk, although there has been a significant decline here compared to the previous year, according to the press release. Geneva, Los Angeles and Toronto also fall into the “increased risk” category. Locations affected by moderate risk include Amsterdam, Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. A low risk is expected in London, Milan, Paris and Stockholm as well as outside Europe in New York, San Francisco and São Paolo.

    “Real home prices in many cities have bottomed out. The economic outlook will determine the dynamics of future price development more than in recent years,” Matthias Holzhey, lead author of the study at UBS Global Wealth Management, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • EWZ and EKZ join forces to combat skills shortage

    EWZ and EKZ join forces to combat skills shortage

    Without the work of the grid electricians, Zurich would remain dark. By building and maintaining electricity grids, they ensure that the city and canton are reliably supplied with electrical energy. Despite the importance of this profession, the shortage of skilled workers in the sector is a growing problem. For this reason, the leading electricity suppliers EKZ (Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich) and ewz (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich) have joined forces to create a training program specifically for career changers.

    A training program for career changers
    The career changer program is aimed at professionals with a basic electrical engineering or technical background. During the training program, participants receive a full salary and learn practical skills on the job. The theoretical training takes place at the ewz training center in Zurich-Schwamendingen. After one year, graduates receive an internal training certificate, which distinguishes them as qualified grid electricians.

    Diverse career opportunities
    Many of the participants switch from other professions to grid electrics. Fabian V. from EKZ, who previously worked as an operations maintenance specialist, describes his new job as varied and exciting. Goran R. from ewz, who previously worked in fiber optic expansion, sees further training as a logical progression in his career and is looking forward to the new challenges.

    The communication campaign
    In order to reach potential candidates for the program, the companies have launched the “Komm ins Team Power” campaign. Short videos on various online channels as well as offline measures at sporting events and via employees are intended to address the target group. Further information can be found on the website www.teampower.ch.

    Working together to combat the shortage of skilled workers
    The collaboration between ewz and EKZ shows how energy companies can work together to combat the shortage of skilled workers and at the same time offer attractive career opportunities for career changers. The training of grid electricians is an important step towards ensuring security of supply in Zurich in the long term.

  • KohlenKraft sponsors Zurich Climathon

    KohlenKraft sponsors Zurich Climathon

    KohlenKraft is one of the sponsors of the Climathon inZurich. This is according to an announcement from Runway, the sponsor of early-stage start-ups based at Technopark Winterthur. The Runway Incubator is a program of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).

    The Climathon is a 32-hour format organized once a year by the Impact Hub Zurich. The event serves to find and develop ideas for climate protection in Zurich. This year, it will take place on November 1 and 2 at the Zurich Kraftwerk.

    The start-up company KohlenKraft, founded in 2023, is also based at Technopark Winterthur. Last year, the park headlined a short portrait of the start-up’s move into its premises with the sentence: “Runway start-up KohlenKraft is getting ready for revolution”. KohlenKraft has set itself the task of supplying the construction industry with climate-positive materials. Its products such as plaster, wall plaster for industrial use, bricks and thermal insulation made from biochar absorb more CO2 during their service life than they emit.

    KohlenKraft also closes the cycle: The biochar is made from biomass waste, reduces the need for raw materials such as sand and thus contributes to a circular built environment. This is why KohlenKraft was also supported by the Circular Building Industry Innovation Booster. The Innosuisse program supports the transition to a circular economy in the Swiss construction industry through systematic innovation.

    CEO Charles Gerike-Roberts and CTO Moritz Keller have already received several awards. in 2022, the two KohlenKraft founders won the FrontRunner Award at the ZHAW Sustainability Challenge. They took first place in the ZHAW Startup Challenge 2023 and were class winners in the Startup Campus and Innosuisse Business Concept course.

  • Winterthur approves the renewal of the waste incineration plant

    Winterthur approves the renewal of the waste incineration plant

    The voters of Winterthur have clearly approved the renewal of the municipal waste incineration plant with 87.0% and a yes majority in all city districts. This means that incineration line 2 of the waste incineration plant can be renewed. Investments of CHF 293 million are planned for a new incinerator, an electrostatic precipitator, a new flue gas cleaning system and a new waste water treatment system.

    The new plant will be able to incinerate 190,000 tons of waste per year while maintaining the same capacity. In future, however, it will be possible to use the waste heat from flue gas cleaning for district heating. This will increase its heat output by 30 percent. In addition, the flue gas cleaning system will in future be 40 percent below the limit value for nitrogen oxide emissions and save 12.6 cubic meters of water by condensing the flue gases. In future, the new wastewater treatment system will recover up to 7.5 tons of gypsum per day. An additional hot water storage tank and a photovoltaic system are also planned.

    The project will be financed via the fees budget.

  • Virtual reality for urban planning

    Virtual reality for urban planning

    Researchers at ZHdK and ZHAW have developed an innovative tool for participatory urban design. Using virtual reality (VR), residents and those responsible are given the opportunity to experience planned redesigns virtually. For example, the effects of traffic-calming measures on street noise, space conditions or bicycle and pedestrian traffic can be experienced through the senses of sight and hearing.

    In the Gestalte Zürich project, the researchers support the Zurich city administration in planning sustainable spaces in the city, explains the ZHdK in the project description. Gestalte Zürich is supported by the City of Zurich‘s Department of Urban Planning, the city’s Civil Engineering Department and the Zurich Transport Authority. Other practice partners are the organisations myclimate, umverkehR and Fussverkehr Schweiz. Prototypes of the VR tool could be tried out on 20 September at Zurich Park(ing) Day. The project, which will run until next year, is funded by the digitalisation initiative. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation between Zurich’s universities on the topic of digitalisation.

  • Construction work on the extension of the ZHAW has begun

    Construction work on the extension of the ZHAW has begun

    Building Director Martin Neukom, Education Director Silvia Steiner and ZHAW Rector Jean-Marc Piveteau gave the go-ahead for the construction work to expand and modernise the School of Engineering at the ZHAW on 13 September. The ZHAW is one of the leading universities in Switzerland with over 14,000 students, according to a press release. However, some of the existing buildings on the site of the former technical centre in Winterthur no longer meet today’s requirements. In addition, the number of students continues to grow. Campus T will therefore be modernised and expanded in several stages over the next few years.

    In the first construction phase, two new five-storey laboratory buildings will be built behind the historic technical centre. They will provide urgently needed space for teaching, research and development. Various test rooms as well as a publicly accessible canteen and cafeteria will be created there. The new buildings will be connected to the district heating network of the city of Winterthur and equipped with photovoltaic systems.

    As part of the first construction phase, the Eulach will also be ecologically upgraded with a public, near-natural park and flood protection will be expanded, according to the press release. Two new bridges will connect the old town and Campus T with the Büelrain cantonal school and the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

    The existing TB building will be dismantled by November. At the same time, the excavation pit for the smaller TT laboratory building will be dug. Work will then begin on the shell of the first new building, which is scheduled for completion in 2027. The second new building should be ready for occupancy in 2029.

  • Zurich University of the Arts honours ten years of the Toni-Areal

    Zurich University of the Arts honours ten years of the Toni-Areal

    Zurich University of the Arts has two reasons to celebrate at the start of the winter semester, writes the ZHdK in a press release. Firstly, 711 people are starting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme in music, design, fine arts, cultural analysis and mediation or the performing arts and film. The university is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Toni-Areal campus.

    The ZHdK has set up its own website for this retrospective. Interested parties can gain an insight into everyday life at the university or be guided through the conversion of the Toni-Areal from a dairy to a campus in pictures. The two architects from back then present their thoughts on the Toni site on the website. The opening of the campus to the public and the involvement of students in its redesign are also discussed. Since the completion of the Toni site, the number of ZHdK locations has been reduced from 37 to two. In addition to the Toni site, only the Gessnerallee site is still in operation.

  • Sustainability in the event industry in Winterthur

    Sustainability in the event industry in Winterthur

    The Eulachhallen have achieved Swisstainable Level II – engaged. The largest event hall in Winterthur is now officially part of the Swisstainable sustainability programme. Switzerland Tourism ‘s initiative for sustainable travel is not awarding a new certificate, but recognises businesses that already have recognised sustainability credentials.

    The Swisstainable strategy is all about the sustainable development of Switzerland as a tourist destination. The programme creates orientation and transparency for guests looking for sustainable offers. The Eulachhallen are now one of the 2,500 tourism businesses that are already part of this programme.

    The programme comprises three levels: Level I – committed, Level II – engaged and Level III – leading. “With Level II, we are committed to continuously taking measures to act in a resource-conserving and environmentally conscious manner,” reads a statement from the Eulachhallen.

    Specifically, the operators are focusing on measures in nine fields of action, including energy efficiency, water utilisation, waste reduction and awareness-raising. They are being supported by the Winterthur-based climate protection movement Myblueplanet. “The association is our sparring partner”, the press release states, “and helps us to focus on the right activities”.

  • Schlieren launches complete revision of building and zoning regulations

    Schlieren launches complete revision of building and zoning regulations

    The Schlieren City Council will apply to the municipal parliament for approval of a credit of CHF 1,063,000 for the upcoming overall revision of the building and zoning regulations (BZO), according to the city council news.

    The aim of the overall revision is to ensure a high quality of life and work in Schlieren through tailor-made legal foundations, according to the press release. It is also intended to further promote the attractiveness of the location for companies in order to attract new investment. The last comprehensive revision of the BZO of the city of Schlieren was carried out in 1996.

    Schlieren has undergone a rapid urban transformation over the past two decades, which has not only shaped the cityscape, but has also significantly influenced the dynamics and priorities of urban development, according to the city council resolution. As the population continues to grow, the demands on the use of limited space will also increase. Further expansion of the settlement area is virtually impossible. The increasing scarcity of space therefore requires denser development throughout the city.

    The City Council emphasizes that Schlieren is not only an attractive place to live, but also an important business location. In particular, an innovative biotechnology and healthtech cluster has established itself in recent years. The overall revision of the building and zoning regulations offers the opportunity to further strengthen this potential.

  • Drone aviary at NEST: new test environment for sustainable robotics

    Drone aviary at NEST: new test environment for sustainable robotics

    Empa and EPFL are to work together in the future on the development of robotics for sustainability purposes, according to a press release. Empa will contribute its expertise in the areas of materials and development as well as its drone aviary, which will be opened in the modular research building NEST in Dübendorf in November. EPFL is contributing its expertise in environmental monitoring. In future, researchers and students from both institutions will also be able to work at the other institution, depending on the topic.

    Empa researcher Mirko Kovacs has also been teaching as Professor of Sustainability Robotics since the beginning of September. Kovacs has headed the Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics, which Empa runs jointly with Imperial College London, since 2018. His two teams in Dübendorf and London are now being joined by a third in Lausanne.

    The drone aviary at NEST allows test runs with robots and drones in the open air, but shielded from the outside world by a cage. One wall of the aviary will allow surface materials to be changed and different scenarios to be tested.

  • Zurich power generators jointly train grid electricians

    Zurich power generators jointly train grid electricians

    According to a press release, Zurich’s two electricity suppliers are launching a joint training and communication campaign. Together, they want to train more grid electricians. The focus is on lateral entrants, according to a joint press release from EKZ and ewz.

    Instead of poaching skilled workers from each other, the electricity suppliers have now developed a joint training concept that is specifically tailored to lateral entrants. The programme is aimed at professionals who have already completed training in electrical engineering or another trade. The two energy companies are organising an information evening on this topic on 13 November.

    The programme is being run jointly by the two companies. During the internal training period, employees already receive a full salary. They are employed by either EKZ or ewz and receive their practical training on the job, supplemented by courses at the ewz training centre in Zurich-Schwamendingen. After around a year of further training, graduates receive an internal training certificate.

    In order to reach candidates for the lateral entry programme, the electricity suppliers are launching the Komm ins Team Power campaign. It addresses the target group with short videos on various online channels and directs them to a special website. Advertising campaigns at sporting events, activation via employees of the two energy companies and cooperation with the netzelektriker-forum association are also planned.

  • Climate fund supports sustainable building and heating projects in Winterthur

    Climate fund supports sustainable building and heating projects in Winterthur

    According to a press release, the Stadtwerk Winterthur climate fund has awarded a total of CHF 55,000 in funding to two companies. This fund has been supporting regional and local projects for CO2 reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energies in line with the city of Winterthur’s energy and climate policy since 2007.

    Roto Re-Use from Winterthur will receive CHF 35,000. The company, which is currently being founded, sees itself as a Swiss-wide centre of excellence for a circular construction industry. It develops workshops that show how the circular economy can be implemented in the construction industry. Specialists learn directly on the construction site how components can be dismantled and reused and how reuse must be planned.

    According to the Climate Fund, the construction industry in particular has great potential for CO2 savings, citing the Environment Switzerland 2022 report, according to which construction is responsible for more than 80 per cent of waste. In addition, building materials are responsible for around 10 per cent of Swiss greenhouse gas emissions.

    The company Trinovent from Oberengstringen will receive CHF 20,000 from the climate fund. It is developing an ice storage heating system for single-family homes. Trinovent is developing an ice storage heating system for single-family homes. The company is combining the proven technologies of air or water heat pumps with ice storage. The funding project is intended to help find customers for the new heating system in Winterthur and develop the prototype into a series model.

  • Five cantons take up the cudgels for wind energy

    Five cantons take up the cudgels for wind energy

    Government representatives from the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Innerrhoden, St.Gallen, Thurgau and Zurich have taken up the cudgels for wind energy at a joint media conference in Winterthur. It should “become a mainstay of our future supply of domestic energy – especially to cover the winter electricity gap”, according to a corresponding press release from the canton of Zurich on the conference. To this end, the five neighboring cantons want to create a “new pioneering spirit”.

    At the media conference, the responsible members of the government presented the respective approaches of their cantons. Dölf Biasotto from the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden spoke about the impact of wind turbines on the landscape. In the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, the construction of wind turbines is to be accompanied by further development of the landscape. In the canton of Zurich, the planning requirements for the use of wind energy are currently being created.

    In their contributions, the representatives of the cantons of St.Gallen and Thurgau emphasized the importance of cooperation with the affected population. In the canton of St.Gallen, the special utilization plan stipulates that all affected municipalities and their inhabitants can have a say in the approval process. In the canton of Thurgau, a legal basis for local participation has been prepared. In an ongoing project in Thundorf TG, the electorate will decide on the construction of a wind farm on November 24.

  • Urdorf presents real estate strategy 2030 to the population

    Urdorf presents real estate strategy 2030 to the population

    The Urdorf municipal council outlined the key points of the Urdorf 2030 real estate strategy at a public event in the Zentrumhalle on August 29. As part of their real estate strategy, the municipal council and administration presented ten publicly owned sites spread across the municipal area, according to a detailed press release. The structural renovations, new buildings and extensions set out in the strategy could cost up to CHF 110 million over the coming years and decades.

    The strategy is about medium to long-term planning security for the municipality, according to property director Urs Rüegg. The real estate strategy does not yet contain any concrete projects. These will be presented to the population individually at a later date.

    In the communication, the planning areas are listed individually, from schools and kindergartens to the fire department or the municipal administration. Their consolidation in a single large municipal building in the center was rejected. The municipal council and planners set two time horizons for concrete planning and implementation: from 2025 to 2029 and from 2030 to 2033.

    Municipal president Sandra Rottensteiner said that the input from the population would continue to be taken on board and would be appropriately incorporated into the finalization of the real estate strategy. The municipality conducted an online consultation from December 15, 2023 to January 15, 2024 to record the needs relating to municipal properties. A total of 444 people took part.

  • Geistlich invites you to the ground-breaking ceremony at Lymhof

    Geistlich invites you to the ground-breaking ceremony at Lymhof

    Geistlich Immobilia AG invites you to the ground-breaking ceremony for the Lymhof construction project in Schlieren on September 20. The event begins at 4 p.m. with information stations and festivities on the construction site. The official ground-breaking ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. and then there will be a get-together at the Buvette from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    The Lymhof will become part of the Schlieren quarter Am Rietpark. According to the project description, the Lymhof will not only create an attractive residential offering for residents of different generations and lifestyles. It will also become a meeting place for the district, with a bistro and hotel, a multifunctional hall, two green courtyards and spaces for small stores and local amenities.

    Excavation work is now starting after the demolition of the Vitis Sport Center with tennis hall has been completed. In February 2024, Schlieren City Council issued the building permit for Lymhof. Although the 350 or so rental apartments will not be ready for occupation until 2027, tenants can already register their interest now.

  • Julius Baer fully acquires subsidiary Kuoni Mueller

    Julius Baer fully acquires subsidiary Kuoni Mueller

    Julius Baer has renamed its subsidiary Kuoni Mueller & Partner Ltd. as Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd. with effect from 1 September, the Zurich-based banking group announced in a press release. To this end, Julius Baer has now also acquired the remaining shares in the Zurich-based real estate services company, 83 percent of which were acquired in October 2021. The financial details of the complete takeover are not disclosed in the press release.

    Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd. is to be managed by Thomas Hodel from February next year. The designated Managing Director has “many years of sound experience in the transaction sector and in management positions in the real estate brokerage business relevant to Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd.”, according to the press release. Dominik Weber, the current Managing Director and former majority shareholder of Kuoni Mueller & Partner, is moving to the Board of Directors of Julius Baer Real Estate Ltd.

  • Cities have many times more tree species than forests

    Cities have many times more tree species than forests

    A group of WSL researchers led by Benno Augustinus have studied the tree populations in 26 Swiss cities and their surrounding forests. According to a WSL press release, the study revealed an enormously high species richness in the cities with over 1,300 tree species. In contrast, only 76 tree species were identified in the surrounding forests. While cities are perceived as species-poor and forests as species-rich, the opposite is actually the case, according to Augustinus in the press release.

    According to the researchers, the high biodiversity in cities could be a gateway for invasive forest pests. Potentially dangerous introduced forest pests – so-called quarantine pests – find more potential hosts among the many tree species in the cities than in the forests. In order to protect the forest, it is therefore necessary to search for pests in the cities in particular, according to the press release.

    “It helps a lot if the population also keeps their eyes open for diseased trees,” Augustinus is quoted as saying. He recommends relying on the expertise of forestry companies when greening cities. In this sense, the WSL study “can also be interpreted as a call for more cooperation between foresters and urban green managers”.

  • Taxes above the national average

    Taxes above the national average

    The Tax Burden Monitor 2024 confirms once again that the canton of Zurich is a high-tax canton when it comes to corporate taxes. Only the canton of Bern taxes corporate profits more heavily. This makes Zurich less attractive for companies, especially in comparison to neighbouring cantons with lower taxes, such as Schwyz and Zug, which also benefit from their geographical proximity to Zurich.

    Attractive tax policy
    In contrast to corporate taxes, the canton of Zurich performs significantly better in terms of income and wealth taxes for private individuals. Medium incomes of between CHF 60,000 and CHF 200,000 are taxed moderately in a cantonal and municipal comparison. Zurich’s municipalities occupy top places in this category. Middle-income couples and families in particular benefit from the tax structure.

    Around a third of Zurich’s municipalities recently lowered their tax rates. Nevertheless, the canton lost one place in the national comparison and is now in 13th place. Property taxes remain stable and rank 10th in the national comparison – below the Swiss average.

    Zurich has lost tax attractiveness for companies since 2006
    Since 2006, the canton of Zurich has dropped twelve places in the ranking of corporate tax burdens. While other cantons have lowered taxes for legal entities, in some cases significantly, Zurich has remained relatively rigid. As a result, competitor locations Basel-Stadt and Geneva, which are traditionally attractive for international companies, now have significantly lower tax burdens. A direct comparison with the cantons of Schwyz and Zug is also particularly critical for Zurich, which, unlike Zurich, benefit greatly from their proximity to the business centre without having to bear its tax burden.

    Zurich remains internationally attractive
    The situation is different in an international comparison. Despite the high national tax burden, Zurich remains competitive in the global competition to attract companies. Countries such as the USA and many Western European states (with the exception of Ireland) impose a much higher tax burden on their companies. Switzerland has been able to maintain this competitiveness even in times of economic crisis, although many OECD countries have increased their tax pressure in recent years.

  • Research into resource-efficient construction driven forward at NEST

    Research into resource-efficient construction driven forward at NEST

    The STEP2 module in the NEST research and innovation building at Empa celebrated its inauguration on August 29, Empa announced in a press release. New technologies for resource-saving construction are being tested in the new module. The approaches installed in STEP2 were developed by Empa in collaboration with research and industry partners. BASF and the architecture firm ROK were the main partners.

    STEP2 features, among other things, a noise-insulating ribbed filigree concrete ceiling and a 3D-printed concrete staircase. The façade with integrated shading and controlled natural ventilation is designed as a test platform. A window element with a 3D-printed structure will be the first to be tested here. All innovations serve to reduce material and energy consumption in construction and promote the circular economy.

    “At the same time, it is very important to us that we develop solutions that are marketable and actually have a future in the construction industry,” said Enrico Marchesi, Innovation Manager at NEST, in the press release. Main partner BASF wants to use STEP2 to “incorporate BASF’s broad chemical know-how into concrete, new and sustainable solutions for the construction sector in collaboration with the other partners”, explains Olivier Enger, Senior Innovation Manager at BASF. “In practice, a construction project of this kind requires close cooperation between all parties involved, from conception to implementation,” says architect Silvan Oesterle from ROK.

  • Pilot project launched to monetize climate performance in the construction sector

    Pilot project launched to monetize climate performance in the construction sector

    Timber Finance wants to provide building owners and investors in real estate with a tool that allows them to monetize their climate performance in timber buildings through CO2 storage certificates. To this end, the Zurich-based proptech has developed “the world’s first recognized methodology”, writes Timber Finance in a press release. The company was supported in its development by the Migros Pioneer Fund.

    A pilot phase to test the methodology in Switzerland will be launched shortly. Around 20 innovative timber construction projects are to take part. Interested parties can apply online to take part. In addition to the timber construction projects, a number of Swiss forest districts are also taking part in the pilot phase. They will be remunerated from the certificate proceeds for sustainable forest management. In the coming year, Timber Finance plans to expand the methodology to markets outside Switzerland.

    “We have succeeded in developing an instrument that contributes to the decarbonization of the building sector and creates new value in the construction sector by monetizing climate performance,” Frank Vasek, Head of Carbon Solutions at Timber Finance, is quoted as saying in the press release. “The proceeds benefit both the construction and forest sectors and thus create an incentive to build more in wood and manage the forest in a climate-relevant way.” The CO2 storage certificates can either be traded on the CO2 markets or offset in the company’s own CO2 balance.

  • Modern office design with innovative lighting installation

    Modern office design with innovative lighting installation

    Dietiker electrical company Jaisli-Xamax has completed the electrical installation in the new offices of household appliance supplier BSH in Geroldswil. According to a Facebook post, special attention was paid to the lighting installation in the BSH commercial building.

    An innovative office concept has been implemented there, according to the press release. This takes flexibility and efficiency to a new level. The newly designed office spaces are divided into different zones to create individual work areas and at the same time strengthen the sense of community within the team, the press release continues. The new office spaces enable employees to carry out their tasks in a flexible and pleasant environment that promotes both concentration and collaboration. The lighting installation plays a central role in this.

    The specialists from Jaisli-Xamax have been carrying out all of the electrical installations since October 2023. According to the company press release, the lighting now provides perfect illumination of the workstations.

    BSH stands for a portfolio of globally renowned household appliance brands as well as local brands. In the Swiss market, the Geroldswil-based company is represented by the household appliance brands Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau, the ecosystem brand Home Connect and the service brands Foodfittery, Simply Yummy and WeWash.

    BSH was founded in 1967 as a joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH in Stuttgart and Siemens AG in Munich and has been wholly owned by the Bosch Group since January 2015. BSH operates 37 factories worldwide and, according to its own figures, achieved a turnover of 14.8 billion euros in 2023.

  • Canton of Zurich wants to make solar systems mandatory on large roofs

    Canton of Zurich wants to make solar systems mandatory on large roofs

    “To ensure a secure electricity supply in Switzerland and to achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, electricity production from local renewable energies must be rapidly and significantly expanded,” says the State Chancellery of the Canton of Zurich in a press release on a planned partial revision of the Energy Act. Specifically, the canton of Zurich wants to make the installation of solar systems on suitable roofs with an area of 300 square metres or more mandatory. The canton estimates that this would allow around 60 per cent of a total annual potential of 6 terawatt hours of solar power from roofs to be exploited.

    The installation of solar systems on large roofs should be mandatory for both new and existing buildings. Existing buildings may be retrofitted when the roof is renovated, but by 2040 at the latest. The requirement should also only apply “if the solar installation is economical over its entire service life”. The corresponding bill has been submitted for consultation until the end of November.

    In addition to the obligation for solar systems, the partial revision provides for the promotion of technologies for seasonal energy storage. This is to be funded by a subsidy fund managed by the electricity grid operators, which will be financed by a levy of a maximum of 0.5 centimes per kilowatt hour of electricity. Competitive tenders are planned, from which projects with the most winter electricity per subsidised franc will benefit, as well as support for seasonal storage technologies that are still under development.

  • Strategic realignment at Implenia with new management team

    Strategic realignment at Implenia with new management team

    Implenia is facing a change of leadership. The internationally active construction and real estate company from Opfikon announced in a press release that current CEO André Wyss will retire from operational business at the end of March 2025. According to information from SBB, the outgoing Wyss will join the Board of Directors of Swiss Federal Railways in April 2025 and will take over the chairmanship from Monika Ribar in 2026. Implenia’s Board of Directors has appointed Jens Vollmar as Wyss’ successor. The current Head Division Buildings and Country President Switzerland has been with Implenia since 2013.

    “I am delighted that in Jens Vollmar we have been able to appoint an ideal internal successor as future CEO,” said Hans Ulrich Meister, Chairman of Implenia’s Board of Directors, in the press release. “The Board of Directors is convinced that with his strategic, business and construction expertise, his experience and his personality, he will lead the Group successfully into the future.” Implenia will decide on a successor for Wyss at the head of the Buildings division at a later date.

    The Civil Engineering Division will also be restaffed. Erwin Scherer will succeed Christian Späth, who is leaving the company, on September 1, 2024. Scherer has been responsible for tunnel construction and related infrastructure projects in the European markets at Implenia since 2019.

    In a further press release, Implenia announces its results for the first half of 2023. According to the statement, revenue increased year-on-year from CHF 1.72 billion to CHF 1.74 billion. At the same time, the operating result at EBIT level rose from CHF 49.9 million to CHF 50.5 million. For the year as a whole, Implenia expects EBIT of around CHF 130 million.

  • Construction work for Forum UZH has begun

    Construction work for Forum UZH has begun

    The UZH campus in Zurich is being expanded: construction work has started on the Wässerwies site for the Forum UZH education and research center. It is designed to meet the demands of modern forms of teaching and learning. According to a statement from the university, the Forum UZH will create “urgently needed space for teaching and research in the city of Zurich”. It will help the university to maintain its position in the scientific competition.

    “The Forum UZH is more than just a building,” François Chapuis, Director of Real Estate and Operations at UZH, is quoted as saying. “It connects people and space, science and society, inspires the unique university area in the heart of Zurich and stands for the continuous development of the university with a view to future generations.”

    The construction site has been fenced off and set up since August 20, 2024. After various dismantling measures, excavation work will start in November 2024 and work on the shell will begin in November 2025. Construction of the façade is scheduled to begin in spring 2028. The new building is scheduled to be occupied by mid-2030.

    The area surrounding the Forum UZH, with its publicly accessible cafeteria and canteen, library and sports areas as well as commercial space for third-party tenants, is to be embedded in the urban ensemble of the university area. A spacious town square planted with trees will help to minimize the heat island effect in summer. An online information event will be held on September 18 to inform residents about the construction project. The link will be published on the UZH website dedicated to its construction measures.

  • Oxara, KIBAG and Holcim Switzerland join forces

    Oxara, KIBAG and Holcim Switzerland join forces

    Oxara, KIBAG and Holcim Switzerland are joining forces to establish the cement substitute Oxacrete Oulesse across the Swiss construction market, according to a press release. According to the press release, cement production accounts for around 5 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland. The collaboration between Oxara, based in Dietikon, KIBAG in Zurich and Holcim in Zug addresses the urgent need for scalable, circular and decarbonizing technologies. After validating the Oulesse technology and evaluating the market potential of this solution, Oxara, KIBAG and Holcim are now planning to officially enter the market together.

    With Oxacrete Oulesse, the construction industry can be made more sustainable by promoting the reuse of demolition materials and closing loops. This can significantly reduce the environmental impact of building materials and serve up to 10 percent of the Swiss concrete market. The production of Oxacrete Oulesse uses recycled materials and the binder offers a low-carbon alternative to conventional cement.

    “This partnership is a further step towards achieving our sustainability goals,” says Clemens Wögerbauer, Head Commercial and Sustainability at Holcim Switzerland. Holcim has already developed a framework for decarbonizing the cement industry in 2022 with experts from science, civil society and industry. This emerged from a partnership with the British Science Based Targets Initiative(SBTi). “We have visionary and innovative partners at our side who fit perfectly with our mission: To combine a circular economy with decarbonization,” Wögerbauer continues.

  • Six projects have been nominated for prizes from the Swiss Business Location Network

    Six projects have been nominated for prizes from the Swiss Business Location Network

    Six projects from Baden AG, Neuchâtel, St.Gallen, Thusis GR, Greater Geneva Bern area and Central Switzerland have been nominated for the Network Location Switzerland Awards 2024, the umbrella organization of Swiss location and business promotion agencies announced in a press release. A total of twelve projects applied for the annual award for targeted, effective and innovative projects in the areas of location marketing, location development and business promotion. The nominees will have the opportunity to present their projects to a jury in mid-September.

    The nominees are the city center project BAUZONE 5400 – submitted by the BAUZONE 5400 consortium and the city of Baden, the Jimmy Jackson marketing campaign – submitted by the Greater Geneva Bern area, the Industrial Smart Map platform – submitted by the canton of Neuchâtel, the DynREK 2.0 planning tool – submitted by OSRI AG, the Sankt location marketing campaign – submitted by the City of St.Gallen location promotion agency and the Thusis location STORY – submitted by Viamalastorys.ch AG. They were evaluated according to the criteria of strategic approach, organizational form, relevance for stakeholders, innovation, practical relevance and long-term impact.

    The jury will select the winning projects from the nominees in September. The award ceremony will take place as part of the Dialog conference on November 21 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. At the same event, Network Location Switzerland will also honor the location manager of the year.

  • Development of asking rents varies

    Development of asking rents varies

    The monthly rental index compiled by the digital real estate marketplace Homegate in collaboration with Zürcher Kantonalbank closed at 128.7 points in July. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 0.2 percent, Homegate reported in a press release. A year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent was observed across Switzerland.

    In a year-on-year comparison, rents rose in all cantons, Homegate reports. However, the real estate marketplace’s experts have observed different developments month-on-month. For example, rents in the cantons of Uri, Glarus, Ticino and Thurgau rose by between 1.9 and 0.6 percent. Rents were lower than in June in around a third of these cantons. The sharpest decline was observed in Nidwalden with a drop of 1.2%. In the other cantons, asking rents remained stable compared to June.

    The eight Swiss cities included in the index also showed different trends in a month-on-month comparison. For example, rents in Lugano and Zurich rose by 1.0% and 0.7% respectively in July. At the same time, asking rents in Lucerne and Geneva fell by 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. Year-on-year, rents rose in all eight cities. The most significant increases were recorded in Lucerne and Zurich, at 8.1% and 7.9% respectively.

    Homegate is a division of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group AG. This combines the digital marketplaces of TX Group, Ringier and Mobiliar.

  • Zurich Investment Foundation plans capital increase

    Zurich Investment Foundation plans capital increase

    The Zurich Investment Foundation is planning to expand its ZAST Real Estate Residential Switzerland investment group. To this end, around CHF 300 million is to be raised from pension funds domiciled in Switzerland between 1 and 30 October. Existing investors have preferential rights, Zurich Invest Ltd. announced in a press release. The Zurich Insurance Group subsidiary will manage the investment foundation.

    Zurich Investment Foundation intends to use the new funds for the acquisition of 19 properties with a total residential share of 90 per cent. Around two thirds of the properties are located in Geneva and Lausanne, as well as properties in Zurich and Berne. In addition to its good location, the portfolio offers attractive rental potential, according to the press release. The issue price for units in the new portfolio will be the net asset value as at 31 October 2024 plus a 2.5 percent issue premium.

  • Disused borehole in Trüllikon: potential for CO2 storage is being examined

    Disused borehole in Trüllikon: potential for CO2 storage is being examined

    The disused Trüllikon-1 deep borehole is being transferred from Nagra to swisstopo, according to a statement from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy(SFOE). The Federal Office of Topography intends to investigate the potential and challenges of injecting CO2 underground.

    The borehole was drilled by Nagra as part of the search for a suitable repository for radioactive waste. According to a study carried out by swisstopo in 2023 together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the University of Bern, it is in very good condition and suitable for safely carrying out a CO2 injection test.

    The feed-in test could last from 2025 to 2030 at the latest as part of a pilot project. According to the SFOE, however, it is still unclear whether the test will be carried out. However, swisstopo is already in contact with the municipal council of Trüllikon and the landowner, according to the press release. Furthermore, the potential pilot project does not represent a preliminary decision as to whether CO2 should be stored underground in Switzerland at all.