immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Construction

  • Basler Baubranche in der Krise – Appell an die Regierung

    Basler Baubranche in der Krise – Appell an die Regierung

    Die Basler Baubranche, vertreten durch Oscar Elias, CEO der Stamm Bau AG, richtet einen dringenden Appell an die Regierung, um auf die wachsenden Herausforderungen im Wohnungsbau aufmerksam zu machen. In einem persönlichen Schreiben an Regierungsrat Kaspar Sutter verdeutlicht Elias die Sorgen der Branche, die durch das neue Wohnschutzgesetz und einen deutlichen Rückgang von Sanierungs- und Umbauprojekten stark betroffen ist.

    Die Stamm Bau AG, die 2023 ihr 180-jähriges Bestehen feiert, hat ihren Sitz in Arlesheim, erhält jedoch die Mehrheit ihrer Aufträge aus Basel. Elias betont, dass insbesondere Sanierungsprojekte, die für zwei Drittel des Umsatzes der Firma verantwortlich sind, durch das Wohnschutzgesetz komplett zum Stillstand gekommen seien. Dies führt zu einer signifikanten Planungsunsicherheit, wodurch Projekte unberechenbar und risikoreich werden.

    Der Brief beleuchtet die Notwendigkeit eines Handlungsbedarfs, da die Baubranche bereits die negativen Auswirkungen des Gesetzes auf die Wirtschaft und den Arbeitsmarkt spürt. Elias äußert seine Bedenken, dass die momentane Situation die Bausubstanz der Stadt und den Wohnungsmarkt gefährdet. Er fordert von der Regierung eine Lockerung der Regularien für Wohnen und Bauen, eine Einschränkung der Einsprachemöglichkeiten sowie Anreize für mehr Sanierungen und die Schaffung von neuem Wohnraum.

    Die Reaktion des Mieterverbands und des Kantons deutet darauf hin, dass eine Anpassung der Praxis und eine aktivere Information über das Wohnschutzgesetz notwendig sind, um die Investitionsbereitschaft der Eigentümer wiederherzustellen. Der Kanton Basel-Stadt ist aktuell mit der Evaluation der Auswirkungen des Wohnschutzes beschäftigt, und Regierungsrat Sutter signalisiert in seiner Antwort an Elias die Bereitschaft, bei Bedarf Korrekturen vorzunehmen.

    Für Elias und die Basler Baubranche ist jedoch klar: Es besteht dringender Handlungsbedarf, um die Herausforderungen im Wohnungsbau zu meistern und die Planungssicherheit für Eigentümer und Investoren wiederherzustellen.

  • Trade is optimistic

    Trade is optimistic

    The skilled crafts sector can look back on a very successful 2023, writes Buildigo AG in a press release. The brokerage platform for tradespeople and construction consultants, which has been part of Mobiliar since summer 2020, based its assessment on a survey of over 200 trades businesses. According to the survey, 95 per cent of the companies surveyed were very satisfied or satisfied with the course of business in the past year.

    Buildigo measured the highest level of satisfaction among electricians. The brokerage platform attributes this to the expansion of solar systems and the increasing electrification of mobility. For the current year, 35 per cent of the trades businesses surveyed generally expect business to improve even further. A further 60 per cent expect demand to remain good.

    Recruiting staff was cited as the biggest challenge by 55 per cent of respondents. Order acquisition and administrative efficiency followed with 41 and 32 per cent respectively. In addition, a majority of 54 per cent noted increased competition. Competitors with aggressive pricing strategies and increasingly price-sensitive customers were cited as the main reasons for this.

  • Nationalrat setzt neue Akzente für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie

    Nationalrat setzt neue Akzente für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie

    Die nationalrätliche Kommission für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie (UREK-N) hat beschlossen, das Beschwerderecht von Umweltschutzorganisationen bei kleineren Wohnbauprojekten einzuschränken. Die Änderung des Bundesgesetzes über den Natur- und Heimatschutz zielt darauf ab, den Rechtsrahmen für kleinere und mittlere Wohnbauprojekte anzupassen, um ungleiche finanzielle Mittel zwischen Parteien auszugleichen.

    Darüber hinaus hat die Kommission die Beratung des Bundesgesetzes über die Aufsicht und Transparenz in den Energiegrosshandelsmärkten begonnen, um eine angemessene Aufsicht und Transparenz sicherzustellen. Im Zuge der Diskussion über ein Strommarkt-Abkommen mit der EU erörterte die Kommission die volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung einer sicheren Stromversorgung und die Notwendigkeit, die Schweizer Regelungen mit denen der EU in Einklang zu bringen.

    Im Bereich der Kreislaufwirtschaft hat die Kommission die meisten Differenzen mit dem Ständerat ausgeräumt, insbesondere bezüglich der Lockerung des Siedlungsabfallmonopols. Es bleibt jedoch noch Uneinigkeit in der Frage, ob unverkaufte biogene Produkte entpackt werden sollen.

    Weitere Diskussionen der Kommission umfassten die Teilrevision des Umweltschutzgesetzes, die sich auf den Lärmschutz und Altlastensanierungen konzentriert. Die Motion «Mit Verdichtung und gemeinnützigem Wohnungsbau gegen die Wohnungsnot» wurde von der Kommission abgelehnt, da sie der Meinung ist, dass die bestehenden gesetzlichen Grundlagen bereits ausreichend sind. Zudem wurde ein Postulat zur Optimierung der Nutzung von Energieholz eingereicht.

    Die Sitzungen der Kommission am 22. und 23. Januar 2024 standen unter der Leitung von Nationalrat Christian Imark und wurden teilweise in Anwesenheit von Bundesrat Albert Rösti in Bern abgehalten.

  • Ein erfolgreicher Treffpunkt der Baubranche

    Ein erfolgreicher Treffpunkt der Baubranche

    Die Swissbau 2024 zog in diesem Jahr mit ihrer beeindruckenden 85’000 m² großen Ausstellungsfläche 52’486 Besucherinnen und Besucher an. Die Messe bot eine einzigartige Gelegenheit für Fachleute aus der Bau- und Immobilienbranche, sich über aktuelle Innovationen und Trends zu informieren und wertvolle Kontakte zu knüpfen. Im Fokus der Veranstaltung stand der Wissenstransfer, angereichert durch Diskussionen und praktische Demonstrationen auf den Plattformen Swissbau Focus und Lab.

    Die Messe, die traditionell alle zwei Jahre stattfindet, war in diesem Jahr von einer besonderen Dynamik geprägt. Im Zentrum stand der persönliche Austausch, der angesichts der zunehmenden Digitalisierung und der Beliebtheit von Videokonferenzen eine neue Qualität erlangte. Unter dem Motto “Den Wandel gemeinsam gestalten” bot die Swissbau vielfältige Plattformen für Produkterlebnisse, Informationsaustausch und Networking.

    Erstmals entschieden sich die Veranstalter, die Messe auf vier Tage zu verkürzen und den wenig geschätzten Samstag aus dem Programm zu nehmen. Dieser Schritt wurde von Ausstellern und Besuchern positiv aufgenommen, da die Qualität der Gespräche und die Bereitschaft zur Auftragsvergabe gesteigert wurden. Die Messe zog Expertinnen und Experten aus verschiedenen Fachbereichen wie Architektur, Planungswesen, Immobilien und Handwerk an.

    Rudolf Pfander, Messeleiter der Swissbau, unterstrich die Bedeutung der Messe als Plattform für neue Angebote und die Entwicklung innovativer Konzepte. Die diesjährige Messe beinhaltete neu geschaffene Marktplätze für Begegnungen und die Designbühne Swissbau Inside, die das Fachpublikum und private Bauinteressierte gleichermaßen begeisterten.

    Die Leitthemen der Swissbau, wie Kreislaufwirtschaft, Energie, Digitalisierung und Lebensraum, spiegelten die aktuellen Herausforderungen der Branche wider. Die Kollaborations-Plattformen Swissbau Focus und Lab boten in intensiver Vorarbeit ein hochkarätiges Programm, das diese Themen adressierte.

    Namhafte Partnerschaften mit Organisationen wie dem SIA, Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein sowie Bauen digital Schweiz / buildingSMART Switzerland zeigten die anhaltende Relevanz der Swissbau. Ebenso zufrieden zeigten sich die Themenpartner Hörmann, Laufen und Siemens mit dem Messeverlauf.

    Die nächste Swissbau wird vom 20. bis 23. Januar 2026 stattfinden. Bis dahin bleibt die Swissbau-Website eine wichtige Informationsquelle für die Branche, mit Fachwissen, Standpunkten und Neuheiten aus der Bau- und Immobilienwelt.

  • Winterthur’s Grüze innovation lab opens in May

    Winterthur’s Grüze innovation lab opens in May

    In May 2024, the Grüze Innovation Lab will open on St.Gallerstrasse in Winterthur. According to a press release, it is planned as a versatile meeting place where visitors can find out about the large-scale Grüze crossing construction site. In addition, the filigree building, which is open on all sides, will be a place for discussions on urban development issues, possible conflicting goals and the effects of climate change on the urban population.

    The approximately 120 square metre pavilion with exhibition space, stage and café has a modular design and can be extended in modules. The statics were designed for a two-storey, closed building. This takes into account the possibility that the innovation lab could grow into a neighbourhood centre with increased space requirements in the medium term. For the time being, it is planned for a useful life of ten years.

    The innovation lab was developed by the Winterthur Civil Engineering Office in collaboration with the Department of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Holcim Switzerland. The extra-thin and recyclable concrete slabs made of carbon fibre-reinforced concrete (CPC) from CPC AG reportedly save up to 75 percent material compared to conventional concrete construction methods. CO2 emissions are to be reduced by a factor of two to four.

    The CPC concrete elements, which emerged from a long-term research project at the ZHAW, can be dismantled into their component parts with little effort and rebuilt elsewhere or reused for another structure. Holcim produces them and makes them available on loan. The prefabricated elements are assembled within a few days in the spring.

  • Crowdlending für mehr Wohnraum in Zürich

    Crowdlending für mehr Wohnraum in Zürich

    Mit dem Ziel, die Wohnungsknappheit in Zürich zu bekämpfen, hat Foxstone kürzlich ein neues Crowdlending-Angebot vorgestellt. Das Projekt, mit einer Laufzeit von 24 Monaten, wird die Entwicklung von über 90 neuen Studios im Zentrum von Zürich unterstützen. Diese Initiative soll bis zu hundert Mietern hochwertigen Wohnraum bieten und stellt eine direkte Reaktion auf die niedrige Leerstandsquote in der Region dar.

    Das Unternehmen, das bereits eine Community von über 21.000 Mitgliedern versammelt, bietet Investitionsmöglichkeiten ab CHF 10.000 an. Die Plattform, ursprünglich in der Westschweiz etabliert, hat ihre Aktivitäten in der Deutschschweiz ausgebaut und im Jahr 2023 60% ihrer Crowdlending-Projekte in diesem Teil des Landes abgeschlossen.

    Das aktuelle Crowdlending-Angebot umfasst ein Gesamtvolumen von CHF 7,9 Millionen und verspricht eine jährliche Rendite von 6%. Die Mittel aus diesem Angebot werden für den Umbau eines Bürogebäudes in Seefeld in 29 Studios und den Neubau eines Gebäudes mit 62 Studios in Oerlikon verwendet. Beide Projekte, für die Baugenehmigungen vorliegen, sollen Anfang 2024 starten.

    Die Projekte, geführt von einem erfahrenen Immobilienentwickler mit über 30 Jahren Erfahrung, werden nicht nur dringend benötigten Wohnraum schaffen, sondern auch attraktive Mietobjekte an erstklassigen Standorten bieten.

    Dan Amar, CEO, hebt die Doppelrolle des Projekts hervor, indem es sowohl wertvollen Wohnraum schafft als auch stabile, attraktive Renditen für die Investorengemeinschaft generiert. Der Beginn der Bauarbeiten markiert einen entscheidenden Schritt zur Verbesserung der Wohnsituation in einer der am stärksten von Wohnungsmangel betroffenen Regionen der Schweiz.

  • Implenia and Empa join forces for CO2-negative building materials

    Implenia and Empa join forces for CO2-negative building materials

    As Empa ‘s realisation partner,Implenia is building the Beyond Zero Unit in Empa’s NEST building in Dübendorf, the construction and real estate company based in the Glattpark district of Opfikon announced in a press release. The new unit will be used for research into CO2-reduced and CO2-neutral building materials. The Beyond Zero Unit will be integrated into the middle level of the NEST research and innovation platform.

    “We are delighted that Implenia is able to enrich the great research and innovation platform NEST with a new unit as a partner,” said Jens Vollmar, Head Division Buildings at Implenia, in the press release. “As a leading Swiss construction and real estate service provider, we are thus jointly providing important insights for the future, CO2-reducing construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure.” Implenia intends to use the knowledge gained from the Beyond Zero Unit for its own developments and planning.

    The new unit in the NEST building is not the company’s first collaboration with the research institute. “Implenia has realised pioneering sustainable buildings on the Empa Campus in Dübendorf, most recently a laboratory and office building and the first car park in hybrid timber construction in Switzerland,” explains Empa Director Tanja Zimmermann. “The fact that Empa and Implenia are also working together in research into innovative building materials with this new partnership and are investigating promising applications over a longer period of time on our NEST platform promotes the direct transfer of sustainable innovation into practice.”

  • EPFL researches new crack detection for concrete

    EPFL researches new crack detection for concrete

    Cracks in reinforced concrete structures are normal and are regularly checked using conventional methods. However, according to a press release, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) are currently working on methods to digitise these inspections and verify them using an algorithm. Hugo Nick, a Master’s student at the Laboratory for Structural Concrete (IBETON), has developed two methods for this. In the first step, concrete structures are reconstructed in a laboratory and digitally photographed under load until a resulting crack causes the structure to break. The data set is saved and processed into an algorithm using artificial intelligence.

    In the second step, digital images of real buildings are taken. These images of cracks occurring in nature and under load will be compared with the algorithm. The researchers hope that this will enable them to draw conclusions about crack behaviour and predict possible hazardous situations.

    “A detection algorithm then analyses the image with the help of artificial intelligence,” Hugo Nick is quoted as saying in the press release, “The algorithm is actually a neural network that has been trained on thousands of images and can predict crack detection. Inspectors are beginning to test this method in the field, and it has several advantages. By using automatic crack detection systems, we can reduce the number of errors and inaccuracies and make inspections faster and more accurate.”

  • Empa researches the recycling of plastic slats

    Empa researches the recycling of plastic slats

    Carbon fibre reinforced plastic lamellae (CFRP lamellae) are among the building materials that have not yet been reintroduced into the material cycle, Empa explains in a press release. Its researchers from the Mechanical Systems Engineering department want to remedy this situation. A corresponding research project has already found a sponsor in a foundation not named in the press release.

    The process of reinforcing bridges, car parks, building walls and ceilings made of concrete or masonry using CFRP lamellas has already been developed at Empa by its former Dübendorf director Urs Meier, according to the press release. “By significantly extending the service life of buildings and infrastructure structures, CFRP lamellae make an important contribution to increasing sustainability in the construction sector,” Giovanni Terrasi, Head of Empa’s Mechanical Systems Engineering research department, is quoted as saying. “However, we now also need to find a way to continue using the CFRP louvres beyond the service life of these buildings.”

    The first step is to develop a mechanical process that allows the lamellae to be detached from the concrete without causing damage. The researchers then want to process the demolished CFRP into reinforcements for prefabricated components. The first object the group has in mind is reinforcements for railway sleepers made from recycled concrete. This means that the “supposed waste material could play a new role in Swiss infrastructure”, writes Empa.

  • Birsstadt honoured with the Wakker Prize

    Birsstadt honoured with the Wakker Prize

    The Swiss Heritage Society is awarding this year’s Wakker Prize to the Birsstadt association. It honours the cooperation between nine municipalities in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and the Solothurn municipality of Dornach in solving the challenges in the agglomeration. This cooperation lays the foundation for repairing the uncoordinated growth of the area at the gates of the Basel metropolis.

    In its press release, Heimatschutz praises in particular the upgrading of the natural and living space along the Birs, the careful further development of important industrial sites and the safeguarding and strengthening of the architectural heritage. However, Birsstadt also addresses overarching strategies in the areas of landscape, settlement, mobility and adaptation to climate change.

    The Birsstadt association was founded in 2018. In addition to Dornach, it includes the municipalities of Aesch, Arlesheim, Birsfelden, Duggingen, Grellingen, Muttenz, Münchenstein, Pfeffingen and Reinach. Together, the ten municipalities have a population of around 94,000. The association sees great opportunities in being honoured by the Heritage Society. It wants to use this opportunity to make the Birsstadt better known throughout Switzerland, it writes in its own press release. It also intends to launch a project this year on dealing with building culture in the region.

    The award will be presented on 22 June as part of a Wakker Prize celebration on the Domplatz in Arlesheim.

  • Möckli Beton achieves CO2 storage record in Neustark plant

    Möckli Beton achieves CO2 storage record in Neustark plant

    Möckli Beton AG has achieved a new storage record for CO2 in demolition materials. In less than three months, it has broken the 200 tonne mark. According to a press release from the Bern-based company Neustark, which supplied Möckli’s storage facility, none of Neustark’s 14 separation and storage facilities to date have achieved this level so quickly.

    When asked how Möckli Beton achieved this record, owner and managing director Chris Möckli refers to the special treatment process at his company. “All demolition waste that we process in our plant is filled into the material box, where the granulate is gassed with CO2 and the mineralisation or storage process is started. We are therefore not surprised by the amount of CO2 stored.”

    Möckli Beton has already produced 500,000 cubic metres of its NovoCon concrete from concrete and mixed demolition waste granulate in recent years. “By integrating the CO2 storage process, we can now produce Novocon concrete even more sustainably and with the latest technology.” In addition, the material mineralised with CO2 becomes stronger, which means that the cement content in the recycled concrete can be reduced.

    According to Möckli, customers are generally very interested. “If the price-performance ratio is right and no compromises in quality have to be accepted, everyone is happy at the end of the day.”

  • Skyscrapers like those in Manhattan are inconceivable for Switzerland

    Skyscrapers like those in Manhattan are inconceivable for Switzerland

    Switzerland is experiencing a remarkable dynamic in its housing market. According to a comprehensive analysis by Dani Steffen and his team at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, specific regions such as Zurich, Geneva and central tourist areas are experiencing a striking housing shortage. This contrasts with more relaxed markets such as the Jura or Ticino, where there is an oversupply of rental flats. These regional disparities are illustrated by a nationwide vacancy rate of 1.15 per cent, which shows a worrying decline since 2020.

    Steffen emphasises that the lack of housing is not just a local phenomenon, but a nationwide one, despite regional differences. With the constantly growing population and the trend towards single households, the demand for living space remains constantly high, while residential construction activity is stagnating. This discrepancy between supply and demand is exacerbated by a combination of regulatory hurdles, geographical restrictions and economic factors such as inflation and interest rate rises.

    The study also highlights the rental burden, which on average accounts for around 20 per cent of the household budget, with lower income groups being significantly more burdened. Steffen points out that despite high rents in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, rental costs remain relatively stable in relation to income. This indicates a certain regional balance, although accessibility for lower income groups remains a challenge.

    In the future, the need for age-appropriate housing will increase in order to cater for the ageing population. Steffen emphasises the need to motivate older people to downsize their homes in order to create more space for families and relieve pressure on the housing market. However, this process requires sensitive approaches, as housing is a very emotional issue.

    Overall, the study shows that Switzerland is facing significant challenges in the area of housing construction, which require careful consideration of both the regional characteristics and the different needs of the population groups.

  • The property sector in Switzerland: challenges and opportunities in the age of the 10 million population

    The property sector in Switzerland: challenges and opportunities in the age of the 10 million population

    Switzerland’s permanent resident population is expected to pass the 9 million mark in the first half of 2024 and could reach the magical 10 million mark by the mid-2030s. This rapid increase is historically unprecedented and is mainly driven by international migration, while construction activity cannot keep pace.

    Since the rise from Switzerland’s 5 million in 1955, more housing has been created and transport infrastructure has been massively expanded, helping to keep rents rising only moderately in relation to wages. However, this era of falling housing costs, greater consumption of space per person and more comfortable living seems to be over. Due to the decline in construction activity, there could be a shortfall of at least 150,000 flats by 2034 in order to keep space consumption stable.

    This is likely to result in rents rising faster than incomes. Rents on offer could rise by a total of 25 to 30 per cent in real terms by the mid-2030s, similar to the situation between 2002 and 2012. Rents in central locations in particular will rise even more sharply than in the periphery due to high immigration.

    Residential property prices, whether for owner-occupied homes or multi-family houses, are also expected to rise faster than incomes at moderate interest rates. Prime locations will continue to be in high demand due to growth, and the agglomerations around the major centres will also gain in importance, which will increase the willingness to pay in these areas. Residential property could therefore build on or even exceed past increases in value.

    However, there are also risks. If the housing situation deteriorates for many households, politicians could introduce additional regulations, which would exacerbate the situation. In such a scenario, construction activity could decline further and the building fabric and sustainability could suffer, as there are no incentives for comprehensive and energy-efficient renovations. The future of the property sector in Switzerland therefore depends on a balanced political and economic development.

  • Innovation Park Innovaare is ready for occupancy

    Innovation Park Innovaare is ready for occupancy

    The overall contractor ERNE AG handed over the buildings of the Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare to the investor CPV/CAP Pensionskasse Coop and the operating company innovAARE AG on 20 December. Completion of the innovation park has therefore been completed on budget and on schedule, innovAARE AG announced in a press release. “The lighthouse project Park Innovaare is a joint project and confirms the commitment of all partners involved in the canton of Aargau to invest in the innovative strength and competitiveness of our companies,” Christian Brönnimann, Chairman of the Board of Directors of innovAARE AG, is quoted as saying in his speech at the opening.

    In his speech, Daniel Erne, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ERNE AG, explained that the realisation of cleanrooms and laboratories had brought with it practically every conceivable challenge. Danilo Zampieri from the CPV/CAP Coop pension fund drew attention to the building’s façade made of wood and solar panels.

    The first tenants temporarily housed at the neighbouring Paul Scherrer Institute(PSI) and other companies are due to move into the Innovation Park buildings as early as January 2024. The PSI will occupy around two thirds of the space. The remaining space will be allocated to companies specialising in photonics and quantum technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and semiconductor technology as well as energy and the environment. With an occupancy rate of 85 per cent already achieved, the innovation park is “making very good progress”, explains Brönnimann.

  • Introduction of BIM in facility management: a paradigm shift

    Introduction of BIM in facility management: a paradigm shift

    In the property sector, where various stakeholders – from owners to facility management – have specific requirements for a property, access to up-to-date and detailed information about the building structure and technical systems is essential. Effective utilisation and linking of this data makes a significant contribution to increasing efficiency. The increasing use of technology in property increases the complexity of the data, which in turn requires sophisticated data management.

    Synchronisation of planning and operation
    BIMtoFM, or BIM2FM, stands for the seamless transition of BIM data from the planning and construction phase to the operational phase of a property. This enables an efficient flow of information and the automation of operational processes, which leads to a significant increase in efficiency and a reduction in costs. The benefits of integrating BIM into FM processes are manifold and include easier access to building-related data, support for preventive maintenance and the minimisation of operating costs and downtime. These aspects are particularly important for strictly regulated areas such as hospitals or critical infrastructures. The introduction of BIM2FM creates the basis for automated administrative processes, solid budget planning and advanced order management in facility management. For property owners, this means access to up-to-date information that supports efficient yield planning and target definition. BIM2FM is thus establishing itself as an indispensable tool in the modern property sector.

  • Sika acquires stake in Concria Oy

    Sika acquires stake in Concria Oy

    Sika, the Baar-based specialty chemicals company for the construction sector, has decided to acquire a 30 percent stake in the Finnish start-up Concria Oy. According to a press release, the Finnish company offers innovative solutions for concrete floors. These floor coverings are designed to offer construction companies, architects and property owners a wide range of benefits. According to the press release, Concria offers a new concept for laying and polishing concrete floors that incorporates special hard aggregates and special tools for grinding and polishing. This allows high-quality, particularly durable and decorative floors to be laid quickly and efficiently.

    “With our investment in Concria, we are investing in an interesting, innovative technology for the production of floor coverings,” said Ivo Schädler, Head of Engineering at Sika, in the press release. “Our global production and sales teams will facilitate the production and marketing of the technology worldwide. At the same time, this launch will promote the sale of Sika products that complement Concria’s offering. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the Concria team.”

    Sika expects the expansion to provide an attractive growth platform. The company is present in 103 countries worldwide with 33,000 employees. Sika generated sales of 10.5 billion Swiss francs in 2022.

  • The winning project for the UZH Irchel campus has been chosen

    The winning project for the UZH Irchel campus has been chosen

    The architectural competition for the UZH portal on the Irchel campus has been decided. According to a press release from the University of Zurich(UZH), the design by the consortium M2N Architekten and Jaeger Baumanagement from Zurich won over the jury the most. A total of 14 teams submitted their designs.

    The planned new building plays a central role in the fundamental redevelopment of the site, where UZH has established natural sciences, human medicine and veterinary medicine departments with their specialised infrastructures for experimental research and teaching. According to the information provided, the campus is in great need of modernisation after 45 years of operation.

    The jury judged that the winning project continues the DNA of the Irchel campus. It is “characterised by its outstanding internal qualities and successful integration into the existing Irchel campus. The team has not only understood the concerns of the University of Zurich, but has also taken them one step further,” said François Chapuis, Director of Real Estate and Operations.

    The consortium is planning a six-storey timber-concrete hybrid building. This will be adjoined by a long laboratory wing that is one storey lower. The two parts of the building are connected by an entrance area with a green roof terrace. Technical and logistics facilities for the entire campus will be installed in the basement.

    The winning project will now be developed further. an approvable construction project should be available in 2025. If it is approved, construction work could begin in 2029 or 2030. Those responsible estimate a period of 25 years for the refurbishment of the entire campus.

  • Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area receives four new buildings

    Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area receives four new buildings

    The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area in Allschwil will more than double in size in stages by 2028. The private investor Senn Resources from St.Gallen is investing around 350 million Swiss francs in the four new buildings planned. Together with the main building, which opened a year ago, they will form the Main Campus site. The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area also has two other sites: the Jura site in Courroux and the Novartis Campus in Basel.

    As with the main building, three of the four new buildings will be designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, according to a press release from the Innovation Park. The “radically sustainable” Hortus office building is already under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The All and Cloud laboratory and office buildings are in the planning stage. The public-facing Hope building was developed in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Senn is building it with Basel architects Felippi Wyssen, who won the anonymous competition.

    “It is extremely gratifying that the partnership of a public and private institution has made it possible to build an innovation district of this size,” said Raymond Cron, Managing Director of the national umbrella organisation Switzerland Innovation. “This means that not only the life sciences location of Basel, but also the nationwide network of Switzerland Innovation ‘s six parks is gaining in importance.” “With Senn,” says Christof Klöpper, CEO of Basel Area Business & Innovation and CEO of Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, “a private partner is making a major contribution to attracting innovative companies to the region and supporting the objectives of Switzerland Innovation.”

  • Eschbal uses 3D printers from Sintratec

    Eschbal uses 3D printers from Sintratec

    Eschbal AG has focussed on the 3D printing technology developed by Sintratec for the production of connecting elements. As detailed in a press release, the window manufacturer based in the canton of Zurich has put a Sintratec S2 3D printer into operation for this purpose. Eschbal uses the modular SLS system to produce prototype parts, production aids and small series from robust PA12 nylon. The advantage of selective laser sintering (SLS) lies in the high precision of the components with tolerances as low as 0.1 millimetres. With the Sintratec S2, 100 components can be produced in 24 hours.

    “In terms of design, 3D printing gives us much more creativity – we can now develop things that we hadn’t even thought of before,” says Michael Ebnöther, Head of Technology at Eschbal, in the press release. As the demand for 3D printed parts continues to grow, the company has decided to purchase its own printer. “As we are a company that produces exclusively in and for Switzerland, it was essential for us to find a Swiss 3D printer.”

  • Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants

    Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants

    Regulations on the rental property market protect tenants from rent increases. In contrast to the almost 25 per cent increase in asking rents, existing rents have remained relatively unchanged since 2008, explains Zürcher Kantonalbank(ZKB) in a press release. According to the ZHK’s surveys, the city of Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants. On average, tenants here have been living in their flat for ten years, with 15 per cent even staying for 20 years.

    “Strict rent regulations make the situation easier for existing tenants, but they also create financial disincentives,” Ursina Kubli, Head of Property Research at ZKB, is quoted as saying. “Tenants stay in their flats even though they are too small, too big or no longer suitable for other reasons.” Kubli proposes better framework conditions for residential construction as a solution: “A growing supply would dampen the increase in asking rents and thus also slow down the further drifting apart of asking and existing rents.” For this year, the experts at ZKB expect asking rents to grow by 3.5 per cent across Switzerland.

    The ZKB experts expect prices for owner-occupied homes to ease slightly. Across Switzerland, price growth should still be 1 per cent this year and 0.5 per cent next year. In the canton of Zurich, growth of 2 per cent is forecast for this year and 1 per cent for next year. “Excessive prices, as we saw during the pandemic, are no longer being paid,” explains Kubli. “The price-performance ratio has to make sense – this applies to both good and bad locations.”

  • Plus de Jardins – The pulse of Thun’s new garden quarter Siegenthalergut

    Plus de Jardins – The pulse of Thun’s new garden quarter Siegenthalergut

    A major urban development project is taking shape in the south-west of Thun. The Siegenthalergut, which covers an area of five hectares, is to be transformed into a future-oriented residential neighbourhood for 1500 people over the next few years. Frutiger AG is working closely with the city to develop urgently needed living space for the people of Thun. The aim is for the entire development of the Siegenthalergut to be significantly characterised by the open space. For the design of the outdoor space, the city and Frutiger AG carried out a study contract in accordance with SIA 143. The task was to develop an open space concept for the park, the boulevard along Hohmadstrasse and the other outdoor spaces.

    Winning project “Plus de Jardins“
    The centrepiece of the open space design is the “Plus de Jardins” project by the Zurich landscape architecture firm “Skala Landschaft Stadt Raum”, which emerged as the winner of the study contract. It is impressive in terms of both design and ecology and creates the ideal conditions for a versatile public park as a meeting place.

    Public park as a meeting place
    The park, which will cover around 7,100 m², is intended to be a meeting place for the entire neighbourhood. With a large open meadow for sports and play activities, surrounded by groups of trees and a natural stone band that rises up in places to form a seating wall, the park creates an inviting atmosphere.

    Ecological quality and multifunctionality
    The residential alleys between the building plots and the boulevard along Hohmadstrasse not only serve to provide access, but also contribute to a biodiverse quality with their varied design and biodiversity. Multifunctionality and different atmospheres in the various outdoor spaces characterise the concept and support the idea of a neighbourhood that facilitates encounters and creates new open spaces.

    Involvement of the local population
    There is a particular focus on involving the local population. Their needs and concerns are continuously incorporated into the further development of the project. Workshops and surveys were held to ensure that the concerns of the neighbourhood were taken into account in the study contract. The survey of the population was not limited to the topic of outdoor spaces, but also included various topics relevant to the development of this dimension.

    Future steps towards realisation
    The creation of a new zone with planning obligation (ZPP) is necessary for the realisation of the project, which is expected to go to public consultation in the first quarter of 2024. Once the ZPP has been approved by Thun City Council, it will be authorised by the canton. Following approval, a master plan will be drawn up for the entire perimeter, which will form the basis for the development regulations and the architectural competitions.

    Outlook for the construction phase
    The start of the first construction phase is planned for 2027. The Siegenthalergut is a prime example of sustainable urban development. It is characterised by a well thought-out combination of living space, open spaces and communal facilities.

  • ETH and Climate Foundation cooperate on innovations in construction

    ETH and Climate Foundation cooperate on innovations in construction

    The Chair of Building Technology and Construction(BUK ETHZ) at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Climate Foundation will be working together in future on climate-friendly building materials and methods. According to a joint press release, the cooperation includes the assessment of funding applications received by the Swiss Climate Foundation as well as publicising the funding opportunities and the innovations being supported.

    New climate-friendly materials and construction methods are necessary for the climate adaptation of the property sector. Innovative solutions need to be tested and demonstrated in pilot projects in order to make them marketable and publicised. The BUK ETHZ will assess the practicability of innovations in addition to the Swiss Climate Foundation and thus help to minimise the residual risk. The Climate Foundation could compensate for financial weaknesses.

    “Initial applications in the construction sector are always a difficult and risky phase for new products and methods,” the two lecturers Daniel Studer and Daniel Mettler from BUK ETHZ are quoted as saying. “With this collaboration, we can make an important contribution to the transformation of the construction industry. This is demonstrated by spin-offs such as FenX or Oxara from the ETH environment, which were supported by the Climate Foundation.”

    FenX transforms mineral waste into high-performance and sustainable insulating materials for the construction industry. Oxara develops cement-free admixtures and binder technology that enables the upcycling of construction waste and excavated materials in a variety of concrete and block applications.

  • Berner Kantonalbank cooperates with Neustark

    Berner Kantonalbank cooperates with Neustark

    Berner Kantonalbank(BEKB) is promoting CO2 storage facilities in the Bern-Solothurn region. To this end, it has agreed a cooperation with the Bernese start-up Neustark, according to a press release. The aim is to support its innovative technology for the permanent storage of CO2 in demolition concrete. The aim is to remove around 1,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere in the BEKB economic area over the next ten years.

    Neustark, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich founded in 2019, is the first company in the world to put carbon removal through mineralisation in demolition concrete into commercial practice and set up a network of storage facilities, according to the press release. In the summer of 2023, the largest plant to date in the BEKB economic area was put into operation in Biberist, Solothurn. Further facilities in the region are being planned. “Through our cooperation, we are not only promoting innovative technologies to achieve climate targets, we are also contributing to the circular economy in the region and making it possible to permanently remove CO2 emissions in our own economic area,” BEKB CEO Armin Brun is quoted as saying.

    In 2022, BEKB’s operational CO2 emissions amounted to 1153 tonnes. These are to be further reduced through various measures. Through this cooperation with Neustark, the bank will permanently remove 100 tonnes of CO2 from its operational emissions in its own economic area every year from 2024. According to the information provided, these are the estimated residual emissions that are unavoidable for BEKB and cannot be reduced in the future.

  • ETH project aims to make ultra-green concrete accessible worldwide

    ETH project aims to make ultra-green concrete accessible worldwide

    With its Ultra Green Concrete project, ETH aims to make low-CO2 high-performance concrete generally accessible. The researchers led by Franco Zunino, Senior Scientist at the ETH Institute for Building Materials, are adopting an approach from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne: There, a cement formulation (LC3) of 50 per cent clinker with a combination of fired clay and limestone was found to save around 40 per cent CO2 compared to conventional cement. Zunino was involved in this development.

    In the ETH project, he is now focussing on a second strategy to save CO2: reducing the proportion of cement in the concrete. This dual strategy offers flexibility to adapt low-carbon concrete compositions to individual markets, according to a statement from ETH. “It would be ideal to implement both at the same time,” Zunino is quoted as saying. However, this is difficult in some markets, “as production capacities and infrastructure have to be built up. Nevertheless, it is possible to realise at least one of them and still save CO2.”

    According to calculations by Zunino and his team, the CO2 emissions of ultra-green concrete can be reduced from 300 to around 80 to 100 kilograms per cubic metre without compromising the performance of the material. In his opinion, there are therefore no excuses in industrialised countries for not switching to the new, more sustainable building material immediately.

    The low-CO2 cement is also more durable and cheaper than conventional cement. Its production is reportedly already underway in seven cement plants worldwide. Zunino is convinced that LC3 will be the most widely used type of cement worldwide in ten years’ time.

  • OPENLY builds first house with its own net-zero construction system

    OPENLY builds first house with its own net-zero construction system

    OPENLY claims to be setting several records with its first construction project. The company, which is part of Dade Design Holding, is currently completing a building with 19 flats in Widnau using its OPENLY construction system. According to a press release, it is being built net zero. Thanks to building software developed in-house, it will even be climate-positive during operation, i.e. produce more energy than it consumes, thereby saving 300 tonnes of CO2.

    Many building materials and components that are not yet available on the market have been developed in-house, such as the automatically opening ventilation flaps in the windows. 400 cubic metres of hempcrete and 2600 square metres of hemp bricks were used, as well as 1000 cubic metres of a self-developed plant-based carbon concrete. 12 tonnes of steel girders came from a demolished building. The reinforcing steel is also 100 per cent recycled.

    The 400 tonnes of clay fill in the ceilings form natural heat stores. The specially developed kitchens were also realised in a CO2-neutral way. Thanks to proprietary building software, the use of energy in the building is intelligently automated.

    As the founder and CEO of OPENLY, Andy Keel, explains, OPENLY is developing “a bionic building system based on the intelligence of nature”, “which will be used by property developers and architects. At the same time, we advise and support companies and investment funds on the path to ESG-compliant construction projects that not only make bad things better, but also have a genuinely positive impact on the climate.”

    Public guided tours will take place on 30 November and 19 December. Registration is possible by email.

  • Erfolgreiche Bilanz trotz herausforderndem Markt

    Erfolgreiche Bilanz trotz herausforderndem Markt

    In den ersten neun Monaten des Jahres 2023 verzeichnete die Unternehmensgruppe einen Umsatzrückgang von 12,3% auf CHF 2’390 Mio. Der Rückgang ist teilweise auf negative Währungseffekte in Höhe von CHF 119 Mio. zurückzuführen, die durch den erstarkten Schweizer Franken verursacht wurden. In lokalen Währungen betrug der Rückgang 7,9%. Trotz dieser Herausforderungen gelang es, die EBITDA-Marge um 320 Basispunkte auf 31,3% zu steigern und das Gewinnwachstum pro Aktie in lokalen Währungen um 5,2% zu erhöhen.

    Der Nettoumsatz im dritten Quartal belief sich auf CHF 728 Mio., was einem Rückgang von 7,9% im Vergleich zum Vorjahresquartal entspricht. Währungsbereinigt ergab sich eine Abnahme von 4,8%, getrieben durch Volumenrückgänge und einen positiven Preiseffekt von etwa 6%.

    Die europäischen Märkte waren besonders von den schwierigen Bedingungen betroffen, mit einem währungsbereinigten Umsatzrückgang von 9,2% nach neun Monaten. Insbesondere Österreich, Deutschland und Osteuropa verzeichneten zweistellige Rückgänge, während die Region Nahost/Afrika ein Wachstum von 11,5% erzielte.

    Der währungsbereinigte Nettoumsatz sank bei Rohrleitungssystemen um 5,4%, bei Badezimmersystemen um 7,9% und bei Installations- und Spülsystemen um 10,1%.

    Trotz des herausfordernden Marktumfelds gibt es positive Aspekte wie den Bedarf an Renovierungen, den Trend zu höherwertigen Sanitärstandards und das günstige Marktumfeld in Ländern wie Indien und der Golfregion. Die Unternehmensgruppe hat sich für 2023 auf strategische Stabilität und operative Flexibilität fokussiert, um die Herausforderungen zu meistern und das mittelfristige Potenzial nicht zu beeinträchtigen.

    Für das Gesamtjahr 2023 erwartet die Unternehmensleitung einen Rückgang des Nettoumsatzwachstums in lokalen Währungen im mittleren einstelligen Bereich und eine EBITDA-Marge von 29 bis 30%. Die Unternehmensleitung ist überzeugt, dass das Unternehmen aus der aktuellen Marktsituation gestärkt hervorgehen wird. Diese Überzeugung stützt sich auf die stabile Strategie, starke Kundenbeziehungen und die finanzielle Stabilität des Unternehmens.

  • Strabag completes work on Brunau bridge

    Strabag completes work on Brunau bridge

    The Schlierem construction company Strabag has been working on the repair of the Brunau Bridge since February 2023. The bridge carries the A3 motor traffic over the Sihl. According to a media release, the work should be completed by the end of November. The final construction phase includes waterproofing work and the finalisation of the pavement. To complete the project, Strabag is building a road wastewater treatment plant (SABA) that will enable the bridge’s road water to be purified, the release said.

    In September 2021, the Zurich City Council had approved CHF 3.76 million in committed expenditure for repair work on the Brunaubrücke bridge. The Brunaubrücke, which carries the Allmendstrasse over the Sihl, is an important motorway access road to the A3 and is also important for the Sihltal-Zurich traffic axis, the statement said. The 58-metre-long and 24-metre-wide bridge has two lanes in and two lanes out of the city. There are also footpaths on both sides on which bicycles are also permitted in mixed traffic. Various damages were found on the Brunaubrücke bridge, especially to the decking and the waterproofing.

    The Brunau Bridge is a historic structure for Zurich and the Sihl Valley, says the Strabag press release: In the 1950s, the civil engineering office of the city of Zurich developed a project that led the Allmendstrasse over the Sihl. At that time, there was a large paper factory on the Sihl. The feeder traffic had to reach the factory on a suitable traffic axis. Construction began in August 1957. The company Ed. Züblin & Cie. (today Strabag) was commissioned with the entire civil engineering and concrete work. the bridge went into operation in 1958.

  • Green Datacenter tackles the construction of two more data centres

    Green Datacenter tackles the construction of two more data centres

    Green Datacenter AG is embarking on the next construction phase on the Metro Campus Zurich. Following the completion of the first data centre in 2022, the construction of data centres N and O will be implemented earlier than planned, the provider of data centres and related services headquartered in Lupfig announced in a statement. The company cites a strong increase in demand for secure and high-performance data centres as the reason for the early start of construction.

    “Our growth reflects the rapid pace of technology and digitalisation,” company CEO Roger Süess is quoted as saying in the statement. “Modern data centres are a prerequisite for this transformation to be realised at high speed, securely and sustainably in Switzerland.” The two new data centres will provide space for up to 160,000 IT systems.

    Households and businesses in the surrounding communities can benefit from the waste heat of the data centres. To this end, Green Datacenter is investing “several million in waste heat extraction and is cooperating with Energie 360°“, the company writes. The Zurich-based energy provider is implementing several district heating projects in the region. “With the use of waste heat and many other measures, we contribute to the circular economy and support the energy transition,” Süess says. “For us, it is clear that only sustainable data centres can achieve future-oriented digitalisation.”

  • Architecture book about Schlieren receives award in Frankfurt

    Architecture book about Schlieren receives award in Frankfurt

    According to a media release, the book “Stadtwerdung im Zeitraffer” is one of the ten winners of the DAM Architectural Book Award 2023, which is awarded by the Frankfurt Book Fair and the German Museum of Architecture (DAM). The photographic long-term observation of Schlieren from 2005 to 2020 shows how the Swiss midlands are developing, it adds. “Stadtwerdung im Zeitraffer” is edited by Meret Wandeler, Ulrich Görlich and Caspar Schärer and is the conclusion of the study “Fotografische Langzeitbeobachtung Schlieren”.

    According to the press release, the highly acclaimed project has spent 15 years photographically investigating how building activity and urban development change the character of a typical Swiss suburban community in the agglomeration belt. The book was designed by the graphic studio Elektrosmog in Zurich. It is published by the Zurich publishing house Scheidegger & Spiess.

    In the award citation, the jury stated: “The book explains itself in its structure, explores the given topic in a multi-faceted way and at the same time carefully manages the time of its audience. The 630-page double volume ‘Stadtwerdung im Zeitraffer’ fulfils all these criteria for a good architecture book”. The book illustrates the growth in Schlieren, “where 7,000 people have been added in 15 years, where some corners have been densely built and others have hardly changed at all”.

    The jury also praised the choice of a suitable location to explore the phenomenon of urban development. The two parts of the double volume tell of their process with the appropriate means in each case. Essays and texts provide the background to the development and classify it.

  • Zusammenarbeit für den Bau der Zukunft

    In einer Zeit, in der die Welt mit einem Arbeits- und Fachkräftemangel sowie der Notwendigkeit nachhaltigerer Wohnlösungen konfrontiert ist, setzen ABB Robotics und Porsche Consulting auf Innovation. Gemeinsam verfolgen sie das Ziel, die Automatisierung in der Bauindustrie zu intensivieren und so nicht nur den Wohnungsbau effizienter und erschwinglicher zu gestalten, sondern auch die Umweltbelastungen zu reduzieren.

    Eberhard Weiblen, Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung von Porsche Consulting, betont die Bedeutung des Wandels: «Die Bauindustrie begegnet zahlreichen Problemen. Mit den Roboterlösungen von ABB und unserer Expertise möchten wir eine hochautomatisierte Zukunft gestalten.»

    Marc Segura, Leiter der Robotics-Division von ABB, sieht ebenfalls grosses Potenzial. «Indem wir den Fertigungsprozess automatisieren, können wir den Wohnungsbau nachhaltig verändern und dabei die Herausforderungen des Arbeitskräftemangels adressieren.»

    Der globale Arbeitskräftemangel hat die Bauindustrie besonders hart getroffen, was die bereits bestehende Wohnungskrise verschärft. Neue Ansätze sind notwendig, um den wachsenden Wohnbedarf zu decken und dabei ökologische und soziale Standards nicht zu vernachlässigen.

    Während die traditionelle Bauweise den Anforderungen nicht gerecht wird, bietet der modulare Bau eine effizientere und umweltfreundlichere Alternative. Abfall wird reduziert, Arbeitsunfälle verringert, und Bauprojekte können schneller umgesetzt werden.

    Dennoch hinkt die Bauindustrie in puncto Automatisierung anderen Sektoren hinterher. Eine Umfrage von ABB zeigt, dass nur 55% der Bauunternehmen Roboter nutzen – im Vergleich zu 84% in der Automobilindustrie.

    „Der Bausektor steht vor einer Revolution. Wir glauben, dass Technologie und Know-how einen Wandel herbeiführen können, wie wir ihn in anderen Industrien erlebt haben“, schliesst Weiblen.

    Marc Segura von ABB fügt abschliessend hinzu: «Wir sind bereit, den modularen Wohnungsbau zu prägen und damit einen Beitrag für die Gesellschaft zu leisten.»