immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: Construction

  • Swiss economy between a damper and confidence

    Swiss economy between a damper and confidence

    After two consecutive declines, the KOF Business Situation Indicator is below the level of the summer, but still above the lows of August and September. Economic momentum remains moderate, a weak but stable foundation. The business situation has deteriorated further, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Production and purchasing policies are stagnating and price increases are being planned less frequently. Despite this, expectations for exports and order books are increasingly optimistic. Many companies anticipate a slight improvement in the first half of 2026.

    Inconsistent sector trends
    The situation is developing differently across all sectors. Project planning offices, financial and insurance service providers and other services are reporting flatter business development, while the construction and retail sectors are seeing a slight recovery.

    These contrasts are also evident in expectations. Confidence prevails in the construction industry and among financial and insurance service providers, while retailers and planning offices are somewhat more cautious. The retail trade recorded the second consecutive decline in its expectations indicator. This is a sign that consumer trends are only hesitantly consolidating.

    The gloom remains
    From a regional perspective, the current business situation is falling in all parts of the country. Central Switzerland, Espace Mittelland, Eastern Switzerland, Zurich and Northwestern Switzerland are particularly affected. The decline remains more moderate in Ticino and the Lake Geneva region. The indicator shows that economic pressure is being felt throughout the country, despite stable exports and services.

    Economic clock shows cautious recovery
    The KOF illustrates the tension between the present and the future. The situation remains below average, while the prospects are above average. With a tentative recovery in 2025, the Swiss economy has not yet moved into a genuine upswing. Nevertheless, the increasing brightening of expectations is a harbinger that 2026 could bring better momentum. Supported by robust service sectors, stable export expectations and a gentle recovery in construction.

    At the turn of the year, the Swiss economy continues to be characterized by stability with slight headwinds. While the present is characterized by a slower pace, many companies are looking ahead optimistically in the hope that 2026 will be the year of a genuine economic recovery.

    KOF Business Situation Indicator (source: kof.ethz.ch)
  • New event and work space opened in the former printing house

    New event and work space opened in the former printing house

    FlexOffice has opened its new location in Schlieren. The event venue in the JED, the former NZZ printing house, offers a wide range of possibilities in the area of office work, according to a message from the office rental company on LinkedIn.

    The flexible space can be organised for events from 80 to 150 people. It can be booked by users of individual workstations, workshop organisers and even larger meetings with theatre-style seating.

    The room is designed for “workshops, keynotes, team offsites, launches or networking nights”, according to the press release. Najat El Harat is responsible for event management and looking after the guests. An after-work programme with sport, relaxation and gastronomy is also planned. Bookings can be made now at FlexOffice, with early bookers receiving a 25 per cent discount for events in 2026.

  • Business award recognises industrial expertise and regional roots in Thurgau

    Business award recognises industrial expertise and regional roots in Thurgau

    GLATZ AG from Frauenfeld has secured the Thurgau Business Award 2026, which is presented annually by the Thurgau Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Thurgau Trade Association, the Thurgau Cantonal Bank and the Department of Home Affairs and Economic Affairs.

    According to a press release, the family business impressed the jury with its combination of cross-generational business activities, international competitiveness and regional loyalty. With its patented sunshade frames, a high level of vertical integration, an in-house sewing workshop and uncompromising quality standards, GLATZ AG is a trendsetter in shade solutions – at a time when the international low-cost market is squeezing out many competitors. The large sunshades from Frauenfeld, which can withstand wind speeds of up to 115 kilometres per hour, are exported from Thurgau to over 50 countries.

    “The company has been firmly rooted in Thurgau for over 130 years – and at the same time carries the quality and innovative spirit of Thurgau as a centre of industry out into the world,” says Thomas Koller, jury president of the Thurgau Business Award.

    The move to the new headquarters on Langfeldstrasse in Frauenfeld in 2024 shows that GLATZ AG will remain rooted in Thurgau in the future. The new building, which combines research and development, production, administration and a modern training centre under one roof, was also built with a focus on sustainability. Photovoltaic systems, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and shorter transport routes reduce the CO2 footprint.

    The award ceremony will take place on 15 April 2026 at GLATZ AG in Frauenfeld.

  • Generational change strengthens the direction of an established electrical supplier

    Generational change strengthens the direction of an established electrical supplier

    Elektro Meier AG has completed a change in management and a change of name. According to a statement from Eglin Holding AG in Baden, the Würenlingen-based company will be operating under the new management of Marc Wey and under the new name Eglin Elektro AG Würenlingen as of 1 December.

    According to the press release, Marc Wey is a “management personality from the company’s own ranks”. Marc Wey has been with the company since his apprenticeship as an electrician (2009 to 2013 at the former Ing. W. Eglin AG). After years as a service fitter, Wey took over responsibility as Junior Project Manager at Elektro Meier AG Würenlingen in 2018. Most recently, he had been Project Manager in E-Service since 2020. The move marks the completion of the integration into the Eglin Group, which began in 2002. “This makes the affiliation with the Eglin Group transparent to the outside world and creates a clear, future-oriented identity,” the press release explains.

    The family-run company Elektro Meier AG can look back on almost 100 years of company history. Originating from the Eglin electrician company founded in 1931 in Ennetbaden AG, the company is now active in the planning, manufacture and sale of electrical systems and equipment. It specialises in solutions and services in the fields of electrical installation, ICT and building automation.

  • New standard turns buildings into tradable CO₂ sinks

    New standard turns buildings into tradable CO₂ sinks

    The Global Construction C-Sink Standard from the Frick-based company Carbon Standards International has been the basis for issuing CO2 certificates for a biogenic building for the first time. They were issued by OPENLY, according to a press release. The Widnau-based pioneer for biogenic building construction and CO2 sinks in buildings offers these CO2 certificates together with the climate protection organisation myclimate.

    As a result, the first Global Construction C-Sink was registered in the publicly accessible Global C-Sink Registry. This means that the standard has an immediate effect, as the carbon is considered to have been stored from day one. The sink is precisely localised in the building and can be traded globally. “Certifying buildings as carbon sinks creates a measurable climate benefit, promotes sustainable construction and paves the way for tradable carbon credits that drive change in the construction industry,” OPENLY CEO Andy Keel is quoted as saying.

    The Global Construction C-Sink Standard verifies buildings and structures that contain biomass-derived and carbon-storing materials. This biomass, which includes hemp, straw, wood and biochar, represents carbon sinks. Each verified building can be registered in the Global C-Sink Registry. It is recognised by the Geneva-based International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance ( ICROA).

    According to Carbon Standards International, Swiss Re, Shopify, Atlassian, Banque Pictet, Woolgate Exchange Unit Trust, Celonis, Arup Group, Storebrand and Zooplus are among the first companies to use C-Sink credits based on the Carbon Standards of Carbon Standards International. In addition, the operator of the CO2 sink register is currently holding internal discussions about possible partnerships and collaborations.

  • Expansion of the recycling of building materials in Europe

    Expansion of the recycling of building materials in Europe

    Zug-based Holcim AG intends to significantly expand its portfolio in the recycling of building materials in Europe. According to a press release, the international building materials company has acquired two demolition companies in England and Germany and is preparing to take over a third in north-west France. These three companies currently recycle 1.3 million tons of construction waste annually.

    The new acquisitions include Thames Materials from West London and A&S Recycling GmbH from Hanover. The company, which operates in north-west France, has not yet been named by Holcim. With Thames Materials, Holcim is now operating in the Greater London area. Holcim had already acquired the logistics company Sivyer Logistics in East London in 2023. A&S Recyling processes demolition materials in northern Germany with three locations in the German state of Lower Saxony. With the takeover of the French company, Holcim is increasing the number of recyclers it manages in the country to 28.

    “The acquisitions of Thames Materials, A&S Recycling GmbH and a recycling company in northwest France will further strengthen our leading position in circular construction and contribute to our NextGen Growth 2030 target of recycling more than 20 million tons of construction demolition materials annually,” Milan Gutovic, CEO of Holcim, is quoted as saying in the press release.

  • Expansion of Basel SBB West station

    Expansion of Basel SBB West station

    Basel SBB station has long since reached its limits. Over 140,900 people use it every day, and the trend is rising. With the Basel SBB West project, the partners are preparing the station for this development. A comprehensive extension is planned in the west of the site, where the train stop will be moved further west in future and additional access to urban traffic will be created. Two closely linked sub-projects form the core, the Margarethen platform access and the new construction of the Margarethen Bridge.

    The new passenger bridge for the Margarethen platform access is to run parallel to the existing Margarethen Bridge. It will be around 16.5 meters wide, have stairs, escalators and lifts and provide access to all platforms. To make this possible, SBB is extending several platforms to the west and adapting the track layout. The project thus responds to the expected growth in rail traffic and at the same time relieves the existing passerelle at the main station.

    Linking rail and city
    In addition to rail planning, urban integration plays a central role. The canton of Basel-Stadt is planning a new multimodal transportation hub to the west of the station, at the Markthalle site. Here, the transfer between train, streetcar, bus and bicycle is to become even more efficient in future. This reorganization will relieve the overcrowded Centralbahnplatz and enable a more balanced traffic regime in the city center.

    The Margarethen platform access is more than just a bridge. It will become a link between the new urban traffic axes and the rail network. It offers space, light and orientation. Features that are particularly important in highly frequented traffic zones.

    A new Margarethen Bridge with a signal effect
    The second sub-project is dedicated to the renewal of the Margarethen Bridge. The existing bridge is owned by SBB and only meets current safety requirements for heavy goods traffic with restrictions. In addition, it does not meet the future requirements of SBB and the canton on both the rail and road sides. The new bridge will therefore not only be structurally more efficient, but also significantly wider – 27 meters compared to 16.3 meters today. This will create space for a barrier-free streetcar stop in the middle of the bridge as well as wider footpaths and cycle paths.

    A temporary auxiliary bridge is planned during the construction period. The possibility of integrating this temporary structure into the new building at a later date is being examined. This solution should minimize construction interruptions and ensure urban mobility during the entire implementation phase.

    The winning project by Penzel Valier
    In the spring of 2025, an assessment panel of independent experts and representatives from SBB and the canton evaluated the proposals of six interdisciplinary planning teams as part of a study commission. The contract was awarded to Penzel Valier. Their design impresses with a generous, flexibly expandable roof that spans both the new streetcar stop on Margarethenbrücke and the platforms. This creates a hall-like space that characterizes the western part of the station.

    The roof fulfills several functions at the same time. It brings daylight onto the platforms, protects against the weather and allows the installation of photovoltaic systems and greenery. In terms of urban planning, this creates a harmonious link between the SBB station, the listed SNCF hall and the adjacent Gundeldingen and St. Johann districts.

    The SNCF hall itself will be retained in the context of the French part of the station and in its function as a platform canopy. This was a key concern of the conservation authorities. The hall will be moved to the west to create space for the new track layout.

    Planning, financing and time horizon
    The Margarethen platform access is part of the 2035 national rail expansion phase. The federal government has already approved the planning and preliminary project planning. While the Margarethen platform access is financially secured, the funds for the implementation of the new Margarethen Bridge are still being decided. Both projects can be built technically independently of each other, but should be realized at the same time if possible.

    The planning requirements are high. They take into account ongoing rail operations, the protection of historic buildings and integration into the dense city traffic. Construction is currently scheduled to start in 2034 at the earliest. The project volume for both project elements (platform access and bridge) is estimated to be in the low to mid three-digit million range.

    More than infrastructure – a new entrance for Basel
    Basel SBB West will not only provide the city with a strategically important transportation hub, but also a new entrance to the city. The relocation of train traffic to the west will create space for clearer traffic routing, a better quality of stay and greater safety for cyclists and pedestrians. In future, travelers will experience shorter routes, generous spaces and intuitive orientation.

    The interaction between trains, streetcars, buses and bicycles will become more efficient, more sustainable and more pleasant. At the same time, the project forms the structural foundation for future expansions such as the possible Basel SBB underground station. In its entirety, Basel SBB West thus stands for a new generation of railroad stations – open, networked and future-proof.

  • The fifth generation of the Basel agglomeration program

    The fifth generation of the Basel agglomeration program

    New impetus for space and transport
    The program marks a decisive step in the joint planning of landscape, settlement and transport across national borders. Germany, France and Switzerland are pulling together to make mobility in the tri-national area more efficient, safer and more climate-friendly. In the coming years, eleven new transport hubs will be built along the tri-national S-Bahn and Basel-Stadt is investing in a fully electrified bus fleet. Around 200 million francs have been earmarked for the upgrading of municipal streets and the promotion of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

    Mobility with a future
    In essence, it is about more than just infrastructure. The agglomeration program is a coordinated response to the complex mobility needs of a region that uses busy international transport routes on a daily basis. The integrated planning of public transport, private transport, footpaths and cycle paths is intended to reduce traffic congestion and CO² emissions. The priority is to develop a sustainable transport system that increases the quality of life and attractiveness of the location.

    Broad political support
    Esther Keller, member of the cantonal government and President of Agglo Basel, emphasizes the success of the cross-border cooperation, which has been in existence for over 15 years. Isaac Reber, Director of Construction in Basel, sees the large number of small and medium-sized projects as the backbone of progress. Jean-Marc Deichtmann from Saint-Louis and Marion Dammann from Lörrach also emphasized the strategic horizon. This ranges from multimodal platforms to citizen participation that strengthens climate protection and spatial quality.

    Looking ahead to the sixth generation
    Work has already begun on the 6th generation agglomeration program. Submission to the federal government is planned for 2029, with the construction phase starting in 2032. The Agglo Basel association is continuing the coordination and ensuring that space, transport and landscape in the border triangle are not considered separately, but as a coherent project for the future.

  • Master builders and trade unions agree on new national collective agreement

    Master builders and trade unions agree on new national collective agreement

    In the tenth round of negotiations, the delegations from SBC, Unia and Syna reached a negotiation result on December 12, 2025 for a new national collective agreement that will apply from 2026. The previous collective labor agreement for around 80,000 construction workers expires at the end of the year and therefore had to be revised. Both sides emphasize that they have come together on key points in order to ensure planning security and competitive working conditions.

    Six-year term and new working time models
    The new LMV is designed for six years and will apply from the beginning of 2026 to the end of 2031 – an unusually long horizon that should bring stability to an industry characterized by a shortage of skilled workers and economic uncertainties. New working time planning will be introduced from January 1, 2027. Companies can now choose a model with constant daily working hours and accept more overtime and reduced hours in return. In addition, overtime regulations will be simplified and it will be possible to build up a long-term vacation account, allowing employees to save up overtime and take it later as extended time off.

    Travel time, bonuses and inflation
    A key point of the agreement concerns travel time, which plays a major role on construction sites throughout the country. In future, the regulations are to be structured in such a way that they can be declared generally binding. Above a certain level, travel time will be counted as overtime. In addition, there is a wage package with substantial increases in bonuses and allowances in underground mining, where the workload is particularly high. There are also plans to cover inflation so that the real wages of construction workers are not eroded in an environment of rising living costs.

    Focus on the attractiveness of the construction industry
    With the new agreement, the social partners are pursuing the common goal of strengthening the construction industry as an employer. For current employees as well as for future skilled workers. More modern working time models, clearer rules on travel time and improved bonuses are intended to improve conditions in a physically demanding occupational field. At the same time, companies will receive a reliable framework for planning projects, retaining staff and making long-term investments.

    Decision still pending
    The outcome of the negotiations is an important breakthrough, but not yet the final point. On the part of the Federation of Master Builders, an extraordinary delegates’ meeting on December 17, 2025 will decide on final acceptance. For the Unia and Syna trade unions, the professional conferences will make the decision in January 2026. Only if both sides agree will the new national collective agreement come into force and set the guidelines for the world of work in the construction industry until 2031.

  • Hot concrete from Pompeii

    Hot concrete from Pompeii

    Roman concrete forms the backbone of many structures from port facilities to aqueducts that have withstood wind, weather and earthquakes for over 2000 years. Admir Masic’s research group at MIT has been investigating for years why this building material is so exceptionally durable, based on chemical analyses of ancient mortar. As early as 2023, the team formulated the hypothesis that the Romans did not use lime as a ready slaked paste, but mixed it dry as quicklime together with volcanic ash and only then added water.

    Pompeii as a preserved building site
    The latest investigations are based on a unique site in Pompeii. A construction site “frozen” by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD with half-finished walls, piles of material and tools. In samples from the pre-mixed dry heaps, from walls under construction and from finished components, the researchers found not only the familiar white lime clasts, but also intact fragments of quicklime in the dry mixture. This suggests that the slaking reaction, i.e. the reaction of the burnt lime with water, only took place during the actual mixing and hardening of the concrete and not beforehand, as described in classical accounts.

    Contradiction with Vitruvius and how it is resolved
    In the 1st century BC, Vitruvius described in “De architectura” that lime was first slaked with water and then mixed with aggregates. The hot mixing technique that has now been identified deviates from this in that the lime is combined with volcanic ash as quicklime in the dry phase and the water is only added afterwards. Isotope analyses of the mortars show the characteristic carbonation processes that match this process and differ from mortars with previously slaked lime. Instead of completely “refuting” Vitruvius, experts tend to interpret the findings in such a way that his description does not reflect the entire spectrum of Roman practice. Regional or temporal variations such as hot-mixing appear to have been more widespread than long assumed.

    Self-healing concrete as a model for tomorrow
    The hot-mixing process generates considerable heat when quicklime and water come into contact, trapping reactive lime particles in the concrete structure. If microcracks form later, these particles can dissolve again, react with penetrating water and fill the cracks again. A self-healing mechanism that plausibly explains the longevity of Roman buildings. The new findings are being incorporated into the development of modern, sustainable concrete. The aim is to reduce CO₂-intensive binder content, massively extend the service life of buildings and thus reduce the consumption of resources in the construction industry. All in the spirit of an ancient model that is only now being fully understood chemically.

  • Swiss premiere in building automation

    Swiss premiere in building automation

    Today’s modern buildings are highly complex systems. They combine heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, security, photovoltaics and storage solutions to form an integrated whole. Building automation ensures that these components work together optimally, with less energy consumption, more stable operation and greater comfort. In the context of the Energy Strategy 2050 and the decarbonization of the building stock, the need for specialists who understand both technology and data and system logic is growing rapidly. The state recognition of the Building Automation HF course takes this need into account and creates a clearly defined, quality-assured career path

    First state-recognized Building Automation HF in Switzerland
    sfb in Dietikon is the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland to successfully pass the recognition procedure of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation for its Building Automation HF course. The degree is thus federally recognized and embedded in the formal education system. According to the school management, this guarantees training that is geared towards the current requirements of the industry, standards and regulation and remains compatible in the long term. At the same time, the recognition strengthens the visibility of the profession vis-à-vis building owners, planning offices, energy suppliers and the real estate industry

    Practical profile from energy efficiency to building informatics
    In terms of content, the course has a clear practical focus. It teaches specialist skills in energy efficiency, building IT, networked systems and modern automation solutions. From sensor and control technology to data analysis and optimization in operation. The aim is to train specialists who can support the entire life cycle of smart buildings, from planning and design, project management, commissioning, operation, maintenance and ongoing optimization. This broad qualification creates the basis for sustainable, economical building solutions and enables companies to reduce operating costs, emissions and failure risks

    Specialists for the digital transformation in the building sector
    Building automation specialists HF work at the interface between technology, IT and operations. They understand building technology systems as well as data rooms, interfaces and security requirements. For companies in the fields of building technology, energy, facility management and real estate development, this means a tangible competitive advantage. They gain access to specialists who are proficient in the latest technologies and can also actively drive forward the digital transformation of buildings. According to sfb, it is precisely this profile that is in demand when it comes to putting smart building and net zero strategies into practice

    Course structure and target groups
    The recognized course is aimed at specialists with relevant basic vocational training in the electrical, HVAC, building or IT professions. In six semesters, the course leads to the final thesis and the protected title of “Certified Building Automation Technician HF”.

  • How the old real estate market is slowing down the new China

    How the old real estate market is slowing down the new China

    For years, the real estate sector was China’s most important growth engine. Build, sell, keep building. This was the simple formula that at times accounted for up to a third of economic output. With stricter requirements to limit debt, the leadership put the brakes on this model, triggering a creeping but persistent crisis.

    Evergrande was the visible turning point in 2021. The former industry star missed interest payments, became a global warning figure and suddenly made it clear how vulnerable the growth model was. Since then, developers such as Country Garden and now Vanke, which had long been considered stable, have come under pressure. A signal that the real estate sector has not yet bottomed out.

    Deflation, wealth shock and insecure households
    The real estate crisis is eating deep into the real economy. Residential real estate is the central store of wealth for Chinese households. When prices fall in series, the sense of security erodes. Those who see their own apartment as a retirement provision become reluctant to consume, invest and make major life decisions.

    Domestic consumption is correspondingly weak. Retail trade is growing at a rate well below previous levels and the economy is struggling with persistent deflationary pressure. Falling or stagnating prices may seem attractive in the short term, but they increase the debt burden in real terms and prolong the clean-up process in the real estate and financial system.

    Provinces in the debt shadow
    The situation of local governments is particularly delicate. Provinces and cities have accumulated a gigantic mountain of debt through land sales to developers and off-balance sheet financing companies. Land sales were the most important source of income, but were never enough to sustain the credit-financed construction boom and infrastructure programs. Now that sales are collapsing, the hidden debts are coming to light.

    Many regions are being forced into a silent diet. Investments are being postponed, spending cut, new infrastructure delayed. This has direct consequences for growth, employment and local businesses. The crisis is therefore less a loud crash than a slow pressure that weakens the system for years and restricts the scope for action.

    Old real estate-driven economy meets new tech power
    At the same time, China is presenting itself as a high-tech superpower. Electric car manufacturers, AI companies and internet companies that are reinventing themselves represent the “new China”. Politicians are focusing on a long-term technology strategy with a focus on electromobility, semiconductors, AI, renewable energies and robotics.

    However, this new economy is built on a foundation of the old, real estate-driven economic structure. Without stable domestic demand, reliable credit channels and household confidence, the tech sector will not be able to fully develop its dynamism. The path to success therefore does not lead past an orderly dismantling of the real estate sector, but through it.

    Growth targets as a boomerang
    Beijing is sticking to its ambitious growth targets. The target of “around 5%” is achievable because the state and state-owned companies are taking countermeasures in many areas. For conscious cadres on the ground, the signal remains clear: the numbers have to add up, if necessary with additional projects that have little economic impact.

    The result is new infrastructure and construction projects that support GDP in the short term but do not solve the structural problems. On the contrary, they prolong the debt cycle. This creates a tension between the official growth story and the real need for deleveraging in the real estate and local debt complex.

    What is at stake until 2026
    The coming years will determine whether China manages the transition from a debt-driven, real estate-heavy model to an innovation-based growth path. If a controlled contraction of the real estate sector can be achieved while at the same time strengthening consumption, productivity and future-oriented industries, the country can remain robust despite dents. If this balancing act fails, a scenario of sustained low growth with recurring bouts of deflation and growing mistrust among investors looms.

    The real estate crisis is not a marginal issue, but the central test of China’s ability to correct its economic course. The decisive factor will be whether the political leadership and administration find the courage to put short-term growth targets into perspective in favor of a more sustainable, less property-driven model and thus not allow the new China to be crushed by the old.

  • Real estate market 2026 stable tailwind from low interest rates, AI boom and scarce space

    Real estate market 2026 stable tailwind from low interest rates, AI boom and scarce space

    According to estimates, the Swiss National Bank is leaving the key interest rate at 0% for 2026 and signaling that the hurdles for a return to negative interest rates remain high. The conditional inflation forecasts of around 0.3% for 2026 and 0.6% for 2027 are clearly within the range of price stability and support a moderate growth scenario. For the real estate market, this means that short-term financing, particularly SARON mortgages, will remain attractive, while long-term fixed-rate mortgages will only benefit hesitantly from monetary easing.

    Real estate as an investment
    Wüest Partner has observed that investment properties with rental apartments will become significantly more expensive again in 2025, reflecting a high willingness to pay and strong confidence in the asset class. At the same time, prices for multi-family homes have reached a very high level, while earnings prospects and regulatory risks are dampening the imagination. A flattening of price momentum is therefore expected for 2026, both for residential yield properties and commercial properties. With clear differentiation according to location, property quality and ESG profile. Indirect investments such as public limited companies and funds continue to benefit from the low interest rate environment, but already carry high expectations in the form of above-average premiums.

    Boost in renovation, moderate new construction
    The combination of low interest rates and slowing construction price momentum is stabilizing the willingness to invest in construction. Nominal growth in construction investment of around 3.4% in new construction and 8.5% in renovation is expected in 2026, with the renovation sector receiving an additional boost from pull-forward effects related to the planned abolition of the imputed rental value. Many owners are likely to prefer energy-efficient renovations and refurbishments as long as maintenance costs are still fully tax-deductible. In the medium term, new construction activity could slow down again somewhat, as the number of new apartments in planning applications has recently declined.

    Rental and property market
    Following the sharp rise in rents in 2023 and 2024, the growth in asking rents has slowed considerably. Moderate growth in the national average is expected for 2026. At the same time, the reduction in the mortgage reference interest rate will provide relief for existing rents. This could lead to a slight decline in average rents for existing properties. Demand for residential property remains intact despite higher price levels. For 2026, price increases of around 3% are expected for single-family homes and slightly less for condominiums, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.

    Investment outlook for 2026
    Zürcher Kantonalbank expects moderate global economic growth in 2026, driven by falling inflationary pressure and improved financing conditions. Advances in artificial intelligence are driving investment and providing an additional tailwind for US equities in particular, while uncertainty on the financial markets remains high. In this environment, broad diversification across asset classes and currencies is recommended, with selected areas of focus. Corporate bonds, Swiss real estate and small caps are considered attractive, supplemented by global corporate bonds and gold as stabilizing additions. Direct and indirect real estate investments therefore remain an important building block for long-term investors. Embedded in a portfolio that benefits equally from AI-driven growth and the persistently low interest rate environment.

  • How much of the past can densification tolerate?

    How much of the past can densification tolerate?

    The Brunnergut estate was built in two stages in the mid-1950s and early 1960s and marked the transition to the functionalist, automotive city. As one of Winterthur’s first residential ensembles with underground parking, it replaced the Villa Malabar and reshaped an entire inner block between Lindstrasse, Kreuzstrasse, Sulzbergstrasse and St. Georgenstrasse. The 1954 planning application itself sparked a fierce controversy. Early debates about density, traffic and cityscape, as they occupy the entire agglomeration today

    in 2016, the city of Winterthur added Brunnergut to the inventory of buildings worthy of protection, followed by its entry in the cantonal inventory of listed buildings of supra-municipal importance in 2018. This made it clear that the estate was not only considered everyday architecture, but also an ensemble with architectural and socio-historical significance that should be taken into account in any further planning

    Legal ping-pong over protection
    With the cantonal dismissal in 2024, the building department wanted to relax the protection status again. Based on an expert opinion from the cantonal monument preservation commission and subsequent additions. The Zurich Heritage Society challenged this, and the Building Appeal Court demanded a supplementary or top-level expert opinion during the proceedings and criticized gaps in the expert assessment

    At the same time, the Winterthur city council planned to remove Brunnergut from the municipal inventory. The Zurich Heritage Society lodged another appeal against this. In its decision of November 6, 2025, the Building Appeals Court has now ruled that the city is unlawfully relying unilaterally on the KDK report and that the facts of the case have not been sufficiently clarified for the property to be removed from the inventory. The judges demanded an expert opinion from an independent expert who had not previously been involved. A clear signal for higher requirements for the justification of de-protection decisions

    More than just a technical issue of monument preservation
    The criticism focuses not only on formal deficiencies, but also on gaps in content. Imprecise plans, insufficient discussion of the qualities identified in the inventory sheet and an insufficient appreciation of the social and economic-historical significance. Specifically, the court criticized the fact that the role of the estate as an early example of dense, car-oriented post-war modernism and as part of Winterthur’s settlement history was not seriously included in the comparison with other estates

    For urban planning and the real estate industry, Brunnergut is therefore far more than an isolated case. The procedure shows how strongly inventory decisions must be legally and professionally underpinned today if they are to survive in an environment of housing shortages, pressure to densify and politically heated debates about objections and heritage protection

    What the case means for future projects
    The Zürcher Heimatschutz sees the decision as a strengthening of the inventory concept. Inventories are not mere lists, but planning instruments that must meet high standards before they can be dismantled. For cities like Winterthur, this means that anyone wishing to subsequently remove protection must transparently explain why arguments relating to building culture, urban development and social history outweigh the interests of densification, renewal or returns

    For investors, owners and planners, this increases the importance of well-documented surveys and early involvement of heritage conservation. Especially in the case of post-war housing estates, which were long regarded as “ordinary” existing buildings. Brunnergut shows that the second half of the 20th century is increasingly understood as part of the architectural heritage and that the path to conversion or replacement construction will in future often lead via independent expert reports and carefully balanced conservation concepts

  • Training offensive for networked building technology

    Training offensive for networked building technology

    The sfb is the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland whose Building Automation HF course has successfully completed the recognition procedure of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). “This guarantees the highest quality, state-recognized qualifications and training that meets the current requirements of the industry,” said sfb Director Dorothea Tiefenauer in a press release. The demands placed on modern buildings are constantly increasing, it continues. The sfb – College of Technology and Management can now respond even better to the great demand for qualified specialists thanks to the recognition of the course.

    According to the description, the course content is consistently geared towards practice. Knowledge of energy efficiency, building IT, networked systems and modern automation solutions is taught. The aim is to qualify students for the planning and implementation, but also the operation and maintenance of complex, smart networked buildings. According to sfb, this range creates the basis for sustainable and long-term economical building solutions. For companies, this development of expertise means a decisive competitive advantage, it says. Graduates are specialists who are not only proficient in current technologies, but can also actively shape the digital transformation.

    The course takes students who have completed relevant vocational training to complete their thesis in six semesters. Graduates are ultimately awarded the title of qualified building automation technician HF. The sfb organizes information events to provide an insight into the content and structure of the course. Both individuals and companies are invited to attend.

  • Railroad modernization in the sensitive Alpine region

    Railroad modernization in the sensitive Alpine region

    STRABAG AG is carrying out the outstanding renovation work on the Zentralbahn line between Meiringen and Brienzwiler in the Bernese Oberland. The narrow-gauge line runs on a single track along the Hasliaare, which is part of the Aare flood plain. Out of consideration for several nature conservation areas, “maximum precision for logistics and coordination” is required for the new construction, according to a press release. Preparatory work began in March 2025 and the ten-week intensive phase has been underway since October 2025.

    Heavy rainfall events had repeatedly occurred in the area, causing the railroad embankment and superstructure to flood, resulting in damage to the railroad infrastructure and adjacent cultivated land. STRABAG already carried out track construction work there in 2022 and 2023 (lots 1 and 3). The modernization project will now be completed with a total reconstruction of the challenging middle section of lot 2 over a length of 2600 meters and in the middle of the Sytenwald nature reserve. This involves raising the railroad embankment. To allow surface and slope water to drain away, a continuous planned drainage system will be installed along the route. The area along the Hasliaare will receive a new flood protection wall.

    According to the press release, the “tight space conditions and local lack of redundant construction slopes in certain sections between the Hasliaare, the railroad line and several nature conservation areas” are a special construction feature, which requires special precautions for ecology and landscape protection. On the one hand, STRABAG is building 30 new foundations for the catenary masts on the side facing away from the river, and on the other, 37 crossings are to ensure the ecological continuity of the terrain. This means protection for wildlife and small animals when crossing the section.

    A particularly challenging component is the new construction of the Hüsenbach bridge made of ultra-high-strength and durable fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC). During bridge construction, special consideration was given to the trout population present there at spawning time.

  • Million-euro financing accelerates autonomous construction site technology

    Million-euro financing accelerates autonomous construction site technology

    Venture capital firms from three continents have invested in Gravis Robotics: The spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, founded in 2022, has raised 23 million dollars in an early financing round, according to its information.

    The round was led by the venture capital companies IQ Capital from London and Zacua Ventures from San Francisco. Pear VC from Palo Alto, California, Imad Ventures from the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, Sunna Ventures from Miami and the Zurich-based company Armada Investment as well as the globally active cement manufacturer Holcim from Zug also participated.

    Gravis Robotics offers autonomous earthmoving machines that combine artificial intelligence, machine vision and human interfaces to increase throughput, reduce waste and improve safety on construction sites, whether the operators are in the cab or coordinating the work remotely.

    With the recent funding, Gravis now has the technology, partnerships and global distribution channels across the industry to drive the adoption of true autonomy on a large scale, the company said. In addition, it also announced “a wave” of new industry partnerships. For example, Gravis Robotics has partnered with Taylor Woodrow in the UK on a major infrastructure project at Manchester Airport, carrying out the first autonomous excavation work on a major active construction site in the country. There are also agreements with Holcim and the South Korean company HD Hyundai.

    The fastest route to autonomy is through increasing productivity, CEO Dr. Ryan Luke Johns is quoted as saying. “By providing operators with real-time 3D intelligence and the ability to seamlessly switch between autonomy and advanced control, we are covering more of the work, accelerating the application and creating the data pipeline needed to learn new skills from the industry’s most challenging tasks.“ The company considers it an advantage to have its Zurich headquarters “at the heart of the renowned robotics and automation ecosystem”.

  • Modern site project in Sittertobel focusses on renewable energies

    Modern site project in Sittertobel focusses on renewable energies

    Sitter Projekt AG and Mettler Entwickler AG are realising the Sitter Valley in St.Gallen’s Sittertobel. The two St.Gallen companies want to develop an area of 50,000 square metres here for offices, commerce and industry with up to 600 workplaces.

    St.Gallen’s public utility company will supply the site with energy for heating and cooling. According to a press release, they are relying on a combined energy supply with a wood pellet boiler and a reversible air/water heat pump. The pellet heating system will primarily be used in the winter months. The first heat supply is scheduled for winter 2026/2027.

    The Sitter Valley is also to be equipped with photovoltaic systems. These will contribute to the site’s electricity supply.

  • Construction industry sets an example in terms of quality, innovation and tradition

    Construction industry sets an example in terms of quality, innovation and tradition

    Maulini SA was awarded the Prix SVC Genève 2025 on 27 November, according to a press release. Founded in 1910, the company employs around 270 people. It is active in the construction of new residential, industrial and administrative buildings as well as the renovation, transformation and insulation of listed and contemporary buildings in Geneva and the region. The company has also been offering services as a general contractor for ten years.

    The jury of the Prix SVC was impressed by the history of the family business with its four generations and the commitment of the teams and management. “In a sector where it is not easy to anchor innovation in everyday life, we have been able to observe the development of a family business that consistently endeavours to ensure its impact and sustainability,” said jury president Sophie Dubuis in the press release. “This award recognises its strong local roots, its innovative spirit and its excellence.”

    This is the third time that the Swiss Venture Club(SVC) has awarded the Prix SVC Genève. More than 700 guests from business, politics, society and the media attended the award ceremony at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva. The aim of the event was to “highlight the entrepreneurial diversity of the region”, according to the press release.

    The other finalists included watch supplier Fiedler SA in Carouge GE, landscaper Jacquet SA and the La Colline physiotherapy group in Geneva, as well as Pneus Claude SA in Satigny GE.

  • Advantages of intelligent building systems

    Advantages of intelligent building systems

    Porter, telephone operator and elevator operator – three examples of professions that used to be essential for the operation of buildings, but are now largely extinct. Access control, telecommunications, lifts and many other areas have long been automated. With digitalization, real estate is increasingly developing in the direction of “smart buildings”. A look at building automation shows what benefits this can bring and to what extent it also poses challenges.

    Networking trades
    Digitalization enables building automation to combine previously largely autonomous trades into a networked system. Continuous data exchange and optimized processes increase convenience for users as well as energy efficiency. In practice, however, this integrated approach is still associated with certain challenges, says Turan Babuscu, Head of Automation at Siemens Switzerland. “The coordination between the trades often takes place too late in a construction project.” This concerns, for example, the definition of interfaces and the clarification of responsibilities – topics that should be discussed as early as possible in the planning phase. “Only if integral collaboration is clearly defined from the outset can digitalization develop its full potential,” emphasizes Babuscu.

    Greater efficiency, more comfort
    The benefits of successful integrated building automation can be seen in operational efficiency, for example. If data is systematically recorded and evaluated, energy consumption can be reduced, faults detected at an early stage and needs-based maintenance cycles developed. The technical building systems thus require less energy and have a longer service life – two aspects that are of interest to owners and operators for both ecological and economic reasons.

    To ensure that all building services are networked and coordinated in a building automation system, the topic must be included at an early planning stage. (Photo: Siemens Switzerland)

    For users, on the other hand, the focus is primarily on the greater convenience that integrated building automation allows. One example of this is the adjustment of room temperature, lighting and air quality according to use, time of day and occupancy, resulting in a healthier and more productive indoor climate.

    AI provides support
    Babuscu predicts that the networking of different systems within a building will continue to increase in the coming years. “This requires open, secure protocols such as BACnet/SC or KNX Secure, which enable obstacle-free, encrypted communication between the trades and the cloud services.” And what about artificial intelligence (AI)? “It already has a firm place in building automation,” says Babuscu. “Many systems use learning algorithms to understand the building’s behaviour and optimize it automatically.” This development is set to continue. In future, AI is likely to increasingly make decisions itself, for example by determining the best operating strategy or the optimum time for maintenance. It is important that the use of AI is transparent, comprehensible and safe in order to gain the acceptance of those involved.

    Further information:
    https://www.swissbau.ch/de/c/vorteile-von-intelligenten-gebaeudesystemen.74100

  • Building objections Federal Council wants to crack down harder

    Building objections Federal Council wants to crack down harder

    A study commissioned by the Federal Office for Housing and the Federal Office for Spatial Development shows that objections and appeals are the most common reason why residential construction projects are delayed or even prevented. This drives up costs, slows down construction activity and contributes to the worsening housing shortage. Particularly problematic are cases in which objections do not serve to protect public interests, but primarily secure private advantages or are used as a means of exerting pressure. For example, when money is demanded for the withdrawal of an appeal

    New rules against abuse of the law
    The motion “Sanction abusive building objections” is intended to instruct the Federal Council to create a basis for obliging objectors without an interest worthy of protection or with a clear intention to abuse the law to pay costs and, if necessary, damages. The Federal Council is prepared to examine the existing possibilities for sanctions and to sound out the extent to which it can provide guidelines in the Spatial Planning Act on the legitimacy of objections and the consequences of abusive objections based on Article 75 of the Federal Constitution. The specific structure of the procedures should remain with the cantons, but within a federal legal framework

    Delicate demarcation and open risks
    Legal experts point out how difficult it is in practice to clearly qualify an objection as abusive. Financial compensation for the withdrawal of an appeal can be legitimate, for example, if neighbors give up views, peace and quiet or other positions. In addition, stakeholders such as the Swiss Heritage Society warn that stricter hurdles and threats of sanctions could weaken the protection of townscape and monuments. Especially in cantons without the right of appeal, where neighbors often act as the final protective authority. Parliament will therefore have to perform a balancing act. Speed up procedures and curb abuse without devaluing legitimate objections and democratic participation.

  • Bassersdorf plans the next growth step

    Bassersdorf plans the next growth step

    Today, around 90 people work at the Pöschen, Gmeindwisen site on over 90,000 square meters. Over the next 20 years, 600 to 800 new jobs are to be created there and living space for around 1,200 people.
    With the further conversion of all plots, additional space for 100 to 200 more jobs and around 300 more residents is planned. The basis for this is the rezoning to a five-storey residential and commercial zone with a design plan obligation, which has been legally binding since February 2024. The development will take place in stages over several decades, with existing businesses retaining their place.

    Traffic, public transport and “low-car” concept
    The focus of the dialog with the population was on traffic. Questions were asked about parking, access and the future of the bus station. The planning team emphasized the clear focus on public transport. The district is not intended to accommodate through traffic, residents’ cars will be parked in underground garages and no new park-and-ride areas are planned. Despite the development of the area, the planned bypass will remain possible. Those responsible expect to attract a younger, more public transport-oriented population.

    Green spaces, neighborhood life and phasing
    The approximately 50 attendees were particularly positive about the generous green and open spaces, squares and connecting paths. The winning project structures the area into clearly recognizable neighbourhoods, with a noise-shielding block along Zürichstrasse, workplace-oriented uses towards the tracks and diverse residential areas in between. This structure facilitates implementation in stages. Complete realization is expected in ten to fifteen years.

    Political backing and participation
    Mayor Christian Pfaller and the landowners reaffirmed their support for the winning project and the long-term development of a diverse, sustainable district. As the municipality does not own any land itself, it is reliant on a cooperative approach with the owners. A school building is not required. Kindergarten and daycare facilities are planned, which the municipality intends to buy into. With the 2022 building and zoning regulations, the electorate approved the transformation to a mixed zone in principle, but at the same time anchored a design plan obligation. The current consultation event is part of this communication process. The feedback will now be incorporated into the indicative project, which will form the basis for the public design plan, which is expected to be discussed again next year.

  • Expansion of growth markets through regional production

    Expansion of growth markets through regional production

    Sika intends to grow further in the Middle East. With this in mind, the specialty chemicals company for the construction and industrial sectors has acquired the Saudi Arabian company Gulf Seal. It manufactures bitumen waterproofing membranes in the capital Riyadh. According to a press release, this offering optimally complements Sika’s sealing technologies already available in the region.

    According to the Saudi company Gulf Seal, which was founded 20 years ago, it works with the “most modern French technology”, which is sourced from its sister company Axter France. This makes Gulf Seal the only certified manufacturer of waterproof bitumen membranes in the Middle East with European CE certification.

    Sika expects Gulf Seal’s production plant and the established export channels to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to significantly strengthen its own market position in these growth markets. In Saudi Arabia itself, this acquisition strengthens Sika’s ability to deliver major construction projects related to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the 2034 FIFA World Cup and ongoing urbanization.

    “Gulf Seal’s established market position and local production capabilities, combined with Sika’s broad product range and global expertise, offer exciting opportunities for further growth in the GKR region,” said Christoph Ganz, Sika’s Regional Manager EMEA. “We look forward to welcoming the Gulf Seal team to the Sika family.”

  • Restoration brings Eaumorte Bridge back into the townscape

    Restoration brings Eaumorte Bridge back into the townscape

    The construction company MAULINI SA, based in Satigny, informs in a LinkedIn post about the completion of the restoration of the Eaumorte Bridge. The bridge between Avully and Cartigny was built in the mid-19th century and is considered one of the oldest in the canton of Geneva. Work began on June 2, 2025 and was completed at the end of October. The municipality of Avully described the bridge as being in an “advanced state of deterioration” before the restoration began.

    MAULINI carried out all the work, including the restoration, the removal of vegetation, the reconstruction of the stones according to the original and the design of the access to the bridge. According to the company, “the work consisted of repointing the stones with historic mortar, creating a new superstructure and installing a parapet made of local wood to give the bridge back its original stability and charm”. The aim of the restoration was to make the bridge accessible again for pedestrians, bicycles and horses. MAULINI worked together with the engineering firm EDMS from Petit-Lancy GE on this project.

    Founded in 1910, MAULINI SA specializes in building construction and civil engineering. This includes in particular projects for the construction of apartment buildings, industrial and administrative buildings as well as restoration projects such as the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève. The company is one of the five finalists for the Prix SVC Genève 2025, which will be awarded on November 27, 2025 at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva.

  • Between stability, housing protection and growth pressure

    Between stability, housing protection and growth pressure

    Current mood in the Basel real estate industry
    The current situation is ambivalent. On the one hand, Basel enjoys great economic stability and a strong real economic basis, as current market analyses confirm. On the other hand, the shoe is on the other foot when it comes to the actual production of living space. In an international comparison with Paris, San Francisco or London, for example, the cost of housing is still moderate in relation to wages in Basel. But the mood is gloomy. Housing production is not doing well. This is not so much due to a lack of investors, but rather to complex planning processes and home-made hurdles.

    The challenge of housing protection
    A central topic of the debate is Basel’s “housing protection”. The law, originally intended to ensure the social compatibility of renovations and protect tenants, is proving to be an obstacle to investment in practice.

    The criticism is that although the housing protection is well-intentioned, it actually reduces supply. If refurbishments become uneconomical due to excessive requirements, they simply do not take place. Although adjustments have already been made to the ordinance, for example to facilitate energy-efficient renovations, the uncertainty remains. Fewer new apartments are coming onto the market, while immigration continues. This is exacerbating the very shortage that was supposed to be combated. Anyone looking for an apartment today, whether due to family matters, a job change or a move, will find a dried-up market and high prices. The regulation thus protects the existing stock, but puts those who want to enter the market at a disadvantage.

    Lessons for other cantons
    A look across the border shows that Basel currently serves more as a warning than a role model in terms of regulation. The introduction of strict protective provisions is reminiscent of past mistakes (interest rate and regulatory policy 40 years ago). The lesson for other cantons is therefore that supply should not be artificially reduced when it is increasing.

    Another phenomenon is the conversion of office space. What was hardly conceivable four years ago due to yield expectations has suddenly become attractive due to rising interest rates and changing office markets. However, these transformations usually do not create affordable living space, but rather high-priced offers.

    Basel in the Switzerland of 10 million
    Switzerland is growing and Basel is growing with it. The city has enormous potential in the form of former industrial sites (e.g. Klybeck Plus) and transformation areas. Investors would be willing to develop and densify these areas. But the problem is the length of time involved. Planning processes, such as the one for the Klybeck site, take 5 to 6 years before construction can even begin.

    For a Switzerland with 10 million inhabitants, there is no alternative to inner densification. Compromises have to be found, as was the case with the “climate cardinals” initiative. Areas over 30,000 m² should be allowed to be built on more densely, but must meet strict ecological and social criteria. It is important to understand the investor side here, especially pension funds. These manage trust funds for retirement provision and cannot simply cross-subsidize living space. Planning security is the hardest currency here.

    Future and solutions
    What does the future look like? Above all, the sector is calling for acceleration and flexibility. As in Germany, we should discuss the planning turbo and mechanisms would be needed to drastically shorten approval procedures. The real estate of the future must be flexible. What is an office today must be able to be an apartment tomorrow and perhaps an office or logistics space the day after tomorrow. Fragmented monostructures are no longer in keeping with the times. The fear of growth must give way to a desire for design. Quality is created through good internal densification and a mix of uses, not through stagnation.

    The means and the capital would be available to alleviate Basel’s housing shortage. What is lacking is a regulatory environment that enables rather than prevents investment and a planning process that keeps pace with the speed of social change.

  • Generation change at suissetec with Dennis Reichardt

    Generation change at suissetec with Dennis Reichardt

    Dennis Reichardt has been involved in the association for almost two decades and, as an entrepreneur with 120 employees in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing sectors, brings a strong practical focus to the table. His “idée suisse” combines the ambition to position suissetec as a driver of energy efficiency and renewable solutions with a clear commitment to cooperation across all language regions.

    With a focus on quality, promoting young talent and cohesion, Reichardt wants to lead the association in a phase in which building technology plays a key role in achieving climate targets and decarbonizing the building stock. For the industry, this means continuing along the same path, but with an even stronger focus on innovation, the development of skilled workers and an integrated systems approach.

    Continuity through honorary presidency and rolling planning
    With the transition of Daniel Huser to the honorary presidency, suissetec remains closely linked to a leader who has shaped the association for over eleven years and consistently promoted cross-trade thinking. His leadership style, which is interdisciplinary, cooperative and focused on the overall benefit of the industry, forms a frame of reference for the new presidency.

    At the same time, the gradual renewal of the Board of Directors ensures institutional stability. With clearly planned handovers of office and term limits, know-how is passed on continuously without slowing down the impetus for renewal. In this way, suissetec is positioning itself as an association that thinks long-term, plans ahead in terms of personnel and at the same time remains open to new faces and perspectives.

  • Norman Gobbi points to sustainability in Ticino

    Norman Gobbi points to sustainability in Ticino

    Mr. Gobbi, you have recently been in charge of construction in Canton Ticino. What are your first priorities in this area?
    “In my new role as head of the Construction Division, which I have held since September 1, the priority is to initiate contacts with all the main players in the construction sector in Ticino, in order to understand their view of the current situation and prospects-short, medium and long term.”

    How do you intend to make spatial planning in Ticino more sustainable, particularly in the delicate balance between densification and landscape protection?
    “The canton of Ticino has a very different geographic conformation than the highland cantons. Everything is concentrated in the few square meters of the valley floors, which were already heavily anthropized during the 20th century: this makes it very difficult to reconcile all the functions that the territory has to perform, while ensuring the highest possible degree of sustainability and quality of life. The key lies in forward-looking planning, as well as the patience to remedy, step by step, the mistakes inherited from the past.”

    What role does climate change play in your building policy? Are there concrete plans for climate-resilient building in the canton?
    “Ticino stretches from 200 to over 3,000 meters above sea level and is therefore particularly exposed to the effects of climate change. The State Council is aware of this and has included mitigation of these phenomena among the goals of its long-term program.”

    What is your position on promoting the use of wood and modular construction in public building?
    “More than 50 percent of our canton’s land area is covered by forests. So our interest in promoting the use of this abundant and high-quality resource is obvious. The state is there and will play its part in this area: I also expect creative impulses from our Academy of Architecture and, of course, increasing sensitivity from the private sector.”

    Housing space in Ticino is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. What strategies will you adopt to create affordable housing?
    “Our constitution entrusts the management of these issues, first and foremost, to the municipalities: I consider this a wise choice, since local authorities have an in-depth knowledge of what is happening on the territory and can therefore react promptly to changes in the housing context. That said, the canton is following the issue very closely and is ready to take regulatory action where it is appropriate to do so.”

    How will it work with municipalities to ensure consistent and uniform spatial planning?
    “The new Federal Law has completely changed the paradigm, and Ticino has incorporated it into its Master Plan: it is clear that-for the reasons related to the conformation of the territory I mentioned-the issue of densification is particularly delicate for our canton. The implementation of this strategy will require a broad debate both among institutions and within society as a whole.”

    In German and French-speaking Switzerland, economic promotions are very active. How much energy does the canton and individual districts, respectively, economic regions invest in positioning, and what are they doing concretely?
    “Ticino is constantly working to position itself as a dynamic region that is open to innovation. We are just under two hours from the economic hubs of Zurich and Milan, and in the future we can aspire to accommodate realities that want to remain connected to the dynamism of these metropolises without necessarily having to suffer the disadvantages in terms of quality of life.”

    What lessons do you draw from your time as safety director for your new role in the construction industry?
    “Attention to safety is a ‘mindset,’ and it helps in all situations in life-especially in professions where people risk serious or even fatal injuries. So it will be a priority for me to strengthen awareness on these issues and try to strive for a construction industry where people can work without ever having to fear for their safety.”

    How do you manage the transition from a heavily safety-focused area to a more technical one?
    “Our militia system encourages us to be ‘enlightened amateurs,’ avoiding overspecialization and maintaining an awareness that the work of the state is not made up of watertight compartments, but of interconnected organs that must work in constant dialogue.”

    Do you see your new role as a long-term task or rather as a temporary solution until the end of the legislature in 2027?
    “As I have said many times, land management is my great passion after institutions.”

  • Power from the parquet floor

    Power from the parquet floor

    Instead of oak, which is becoming increasingly scarce, the project relies on poplar wood, a fast-growing, climate-tolerant deciduous tree that has hardly been used in the parquet market to date. Using “green chemistry” and the incorporation of lignin from the paper industry, the soft poplar wood is compressed and hardened so that its mechanical properties and surface quality are comparable to oak parquet

    This development addresses two challenges at once. Securing the supply of wood under climate change conditions and substituting petroleum-based floor coverings with bio-based, recyclable products. For manufacturers, this also opens up the possibility of transforming regional, previously “second-rate” wood species into high-quality design flooring

    Parquet sensor and energy source
    The second innovative step lies in the integration of piezoelectric functionality. If the wood is elastically deformed when walking, electrical voltage is generated that is too low in its natural state to be of practical use. By embedding Rochelle salt, a by-product of wine production with a strong piezoelectric effect, in a specially structured wood matrix, a hybrid structure is created that delivers significantly higher voltages and yet remains recyclable

    This “salt-in-wood” technology enables parquet slats that act as sensors themselves. They recognize footfall, presence or movement patterns and can generate enough energy to supply wireless sensors or signals locally

    Applications from smart homes to airports
    In the short term, the researchers are targeting sensor applications in smart homes, such as access monitoring on doors and windows or presence-dependent lighting and climate control. In the medium term, the focus is shifting to highly frequented areas such as airports, train stations, shopping centers and cultural venues such as the Tanzhaus Zürich, where millions of steps per year offer considerable potential for energy conversion

    The big challenge now lies in scaling. Material processes, sensor integration, durability and costs must be industrialized in such a way that “Piezo-Parkett” is transformed from a demonstrator into a market-ready product family. A goal that is receiving a boost from industry partnerships and awards such as the nomination for the “Evergreen Prize for Innovation”.

  • Why 2026 could be the year of the construction strike

    Why 2026 could be the year of the construction strike

    The national collective agreement for around 80,000 employees in the main construction industry regulates wages, working and travel times, bonuses and protection against dismissal and expires at the end of 2025. After several inconclusive rounds of negotiations, Unia and Syna are warning that without an agreement, a situation without a contract will arise and nationwide industrial action is likely

    At the same time, the days of protest, most recently in several cities in Ticino, are increasing the pressure on the employer side and signaling a high willingness to strike at grassroots level. In a major survey, around 90 percent of 20,000 construction workers were in favor of strike action if no viable compromise could be reached

    Trade union demands
    The trade unions are focusing on three issues: more family-friendly working hours, legally secure travel times and safeguarding purchasing power. Among other things, they are demanding a maximum of eight hours per day, a paid snack break, full recognition of travel time to the construction site, guaranteed compensation for inflation and real wage increases after years of falling real wages

    The previous practice, according to which travel time is often only partially paid or not paid at all, was criticized by Seco as not complying with mandatory labour law, which increases the pressure to clarify this point in the new contract in a binding manner. From the trade unions’ point of view, the improvement in conditions is also a response to the shortage of skilled workers that has plagued the construction industry for years

    Position of the master builders
    The Swiss Association of Master Builders points to the already high minimum wages throughout Europe and offers automatic inflation adjustments to the minimum wages as well as additional wage increases via bonuses in the coming years. At the same time, it is insisting on more flexibility, daily and annual working hours, more flexitime, work on selected Saturdays without a supplement and adjustments to bad weather regulations

    The association believes that the unions’ demands will drive up wage costs by 12 to 15 percent and jeopardize the industry’s competitiveness, particularly in view of rising construction costs and an uncertain order situation. The association has signaled some concessions regarding the protection of older employees against dismissal, but has linked this to an agreement on the wage package

    Escalation or compromise?
    The trade unions warn that the employers’ flexibility model will result in longer attendance times of up to 50 hours per week, more overtime without a bonus and greater uncertainty in the event of order slumps, with particular risks for older construction workers. Conversely, the master builders’ association criticizes the protest days as a breach of the contractual obligation to maintain peace and accuses the unions of blocking a sustainable collective agreement with maximum demands

    Whether 2026 will actually start with a nationwide construction strike will be decided at the negotiating table in the coming weeks. This is where tough positions must be turned into a viable compromise for an industry that is under pressure from both costs and skilled workers.

  • New pipe bridge strengthens regional district heating network

    New pipe bridge strengthens regional district heating network

    BRUGG Pipes from Kleindöttingen, part of the Brugg-based BRUGG Group AG, has supplied pre-insulated district heating pipes for a crossing of the A4 highway. The bridge element between Holzhäusern and Rotkreuz was lifted into place at the end of October, according to a press release. During assembly, two 48-metre-long pipes suitable for bridge structures were installed. They weigh 4.9 tons without water.

    The pipe bridge connects existing and new sections of the Ennetsee heating network. Further districts and commercial locations in Rotkreuz ZG, Cham ZG and neighboring areas are to be connected to the district heating network. The client for the project is WWZ. The company B S AG was responsible for the planning and construction management of the bridge, supported by Hodel SHLK AG as the pipe constructor. “I am delighted with how WWZ, B S, Hodel SHLK and the other partners implemented this project in a spirit of partnership and with the utmost precision. Laying our pipes like this with our own bridge is definitely not an everyday occurrence. I am all the more pleased that the installation was successful and that our pre-insulated pipe systems are now supporting the expansion of the Ennetsee heating network and decarbonization,” said Martin Rigaud, CEO of BRUGG Pipes, in the press release.

    WWZ uses the waste heat from the Renergia waste incineration plant in Perlen LU as a heat source. Cham is also to be supplied with district heating from the project by fall 2026. Overall, the expansion of the network is expected to save around 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.