The train and bus connections in southern central Switzerland are bundled in the new cantonal train station in Altdorf. New train stops and additional connections significantly increase the potential for skilled workers. Knowledge-based service providers on the north-south axis benefit from direct access to the labor markets of the Greater Zurich Area and the greater Milan area and encounter technologies in the sectors of precision technology, alpine technology, traffic and safety technology and environmental technologies. With foresight, the canton of Uri has secured development areas on the Werkmatt Uri, which it is handing over exclusively for high-quality jobs at attractive conditions. With the new building of the Urner Kantonalbank directly on the edge of the platform of the new cantonal railway station, a working environment with offices ready for occupancy is offered. The German IT company Essendi IT recently opened its new Swiss headquarters at Bahnhofplatz.
The canton of Uri is also a fantastic living and leisure area with its lake landscape (water sports and sailing), the mountains and rivers (outdoor, climbing, hiking, Resort Andermatt), an authentic, unaffected area of experience with the primeval history and tradition of Switzerland . This creates inspiration for new business ideas.
Forward-looking planning has resulted in an interesting energy concept during the construction of the “SisCampus” new building project. The aim was to implement an environmentally friendly and climate-friendly concept. The client decided on a concept that was based on this objective. The main risk lay in the modern approach, and that without relying on empirical values. So the focus was not primarily on sensational elements, such as visible photovoltaics as a label for a sustainable climate image.
The core of the innovation was the use and storage of naturally occurring energy resources. For this purpose, the sun’s energy and the groundwater are used as a heat or cooling source in an optimal way. The structural prerequisite was the creation of an adequate storage facility. For this purpose, the entire building mass was defined as storage and equipped with thermoactive components, so-called TABS. These ensure an optimal temperature distribution in the entire mass storage at a flow temperature of < 30 degrees.
With the use of electrochromic facade glazing (SageGlas) as the primary control element, energy consumption, daylight and glare can be influenced dynamically. The energy transmission of solar energy can be easily regulated by a factor of 10 (G value 0.03-0.35). Another advantage is that other traditional sun protection solutions such as blinds or heat protection devices were not used at the location with a strong foehn influence.
Ventilation is a key element in the climate concept. Energy-consuming air conditioning and active ventilation systems have been dispensed with. Ventilation systems can only be found in the catering area in the kitchen, in the restaurant and in the hotel rooms. The office area is ventilated by hand and ventilated by means of motorized window sashes.
With these core elements, the year-round climate target of 22-26 °C with a humidity of 35-60% could be achieved. The investment costs for heating and cooling could be reduced by more than 60% in terms of space and system technology.
The room climate is continuously recorded by means of meaningful monitoring. The energy requirement is currently around 8 W/m2 and will be comprehensively validated for the first time in summer 2022 after 2 years of operation.
The interim report on the promotion of the city of Dietikon covers the period from November 2021 to April 2022. According to the press release , it is intended to provide an overview of the activities carried out in the reporting period. As particular highlights of this work, the communication highlights the progress made in the Cleantech Hub Dietikon project, which started last autumn 2021, and in the Smart City Dietikon project.
According to the report , the mayor and location promoter visited 14 companies in the area of economic development and offered them help with various matters. Demand for commercial space remains high. There are regularly more rental requests than offers. We are looking for logistics areas and workshops with truck access and high ceilings. The number of start-ups and liquidations is said to be relatively constant.
According to the report, there are also bottlenecks in the supply of suitable commercial premises at the Cleantech Hub Dietikon. But the project is making progress. A core team has been working intensively on the structure since October. The Cleantech Hub Dietikon association was founded on February 15. There are currently several inquiries from start-ups who would like to rent space in the Cleantech Hub.
Regarding the progress of the Smart City Dietikon project, it is said that the implementation of the first sub-projects has been delayed. An e-mobility charging station at Zelgliplatz, an e-bike charging station at Velohaus and public WiFi at Kirchplatz are already in operation.
There are other reports on the “Mitenand für Dietike” ideas competition, the NetzwerkStadt for an attractive center and on city marketing and on fresh markets and seasonal markets such as the spring market.
Andermatt Swiss Alps real estate can be used both as a first and second home. In the case of a second home, the owners have the opportunity to rent the apartment to holiday guests during their absence and thus generate income. The Andermatt Swiss Alps team takes care of the entire organization and processing of the rental. From the reservation process to cleaning and on-site guest care. With this rental program, the apartments are better utilized and Andermatt Reuss is busy all year round. This also reduces the number of so-called cold beds, and numerous guests can enjoy the stylishly furnished apartments.
Holidays in modern apartments The apartments in Andermatt Reuss are the ideal accommodation for a break in the mountains. Depending on the equipment for families, couples or holidays with friends. The year-round destination of Andermatt offers a variety of activities and events for young and old in both winter and summer. The Andermatt concert hall is used throughout the year and offers a varied programme. The ski area can be reached on foot in just a few minutes or with the free ski bus, and the cross-country ski trail extends just a few meters from the front door. In summer, the hiking trails and bike trails start just a few steps outside of Andermatt. There are also a few shops, restaurants and bars in the Andermatt Reuss part of the village.
The association of retailers City Com Baden is organizing the 2nd Baden Shopping City Forum on Thursday, June 2nd. According to a message on LinkedIn, the start is at 7 p.m. in the Trafo Culture and Congress Center in Baden in Hall 36.2. The hall opens at 6.30 p.m.
Michael Wicki, President of City Com Baden, welcomes the participants to the second forum of this kind. According to the programme, the topic of the evening will be questions relating to construction and real estate. The title of the input lecture is: “Construction site shopping city – projects and challenges”. Gabriela Rast, portfolio manager of the SBB pension fund, and Fredy Hasenmaile, head of real estate analysis at Crédit Suisse, will speak about this. Daniel Lorenzi , owner and managing director of the kitchen shop of the same name, reports from practice. Katia Röthlin from the communications agency Röthlin & Röthlin in Baden-Dättwil will moderate the event.
At 7.30 p.m. there are workshops on the following questions: Conversions and new buildings – how do we remain accessible to customers? Attractive store mix – who will ensure the right tenant successor? New space offers – what do start-ups need? The evaluation of the group discussions is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. and after Michael Wicki’s closing remarks, an aperitif riche awaits.
The shopping city forum is an initiative of City Com Baden and the contact point for business in the city of Baden, which used to promote the city. The inspiration and discussion platform works in a hybrid way – with physical events on specific topics and as a virtual place where the latest developments in the shopping city are continuously disseminated and negotiated, according to the aim of the event on the LinkedIn page.
According to a statement by the Steiner Group , the Zurich real estate company generated sales totaling CHF 763.6 million in the 2021/22 financial year, which ended on March 31, 2022. At the same time, the operating result before taxes and interest reached an exceptionally high value of CHF 49.7 million. The real estate service provider, which specializes in project development and implementation, has achieved “solid growth in all key areas of its core business”.
Specifically, the report mentions a strong real estate development business, a high level of construction activity by the group’s total and general contractor in western Switzerland and profits from the sale of condominiums and developed projects. The group has thus completed its first year of transformation after the decision to focus on real estate development at the beginning of 2020 “with a very good result”, writes Steiner.
In the year under review, Steiner was able to acquire new development projects with a forecast market value upon completion of around CHF 1.5 billion. Steiner explains that this has increased the group’s development portfolio to a volume of CHF 6.4 billion.
Since 1980, the Gotthard road tunnel has been the most important Swiss car corridor through the Alps. After more than 40 years of operation, this is in need of renovation. The Federal Roads Office (Astra) is building a second tube by 2029 so that the road connection can be used without interruption despite the repairs. In order to offer the teams involved in the construction optimal accommodation during their assignments, the Astra announced an architecture and investor competition. The contract was awarded to Swiss Property, which developed its project together with the engineering office Pirmin Jung. They convinced the jury with three buildings; two of them in element and one in modular construction as well as a digitized planning and construction with the Timber OS system developed by Swiss Property. This enabled the optimal balance between yield, costs and energy consumption to be calculated.
The three buildings are named Dammastock, Galenstock and Rhonestock. Your future residents are surrounded by rock, concrete, dust and noise every day. For this reason, the rooms were deliberately designed with a high feel-good factor and a warm atmosphere. A main component used in construction is local wood.
The Dammastock is the largest of the three buildings: in 2021, 102 single rooms, each with an area of around 14 square meters, as well as an underground car park were built here. The Dammastock has been ready for occupancy since December 2021. The facade consists of saw-grey spruce and fir wood. The building is to be dismantled in 2032: Thanks to the 105 individual wooden modules used, the Damma stock can be easily dismantled, transported and reassembled at another location. Possible conversions include a temporary school building, an asylum home or guest rooms.
The other two buildings, Galenstock and Rhonestock, will be erected as hybrid structures with 72 single rooms of 14 square meters each. Both will have a staircase core made of reinforced concrete. The buildings consist of system timber construction elements made of spruce and fir wood and, thanks to the alpine architecture, harmonize perfectly with their surroundings. After the tunnel work, these buildings can be used on the spot in the long term: the interior design allows for an uncomplicated conversion into 16 apartments with areas of 40 to 110 square meters. The three buildings in Göschenen thus create a benefit that goes beyond the tunnel project.
The interior rendering shows what an apartment could look like after conversion.
According to MOOST, it has transformed the not always intelligent home (smart home) into a learning home (learning home). The start-up company has “created a great concept and a plan including a proof of concept,” said Aldo Sciaccia, Global Head of Product Management and R&D, ABB Electrification , Smart Buildings, in thejury’s statement . “With the proposed solution, we are able to connect different data sources, add context and provide users with actionable insights.” It bridges the gap to advanced technology and helps even untrained end users to make “billions of better decisions”.
According to an ABB press release , more than 100 teams from 34 countries applied for the awards. Victory in the Smart Power category went to Italian start-up i-EM . The North American start -up Pratexo won in the Distribution Solutions category.
The winners take part in a collaborative project with ABB worth $30,000. The goal is to launch a joint solution for customers on the ABB Ability Marketplace later this year, reaching an audience in over 100 countries. They also receive mentoring support from ABB’s startup accelerator SynerLeap and from Microsoft ‘s startup advisors. Because, according to Anton Kotov, Head of Digital and Strategy at ABB Electrification, “only with some of the brightest minds in the world can we develop solutions to the world’s energy and climate problems”.
Two commercial buildings have already been realized in the Grund area of the former NEAT construction site. Other projects are taking shape and spreading a spirit of optimism from Amsteg via Silenen to Bristen. Andermatt has the tourism resort, Altdorf is proud of the canton train station. In order to put the entire canton and all regions in the best light, more lighthouses are needed, according to Silener mayor Hermann Epp: “From 1999 to 2016, AlpTransit Gotthard used this area between Gotthardstrasse and Reuss as an installation site for the construction of the Neat base tunnels. Now we want to work with partners and investors to realize new opportunities for business, leisure, living and tourism on the ground that has been freed up,” says Epp.
In addition to the work yard of a construction company, several projects from the comprehensive plans for the site have already been put into operation. The regional medical and sports center including the restaurant is particularly important to the community. Uri still has the lowest density of doctors in Switzerland. There are also signs of an aging of the population of Uri. The need for medical services is increasing. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade young doctors to run a practice in a mountain canton. It turns out that group practices with the possibility of part-time work and flexible participation options meet a need of young doctors. The medical center is therefore well suited to ensure and increase the family doctor care for the municipality of Silenen and the middle and upper Reusstal in the long term and sustainably. An open day will take place on August 13, 2022.
More information: www.silenen.ch www.az-silenen.ch www.grundimmobilienag.ch
In industry and in the commercial sector, company buildings are traditionally single-storey in order to enable optimal logistics and to shorten distances. This idea has its origins in a time when land was considered an infinite resource and the car was the focus of planning.
But land is a finite resource. For reasons of sustainability, as little soil as possible should be installed and sealed. The industry must therefore find new ways to minimize sealed ground floor areas without losing flexibility.
The craft center Ha2 in Erstfeld is taking such a path. His concept: It stacks up the space that would otherwise be spread over a single floor. The building consists of a ground floor and two upper floors. The latter are accessed via a ramp that can be driven on by delivery vans. It connects to each floor via an arcade. A goods lift is also available.
The Ha2 Crafts Center not only attaches importance to sustainability when it comes to the construction area. The construction was designed for durability, for example by high interior spaces and the separation of the primary, secondary and tertiary structures. The latter should also put the poor CO2 balance of concrete into perspective. The building shell of the crafts center is made of wood, the sun protection was created constructively. Depending on the user, waste wood chips or groundwater are used for heating. With a joiner’s workshop as a co-user, the building could also be heated exclusively by burning wood chip waste.
The rainwater is collected in a cistern and reused – this saves 40 percent of the fresh water.
The Ha2 Crafts Center aims to be planned and implemented as simply and efficiently as possible. The ground floor is built over height and can be divided into two levels. This ensures more flexibility in use.
The craft center is being built in the commercial zone of the municipality of Erstfeld, north of the town centre, with the NEAT and A2 connections in the immediate vicinity. In the neighborhood there are, among other things, a fish farm and a system technology company.
Small, local craftsmen’s companies should be able to develop in the craftsmen’s center. An important point is therefore the affordability of the areas.
A company uses part of the space for a sanitary exhibition. A takeaway stand is also planned on the ground floor. Also among those interested are a local carpenter’s shop, hemp plant startups, and plumbing and electrical companies.
The craft center Ha2 is currently in the status of the preliminary project. The building permit process is scheduled to begin in June 2022. The move into the building is planned for autumn 2023.
Aerial photo of the micro-location: The location of the crafts center is characterized by the optimal connection to the given traffic routes.
Franz Kempf AG wants to move its activities to a new building in Werkmatt Uri, which it intends to build. However, since she will only use a small part of the building on the 7,000 square meter plot, managing director and company owner Franz Kempf is looking for companies that have a need for property or rental space.
The company for plaster, stucco and panel work has too little space at its current location. Kempf also sees great potential in the new location. It is well developed and offers employees a workplace with a high quality of life close to nature. Cooperation with other companies also creates new jobs in the canton of Uri. In order to address interested parties from all over Switzerland, Kempf advertised in various media in Basel, Zurich, Central Switzerland, Aargau and Ticino. At the moment he is evaluating the interested parties who have contacted us. He doesn’t want to reveal what kind of company they are: “It’s very exciting, but for reasons of discretion I can’t give any information about it yet.”
The new building is to be developed according to the needs of the interested parties. Kempf hopes that the project will start soon and that the commercial space will be available from 2024. The plot in which Kempf would like to build its service and commercial arena is the southernmost one in the Werkmatt. It is located right next to the new motorway junction.
Franz Kempf, Managing Director and owner of Franz Kempf AG.
The Canton of Uri and the municipality of Altdorf are opening up new business opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors in the Werkmatt Uri Land. Industrial, commercial and service companies will find flexible options here. More than 1,000 value-added jobs are to be created here in the future.
Sustainable economic development As the owner, the Canton of Uri is striving for a win-win situation with future investors, owners and users in the area. The public sector therefore invested a double-digit million amount in the area between the future cantonal railway station and the new Altdorf Süd half-way junction. The plots of land can be purchased or acquired with building rights.
The first plots have already been sold and the first development stage has been completed. In the next few years, further building plots are to be sold step by step and built on. The canton is developing the Werkmatt Uri area in a coordinated manner so that sustainable economic uses are created in the overall regional interest. The district design plan serves investors and companies willing to build as an owner-binding, plot-specific planning instrument. It sets guidelines in terms of use, design, infrastructure and, in particular, job density.
Noticeable increasing interest Interest in the Werkmatt Uri has increased again with the opening of the cantonal railway station in December 2021. The two listed buildings, the “Sackmagazin” by the architect Robert Maillart and the “Silomagazin” by the architect Eduard Züblin, have already been sold. Exciting collections of art objects can now be found where the federal government used to stack grain sacks for emergencies. Kässbohrer Schweiz AG, a manufacturer of off-road vehicles, is the first company to buy a plot of land and build on it. Other exciting projects are being planned – as the following articles in this magazine illustrate.
«With this residential and commercial building, we focused on a sustainable concept. Ecology, economy and social issues are in harmony. With “Cubo”, the focus is on the social and functional mix of the building. This is achieved with diverse and communal forms of use. With these future-oriented approaches, incentives are created for the establishment of new places of work and life in the region,” explains René Chappuis, management of the responsible CAS Group. The approach is convincing. The apartments and office space were rented out within a very short time. The opportunity to meet in the building in everyday life is particularly popular with commuters and newcomers.
Staircase as a meeting zone The cubic building shell encloses two commercial floors, four residential floors and an attic floor. A total of 36 high-quality rental units with 2.5 to 4.5 rooms have been realized. “Encounter, exchange and the opportunity for joint meetings characterize the room concept. The building surprises with a very generous access zone. The atrium, which is lit by daylight, also serves as a meeting place to promote social exchange between the residents,” explains Helen Chappuis, Management and Head of Architecture. To promote social communication, the laundry room is also located on the ground floor and designed as a washable area.
Green electricity from the roof During the planning, a high priority was given to sustainability. The building has a modern wooden facade and is heated with a groundwater heat pump, which is fed via the photovoltaic system installed on the flat roof. Charging stations for electric cars can easily be made available in the garage. The PV system with an output of 36 kilowatts produces around 34,000 kilowatt hours of green electricity per year. This means that around six tons of CO2 emissions can be avoided per year, which corresponds to around 42,000 kilometers driven by car. As part of an association for self-consumption (ZEV), the solar power is consumed on site as far as possible. In summer, excess solar power flows back into the grid, in winter additional energy is drawn from the public grid. Thanks to this innovative concept, the tenants receive solar power from their own roof, which costs even less than mains power.
All three charming wooden chalets are connected with a passage. Behind the construction project is a comprehensive concept that focuses on sustainable tourism. At the same time, the Berg-Academy is set up, offering courses in the areas of healthy people, a healthy environment and sustainable entrepreneurship. The Academy will conduct the “live seminars” in the Berglodge37. External seminar providers can hold their own seminars on the Eggberge. Companies and organizations book the lodge for internal seminars in the mentioned areas. Adults looking for peace and quiet can use the place for a personal pit stop, a “digital detox” or simply for a few days of relaxation.
With the Berglodge37, the two operators fulfilled a dream: “This heart project has been dormant in us for a long time,” says Ruth Koch. “Operating a mountain oasis where curious people can meet and be inspired is our common dream,” adds Martin Reichle. When building the Berglodge37, great importance was attached to an optimal energy balance and a lot of regional “moon wood” was used, wood felled during the waning moon. According to an ETH study, this wood has been proven to have a wide variety of positive properties such as better stability, better durability, fire resistance, hardness and resistance to pests. When it came to choosing the furniture, only the best was good enough. All rooms are equipped with bed systems from the Swiss manufacturer Leibundgut from the Bernese Oberland. The world’s only bed with automatic shape adjustment to every body shape and sleeping position offers perfect sleeping comfort and guarantees the best relaxation.
As a consistently sustainable business, Berglodge37 relies on vegetarian cuisine. Guests should be able to experience that vegetarian food can taste just as good as dishes containing meat. The lodge sees itself as an innovative employer in the canton of Uri. This is reflected in the choice of employees, who practically all come from the region. The opening of the Berglodge37 is planned for mid-July 2022. More information: www.berglodge37.com.
Is it true that the Datwyler plant in Schattdorf (UR) has been climate-neutral since 2012? Reto Burkart: Yes, that is correct.
And how did you achieve this goal so early? There were two independent activities that led to this. Thanks to a new external partner, we were able to replace our oil heating with a wood heating plant in 2008. Since then, the process and heating energy for our plant has been generated using wood chips. In addition, since 2012 we have been using certified electricity from hydropower.
What can other companies learn from your (temporal) know-how advantage? I think a company should have some basic knowledge in-house when it comes to sustainable energy. But you shouldn’t always try to take everything completely into your own hands. We have always worked with external specialists who can take on such issues and have much more specific know-how than we do. But it is important that you know your partner and can trust him.
Would you have thought that the topic of sustainability would one day become so important? Yes, of course, and we were and are prepared for this and will not stop working on the topic. Of course it is more “en vogue” today to take on sustainability, but in my opinion we as a company have been benefiting from this setup for a long time, because sustainability does not only refer to energy and material consumption. The health and safety of employees are also part of this.
What are your goals for the next ten years? As far as the health and safety of employees is concerned, we at the Schattdorf site are working to increase understanding of the importance of these issues through many small internal programs. In this regard, we also work very intensively with external partners such as SUVA.
With regard to the environment, we are constantly working to reduce the absolute and relative consumption of fuel, electricity and water as well as the amount of waste. In addition, Datwyler has set itself the goal of being climate-neutral at all locations worldwide by 2030.
Reto Burkart, head of the Datwyler plant in Schattdorf
The future of energy in Switzerland is an ongoing topic. Local, sustainable and CO2-free energy solutions are a recipe for more independence without neglecting the agreed climate targets. With its integrated overall energy solutions, SmartEnergy for short, EWA-energieUri offers a clever solution for the individual energy transition. Specifically, the following is behind SmartEnergy: Produce and store electricity yourself with a photovoltaic system, sustainable heat and cold production, charging solutions for electromobility, measure and visualize the consumption of electricity, heat, cold and water with SmartMeters – everything is networked and optimized with one intelligent control.
Great added value for owners EWA-energieUri is currently implementing such an integrated overall energy solution for the “Plätzli” development in Altdorf. The project in the middle of Altdorf’s village center comprises two buildings with a total of 24 apartments. Part of the energy required in the future will be produced with a photovoltaic system. All homeowners benefit from this. The electricity produced with solar power can be used, for example, to charge electric cars or to air-condition the premises. An intelligent control also connects all systems and optimizes them. In this way, the required electricity is always available when it is needed. Since the residual electricity also comes from renewable, local URstrom from Uri hydropower, the integrated overall energy solutions from EWA-energieUri are 100 percent CO2-free.
Benefit from the local heating network The “Plätzli” project in Altdorf demonstrates another major advantage of integrated total energy solutions: the sustainable technologies can easily be expanded for other properties. Five existing buildings in the neighborhood also benefit from the two newly installed heat pumps in the “Plätzli” as part of the local heating network. They can say goodbye to their previous oil heating systems and significantly increase the energy balance of their properties. This option represents great added value, especially for owners of older properties. They can easily and simply benefit from sustainable solutions and at the same time help to take another step towards a renewable energy future.
«During the journey from Göschenen to Andermatt you can see and feel the power of these rough and massive rocks. It’s a sight I’ll never forget,” says Samih Sawiris, Egyptian visionary and investor, on his first trip to Andermatt. During his visit in 2005, he was supposed to support the Uri government as an advisor in making Andermatt more attractive again after the withdrawal of the Swiss army. But he quickly decided to develop a tourism project for Andermatt himself.
High level of construction activity in recent years This first visit to Andermatt is now 17 years ago. Andermatt is now in the middle of developing into a prime alpine destination. In the Andermatt Reuss district of the village, 15 apartment buildings were in operation at the beginning of the year, three under construction and several in the planning stage. In addition to the apartment buildings, there are two hotels: The Chedi Andermatt in the village center opened in 2013 and the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen in 2018. The Gotthard Residences, apartments with hotel service, are connected to the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen. In accordance with the sustainability principle of the Andermatt Swiss Alps, Andermatt Reuss is car-free, all houses are built to low-energy standards and the electricity comes from renewable sources.
How it all started The vision for the tourist destination was presented to the population of the Ursern Valley at the end of 2005. In March 2007, the municipality of Andermatt approved with 96% yes votes. As a result, the Swiss army sold a majority of the areas used for military purposes. The Andermatt Reuss part of the village is now being built on this ground. International architectural competitions were announced for the apartment buildings and the design of the master plan.
As a unique project of this scope and because of its national importance, the Federal Council exempted it from the Lex Koller in 2007, which also approved the district design plan.
In addition to real estate and the hotel industry, the tourist offer in the Ursern Valley is also being expanded. At the same time, Andermatt Swiss Alps AG took over the ski area in order to expand and modernize it. Over the course of three years, lifts were renewed or newly created and a continuous network of 120 km of slopes up to Sedrun was realised. Together with Disentis there are even 180 kilometers of pistes.
Year-round destination Andermatt New offers are also being created for the summer months. The Andermatt Swiss Alps Golf Course opened in 2015. This was awarded the globally recognized GEO certification. The 18-hole golf course was awarded Swisstainable Level III, leading by Switzerland Tourism. The cultural offer in Andermatt was supplemented in mid-2019 by the highest concert hall in the Alps. The Andermatt concert hall was designed by Studio Seilern Architects under the direction of Christina Seilern. A further 20,000 m2 of the infrastructure base is currently being created in order to build the next houses and hotels. A total of 42 apartment buildings, 6 four- and five-star hotels and several villas are planned.
Best location directly on the European north-south axis The most direct connection between Europe’s south and north has always been through Uri, but no later than the construction of the legendary Devil’s Bridge in 1230. Since the opening of the Gotthard railway tunnel in 1882, fast transport of people and goods has also been guaranteed by rail. And in 2016, a new work of the century went into operation with the Gotthard base tunnel: since then, Uri has been connected to the south by the longest railway tunnel in the world (57 km).
With the commissioning of the cantonal train station in Altdorf in 2021, the south and north moved even closer to Uri: Lugano can now be easily reached in 50 minutes, Milan in two hours and Zurich in one hour with direct connections.
The central location of the Uri site with advantageous connections at a glance.
Optimal cost environment Uri not only impresses with its advantageous location, but also with an attractive cost environment. On the one hand, the Gotthard canton combines several financial advantages for the benefit of the resident population: the tax burden, health insurance premiums and housing costs are relatively low. The proportion of properties with at least four rooms that can be afforded with a household income of CHF 134,000 is 31 percent on average in Switzerland in 2021. In Uri, this value is 40 to 50 percent. This underlines the attractive real estate prices in Uri. At the same time, the tax deduction options for families are well above the Swiss average. In this way, the people of Uri can freely dispose of around 50 percent of every franc they earn in Uri. In terms of disposable income and the financial attractiveness of living, the canton of Uri is among the clear leaders in Switzerland.
In the same way, companies also benefit from relatively inexpensive land and real estate prices. But Uri also outperforms many cantons in corporate tax competition. Because the Gotthard canton has had a flat rate tax for years – for both natural and legal persons. The low corporate taxes are particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized companies. The profit tax is around 12.6 percent and the capital tax is 0.001 percent (cantonal and municipal taxes in the municipality of Altdorf). Both in the Swiss and in the international comparison, Uri thus occupies an absolute top position!
Fast and reliable realization of business ideas Decision-makers and reliable partners in authorities, business and society can be reached quickly in Uri. After all, a small canton also means short distances. The small size also means tailor-made solutions, so that business ideas can be implemented pragmatically. In addition, Uri can boast of committed and effective employees who are characterized by loyalty and a high degree of identification with the employer.
Uniquely simple combination of work and leisure Kayaking before starting work? Cross-country skiing during the lunch break? Short hike in the evening with the family? Embedded in an attractive mountain and lake landscape, the canton of Uri with its local recreation areas makes this unique combination of work and leisure possible. In Uri there is energy and quality of life – discover this added value at work, after work and on days off.
Good things are so close: a unique combination of free time and work in the canton of Uri. (Image: Angel Sanchez)
Numerous investments in a small space A lot is currently being built in the canton of Uri. Hardly any other place invests so much in such a small space. This results in significant impulses that contribute to the noticeable spirit of optimism in the canton of Uri. The development of the Uri housing market is exemplary for this. In the last 10 years it has grown by almost 3,000 new apartments – that means a remarkable increase of 16 percent.
The resident population of Uri, which has stagnated in recent decades, has also been growing significantly again for several years. All of this underscores the attractive framework conditions, but is also thanks to the well-known investments in the Uri location.
Promotion to the tourist champions league Tourism development in Andermatt in particular has contributed to this growth. Due to the partial withdrawal of the military, the mountain community was faced with major challenges. Egyptian investor Samih Sawiris brought the turning point. Since 2009 he has invested more than CHF 1.3 billion together with fellow investors, thereby catapulting Andermatt into the tourism champions league. CHF 130 million went into the modernization and expansion of the winter and summer sports facilities. Further investments were made in an ecologically operated 18-hole golf course and in a multifunctional concert hall for brilliant music experiences as well as conferences and exhibitions. With Andermatt Reuss, a completely new part of the village was created with hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants and businesses and its own village square, the Piazza Gottardo.
With more than 1000 employees, Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, which operates the tourist resort, is now the largest employer in Uri. Andermatt is an up-and-coming and attractive tourist destination. Further investments are already planned: on the one hand, the new village part of Andermatt Reuss will be expanded in stages by another 18,000 m2. On the other hand, Vail Ski Resorts will take over the majority of the mountain railway infrastructure in Andermatt and plans further investments of over CHF 100 million.
Newly created part of the Andermatt Reuss village with a view of the «Piazza Gottardo». (Image: Andermatt Swiss Alps)
More mobility and attractiveness in the Uri valley floor Despite the impressive development in the mountain village of Andermatt and its importance for Uri as a business location: around 80 percent of the population of Uri live in the valley floor, where most of the service, industrial and commercial companies are concentrated. This area has undergone substantial changes in recent years. With the development focus of the Urner valley floor around the cantonal train station in Altdorf, Uri is tackling a project for generations: Here, sustainable uses are created in the overall regional interest and the corresponding economic, settlement and transport infrastructures are carefully coordinated.
An important milestone was reached in December 2021 with the commissioning of the new cantonal railway station in Altdorf. Intercity trains now stop in Altdorf, which connects the station to the Gotthard base line. The regional and national bus concept is also geared towards the new hub. Impetus for economic and settlement projects should arise from better accessibility. The first effects are already visible: in the immediate vicinity of the train station, modern residential developments have already been realized with “Vena” and “Cubo”. Others, such as the “Strickermatt” development in the immediate vicinity of the cantonal railway station, are in the works. The Cantonal Bank of Uri is also actively involved in the development of the new Uri transport hub. With its newly erected service building at Bahnhofplatz 1, it is committed to the overall economic development of the canton and the bank itself. State-of-the-art office space has been created there in a prime location. The UKB itself claims a third as its new headquarters, and a further 3100 m2 are rented out. Exciting new companies from Germany and abroad have already settled here.
Werkmatt Uri – space for business ideas The Werkmatt Uri in Altdorf is the central piece of the puzzle for the focus of development. It is the largest contiguous land reserve in Uri. The canton of Uri, as the owner, invested millions in the area between the new canton train station and the future half-junction to the motorway. On around 120,000 m2, the area offers business opportunities for future-oriented industrial, commercial and service companies. More than 1,000 jobs are to be created on the site in the future. The aim is to develop the area in a coordinated manner so that sustainable economic uses can arise. The public sector as the provider is striving for a win-win situation with investors and the future owners and users of the area.
What the Werkmatt could look like in the future, including the Autobahn half connection.
Further promising developments are pending The canton of Uri has already implemented various generation projects, as described above. Other important development projects are pending. A new traffic hub in Göschenen is being planned. In addition to the station for trains and buses and a multi-storey car park, a cable car connection from Göschenen station to the Andermatt ski area is being planned.
In addition, there is the west-east bypass in the Urner valley floor, which will relieve the settlement areas of road traffic and thus upgrade them. In Altdorf, a new half-junction to the motorway is being built, which will open up the Urner valley floor even better. The federal government is already working on the construction of the second Gotthard road tunnel. Finally, new bike paths are being created, which should make Uri even more attractive for non-motorised traffic. In addition, investments in education and research are becoming even more important. The first approaches are already there: on the one hand with the Institute for Alpine Cultures, which is dedicated to the special features of the Alpine region – from prehistoric evidence to specific traditions to the challenges of the present. On the other hand with the Logistikum Schweiz in Altdorf, a research and innovation center for logistics and supply chain management.
Promotion of the Uri location – your effective partner Many exciting developments are underway in the canton of Uri. Location promotion is working on using this momentum in an economically sustainable manner and converting it into jobs and added value for the entire canton. How does the Uri location promotion work?
On the one hand, we make the advantages of the Gotthard canton and the exciting developments visible. Location communication and marketing takes place via the web, print, trade fair appearances and via the personal network. In particular, membership in the Greater Zurich Area is intended to ensure that the Uri location and its advantages are even better perceived. Those interested in settling, as well as existing companies and start-ups, are supported by the location promotion in consultations or during site visits or the search for building land. It is also the information and contact point of the administration for the economy of Uri. In addition, she establishes contact with the key people in business, education, innovation promotion and authorities.
Wide range of tools The Uri location promotion can fall back on a wide range of instruments to support companies. They are custom-defined for each individual case. Innovative start-ups, for example, benefit from this in the form of start-up aid. Another option is to support cross-company initiatives with the New Regional Policy (NRP), a funding instrument for rural and mountain areas. As a start-up aid or pioneer, she can help entrepreneurial initiatives to achieve a breakthrough.
With the Uri location promotion, you can count on quick, competent and binding reactions to your concerns.
Welcome to the living and business location Uri. Grab the bull by the horns with us!
The transformation of the Sulzer area, initiated more than 20 years ago, has turned the former “forbidden industrial city” into a lively district “with many new residents, workers and numerous uses for customers”, writes the Winterthur city administration in a statement . This transformation is now almost complete, it says there. The work in the last sub-area Lockstadt should also be completed in the next few years.
The new district is now to be given uniform signage. It is based on “a simple signage concept appropriate to the area” and is intended to “ensure good orientation for visitors and customers,” explains the city administration. Street signs and house numbers are rust red, taken from the color palette of the former industrial area. The signposts in and through the area are also designed in rust red.
The area-specific signage should not only simplify orientation, but also “maintain and strengthen the identity of this special part of the city”, according to the statement. The concept and corresponding adjustments to the ordinance on street naming and the guidelines for building labeling in the area have already been approved by the city council.
The Zug-based building materials company Holcim has bought the Cajun Ready Mix Concrete company in the US state of Louisiana. According to a press release , Holcim intends to expand its ready-mixed concrete division by taking over the associated eight plants for ready-mixed concrete, 108 employees and 51 mixing vehicles.
Accordingly, the manufacturer of ready-mixed concrete is the largest company in its sector in the greater Baton Rouge area. “With this acquisition, we are expanding our presence in the dynamic Baton Rouge market and reaffirming our focus on growth in North America,” Toufic Tabbara, head of Holcim’s North America region, said in the press release. Cajun’s industry connections and technical skills make him an ideal fit for Holcim’s business.
Holcim does not disclose anything about the purchase price in its press release. Founded in 2014, Cajun provides concrete and customer service for residential, commercial and industrial partners.
Nowhere else is so much energy consumed as in the building sector. In Europe, around 40 percent of final energy consumption and 36 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to this sector. With its Smart Buildings technologies, Talkpool AG is helping to make buildings more energy-efficient. For example, via intelligent sensors that can be used to automatically control and optimize the indoor air and climate. “Our technology not only helps to significantly reduce the energy requirements of buildings, but also saves the corresponding costs,” says Aurelius Wosylus, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Talkpool AG. He refers to the rapidly increasing energy prices and advises building operators to tackle the problem now.
In Germany alone there are 21 million buildings, of which around 19 million are residential buildings and around 2 million non-residential buildings. Together they consumed around 865 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy in 2019. At 76 percent, by far the largest part is accounted for by space heating (658 TWh). Even back in 2019, i.e. before the energy price shock, the costs for space heating, hot water and lighting in buildings in Germany amounted to an estimated 73 billion euros. Although the final energy consumption in the building sector has fallen slightly in recent years, it is not to the extent that would be necessary to achieve the climate targets. This is also due to the fact that around a third of the buildings in Germany and Europe are more than 50 years old. Older buildings in particular often only have inadequate HVAC systems. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and refers to the various systems in a building responsible for heat regulation, indoor comfort and air quality.
Convincing solutions for saving energy in buildings
The international company, headquartered in Chur, Switzerland, has developed solutions with which energy and cost savings of 10 to 25 percent can be achieved in existing HVAC systems. Aurelius Wosylus explains the technology behind it: “Our wireless room climate sensors form the basis. After they have been installed in the building, these monitor the various parameters such as room heat and air quality in real time.” This input goes to a self-learning control algorithm via an Internet gateway. According to Wosylus, the AI also accesses external data, such as the weather situation or the development of energy tariffs. “In this way, the AI controls the HVAC system in a constant improvement process to maximize indoor climate quality and optimize energy consumption.”
The system is already installed in buildings with a total area of more than one million square meters. With consistently good results. As an example, Wosylus cites a hotel and office project in Sweden with an area of around 25,000 square meters. “Our analysis shows that not only has the air quality and thus the feel-good factor improved significantly, but also the energy consumption for the heating and cooling systems has been reduced by between 20 and 25 percent.” It didn’t even take a year, he says Wosylus until the project has recouped its costs for the building operator.
The new headquarters of the Urner Kantonalbank (UKB) near the cantonal train station was occupied at the end of March 2022. The meticulously prepared rein action over three days was the long-awaited conclusion of a construction phase of around two and a half years. Various tenants of the new, five-storey service building have now also moved in. The occupancy rate of over 70% when the building was completed confirms the successful development of the location in the Uri valley floor and beyond. With the modern and attractive meeting place, the Urner Kantonalbank makes an important contribution to the new gateway to the canton of Uri in various roles. She is the client of the multifunctional building, an investor who sets economic impulses, a landlord who creates space for new companies and an employer who enables a modern and innovative working environment.
UKB new building – lots of flexibility for everyone With the selected column-free construction of the entire ground floor and a glass proportion of the facade of 75%, which gives the workplaces plenty of light, the new building appears transparent and lively. The service building is certified according to the Minergie standard. In addition, the new building is connected to the district heating network of the Uri heating plant. The photovoltaic system on the roof will produce around 61,000 kWh of electricity, which corresponds to around 15 percent of the building’s total energy requirements. The flexible room layout on each floor allows for modern forms of work over a long period of time. At the same time, the flexibility promotes exchange, synergies and innovation. On the 1st floor there is a multifunctional hall for up to 99 people, which can be used for events and training not only by the permanent tenants. Of the total usable area of 6240 m², only a small area on the ground floor and 1st floor is still open for rent.
Innovation biotope Uri – promotes innovation and education in the canton of Uri In recent years, a lot of work has been done in the canton of Uri to develop an attractive infrastructure for the further development of the canton in order to generate the best possible conditions for a growth market in the canton. With the upgrading of the Altdorf train station to a cantonal train station, the locational favor of the canton of Uri for new service, high-tech and commercial uses will be increased considerably, and many other opportunities for new economic impulses will arise.
With the innovation biotope on the 3rd floor, the UKB and its partners from business, administration and politics are realizing a location for innovation and education. This is intended to serve as a nucleus for promoting innovation, education and research, but also as an organization for networking and procurement of resources for innovative companies covering the entire canton.
Herr Camenzind, wie hat sich die Urner Standortentwicklung und Wirtschaftsförderung in den vergangenen Jahren verändert? Als ich 2012 ins Amt gekommen bin, haben wir die Ansiedlungsstrategie angepasst und sind eine Zusammenarbeit mit der Greater Zurich Area eingegangen. Das war ein wichtiger Schritt. Dann kam die Tourismusentwicklung in Andermatt dazu. Solche Entwicklungen sind wichtige Standortfaktoren und Verkaufsargumente. Man redet heute im Kanton Uri weniger über die Stausituation vor dem Gotthardtunnel sondern mehr über Andermatt. Die Entwicklung im Urner Talboden ist indes anders gelagert. Hier haben wir es in den letzten sechs, sieben Jahre vor allem mit Quartierentwicklungen zu tun gehabt. Wir als Kanton Uri besitzen im Urner Talboden auch Land, welches wir entwickeln möchten und das für Gewerbe und Industrie zum Verkauf steht. Ein weiterer wichtiger Standortfaktor ist der neue Kantonsbahnhof, an dem seit dem letzten Dezember internationale Züge halten. Bei uns ist in letzter Zeit sehr viel passiert. Diese Entwicklungen nehmen wir dankbar im Standortmarketing auf, damit wir spannende Geschichten erzählen können.
Was sind die Vor- und Nachteile der neuen Destination Andermatt und des Kantons generell? Der Vorteil von Andermatt ist ganz klar: Wir sind als Kanton Uri positiv im Gespräch. Wir können unser Image verbessern und etwas für die Ausstrahlung des ganzen Kantons tun. Alleine in Andermatt sind 1000 Arbeitsplätze neu geschaffen worden. Und das nicht etwa durch Umlagerungen oder Umstrukturierungen. Es sind Arbeitsplätze, die wir in der Art und Vielzahl bislang nicht hatten. Das ist sicher sehr positiv. Und es hilft uns wiederum auch auf anderen Gebieten, wo wir vielleicht noch schwächer aufgestellt sind. Dieser Effekt strahlt mittlerweile in die umliegenden Gemeinden aus. All das wirkt sich positiv aus – bis hinunter in den Urner Talboden um Altdorf. Die Nachteile sind gestiegene Immobilienpreise – vor allem in Andermatt. Das ist teils schwierig für die lokale Bevölkerung. Ich bin aber überzeugt, dass Andermatt und seine Bevölkerung unter dem Strich von der Tourismusentwicklung profitieren.
Wie sieht die Situation im Kantonshauptort Altdorf aus? Hier in Altdorf sind wir gut unterwegs – insbesondere dank dem neuen Verkehrsknotenpunkt in Altdorf. Dadurch ist der Kanton noch besser erschlossen. Wir haben hier gute Entwicklungen, etwa mit der Dätwyler in Schattdorf, welche unter anderem Kaffee-Kapseln für Nespresso herstellt. Die Perspektiven des Kantons Uri sind wesentlich besser als noch vor 20 Jahren. Vorher haben wir nur von Arbeitsplatzabbau der RUAG, SBB und beim Militär geredet. Das ist nicht mehr das Thema. Heute suchen die Firmen hier händeringend nach Arbeitskräften.
Wie sehen Angebot und Nachfrage auf dem Urner Immobilienmarkt aus? In Altdorf und im Urner Talboden ist in den letzten zehn Jahren so viel gebaut worden wie noch nie. Die Befürchtungen, es gebe aufgrund der Neubauten irgendwann hohe Leerstände, haben sich glücklicherweise nicht bewahrheitet. Wir haben keine hohe Leerwohnungsziffer. Es sind in den vergangenen zehn Jahren etwa 3000 Wohnungen im Kanton neu gebaut worden. Das ist für Urner Verhältnisse viel. Die Preise sind hingegen stabil geblieben und nicht unter Druck geraten. Das hat vielleicht auch damit zu tun, dass wir im Verhältnis wenig Wohnfläche pro Einwohner hatten. Bis vor zehn Jahren waren wir noch bei etwa knapp 40 Quadratmeter pro Person. Im Schweizer Schnitt sind wir mittlerweile bei 50 Quadratmeter pro Person. Da haben wir jetzt ein wenig aufgeholt. In den letzten fünf, sechs Jahren ist darüber hinaus auch ein Bevölkerungswachstum im Kanton Uri festzustellen. Dies absorbiert die Wohnungen, die gebaut werden. Der Markt funktioniert.
Wie geht es dem Gewerbestandort Uri? Eine der stärksten Branchen im Kanton Uri war schon immer die Baubranche. Das hat mit den grossen Infrastrukturprojekten zu tun: Kraftwerke, Bahngeleise, Autobahn, Tunnelbau. Das sind alles Baumeisteraufgaben. Da wird etwas gebaut, später stehen dann Sanierungen in regelmässigen Abständen an. Nehmen wir beispielsweise die Autobahn: Die Gotthardautobahn wird – mit der notwendigen Sanierung – jetzt quasi zum dritten Mal gebaut. In diesem Bereich tut sich also immer etwas. Dann ist Dätwyler mit seinen etwa 900 Angestellten in Uri ein sehr wichtiger Akteur. Die Metallverarbeitung war bei uns schon immer stark. Wir haben sehr viele mechanische Metallverarbeitungsbetriebe mit grossem Knowhow.
Wir kommen auf den Neubau der Urner Kantonalbank zu sprechen: Welche Impulse gehen davon aus? Auf den entstandenen Büroflächen konnten bereits spannende Firmen eingemietet oder angesiedelt werden, unter anderem das norwegische Software-Unternehmen Crayon. Das ist eine internationale Firma, die auch weiterwächst und erst vor wenigen Jahren in den Kanton Uri gekommen ist. Das hilft uns und dem Standort. Auch ziehen solche Erfolgsgeschichten immer weitere Ansiedlungen an. Das hat Ausstrahlung über den Standort Altdorf hinaus. Zusätzlich entstehen noch weitere Bauwerke rund um den Kantonsbahnhof wie Wohnungen und Geschäfts- und Gewerbeflächen. Es ist wichtig, dass wir am verkehrsreichsten Punkt von Uri eine weitsichtige und ausgewogene Entwicklung haben, und der Neubau der Urner Kantonalbank ist hierfür ein guter Start.
Alles in allem finden auf kleinstem Raum im Kanton Uri gerade sehr viele Investitionen statt. Die positive Aufbruchstimmung und Dynamik gilt es jetzt, gewinnbringend zugunsten des Kantons Uri zu verwenden.
This year, the national Siemens Excellences Award, worth CHF 10,000, went to two graduates of the building technology course at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts . Patrick Heller and Lorenz Rüegsegger were honored for their bachelor thesis “Optimal control for a new type of decentralized latent storage module in an apartment building”. The two young researchers from Lucerne had developed a system for decentralized domestic hot water treatment in cooperation with BMS Energietechnik AG in Bern. Here, a fresh water station is operated by a decentralized heat pump, which draws its evaporation energy from the heating circuit in winter and from the room heating in summer.
“The system has a high potential for energy savings and should be used in the long term in new buildings in the residential sector,” explains Siemens Switzerland in the press release. According to her, the development of the young researchers is “not only nationally, but also internationally scalable and therefore also a promising approach from an economic point of view”. It was also important for the jury that the project be continued together with the industrial partner.
“With the Excellence Award, we want to motivate young people to deal with scientific topics that can be implemented in practice,” Gerd Scheller, Country CEO of Siemens Switzerland, is quoted in the statement. The award is part of Siemens’ Generation 21 educational program, which promotes young talent in the natural sciences and technology.
ewz is expanding its citizen participation model ewz.solarzüri . As the energy supplier announced in a press release , around 3,300 additional solar systems on public buildings in the city of Zurich are now available to its customers. In this way, tenants can also contribute to the construction of additional solar areas. The price is 250 francs per square meter, the payment on the electricity bill is 80 kilowatt hours per year for a period of 20 years.
The largest of the planned new solar systems are in Höngg: on the Lachenzelg Ost school building (1860 square meters) and on the waterfront school building (1170 square meters). 100 square meters are planned on the roof of the Dunkelhölzli residential building in Altstetten, and 165 square meters on the Altstetten train station. If 80 percent of an area is sold through this type of swarm financing, the respective system is realized by ewz.
In this case, clean electricity will be generated by ewz.solarzüri from January 2023 on over 37,000 square meters. According to ewz, further locations are in the works.
“With the solar strategy , we in the city of Zurich have the ambitious goal of producing more solar power,” City Councilor Michael Baumer, head of the industrial operations of the city of Zurich , to which ewz also belongs, is quoted in the statement. “Because only together can we make Zurich a solar city – every square meter counts!”
A competition for landscape architects was carried out for the design of the Attisholz area in Riedholz. According to a media release from Halter AG , those that are to be pursued have been selected from the six projects submitted. The Schlieremer construction group is the landowner of the area. The projects will now be presented to the public. The exhibition opened on Thursday, May 19, at 5 p.m. in the evaporation plant building. The exhibition will remain open until June 2nd.
The government council of the canton of Solothurn approved the usage plan for the Attisholz area in Riedholz in December. The project page from Halter states that cellulose was industrially produced on the site for 130 years. Since the end of 2016, Halter AG has been working with the local municipality of Riedholz and the canton of Solothurn to find a new use for the area.
Six teams led by landscape architecture offices took part in the competition that has now been held. In the program, the creation of a sustainable and changeable basis for the development of a living space for all users was formulated as a core task. The aim was to design the mostly public open spaces on the eastern part of the site in detail.
The assessment committee consisted of experts in landscape architecture and urban planning, representatives of the municipality of Riedholz, the office for spatial planning of the canton of Solothurn and the landowner Halter AG. The committee unanimously recommended the study by DnD Landschaftsplanung ZT Wien and Freimüller-Söllinger Stadtbau ZT Wien for further processing.
According to the company , Sika has put a new production plant into operation in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Manufacturing at the new headquarters allows the production of mortar and concrete additives to be doubled compared to the previous plant. Production is automated, promotes efficiency and makes the production process more sustainable.
Christoph Ganz, Head of the Americas Region at Sika, is quoted as saying that the investment is aimed at serving the rapidly increasing demand in the “dynamic Bolivian construction market”. According to calculations, the country’s construction market expects economic growth of 9.5 percent in 2022.
On the way to industrialization, the South American country is dependent on sufficient infrastructure for energy supply and for industrial projects. The new location is in the largest industrial park in the country. It has good transport links and allows capacity to be expanded to meet higher demand in the future. By creating additional storage space, an administration building and a training center for customers, Sika has also prepared itself for logistical growth impulses.
According to a message on Facebook, the Dietiker construction company Walo Bertschinger is introducing the digital ordering and delivery process with Q Site for all 13 business areas of asphalt road construction. From planning the paving process and coordinating the ordering of mix with the asphalt plant to controlling the paving process, Walo employees will use the Q Site software in the future.
The software application Q Site has been developed by Q Point in Langenthal BE. There are several fields of application. Q Asphalt says on Q Point’s special website that the system offers support both in the office and on the construction site with the construction site app over the entire cycle of a construction project. From planning to execution to the final documentation, it provides helpful key figures to build easier, faster and more successfully.
Project planning is given as an example. According to Q Point, the system automatically delivers a ready-to-use installation and logistics concept including a complete employee and equipment deployment plan as well as a calculation of the trucks required.
According to the Facebook message, Walo Bertschinger assumes that even more efficient work processes can be achieved with this “upgrade”.
The Zürcher Kantonalbank is offering a new mortgage for housing cooperatives at favorable financing conditions. According to a press release , non-profit property developers benefit from a reduced interest rate of up to 0.5 percent. This applies both to the extension of existing loans and to a new mortgage.
The basic requirement for the granting of the ZKB WohnPlus mortgage is that the apartment rents from the housing developer are at least 15 percent below the market rents. “We want to use this to maintain and promote non-profit and affordable housing,” Patrick Bühlmann, corporate customer advisor at Zürcher Kantonalbank, is quoted as saying in the press release. Because in the cities, above all Geneva and Zurich, rising rents are leading to a lack of affordable living space.
In addition, applicants must meet 29 criteria, seven of which are basic criteria. If the applicant meets a further 14 criteria in stage 1, he will receive a maximum interest rate reduction of 0.3 percent. In order to receive the full 0.5 percent, he must meet a total of 21 requirements based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ), the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard ( SNBS ) and the ten guiding principles for non-profit housing in Switzerland.
If level 1 is initially reached in a construction project, the property developer can prove further criteria later on. In this way, the bank wants to create an incentive “to make further improvements in terms of social performance even during the term”.
Renggli Deutschland GmbH is a joint venture between the four shareholders Renggli AG, Saxovent Smart Eco Investments GmbH, Sächsische Ärzteversorgung (SAEV) and MQ Real Estate GmbH. Renggli AG is committed to providing know-how and expertise. The new plant is being built in Eberswalde (state of Brandenburg), around 40 kilometers from the Berlin city limits. In February 2022, the purchase contract for the land of the production facility was signed. Construction will start in the third quarter of 2022 and completion is scheduled for the end of 2023. From 2024, wooden modules for sustainable and climate-friendly, multi-storey buildings will be manufactured in the modern plant on a production area of around 20,000 square meters.
Great potential in Germany
In the greater Berlin area, there is great potential for serially and industrially manufactured wooden modules. In modular construction, entire room units are prefabricated in the production plant and assembled on the construction site. Today, modular buildings meet all the requirements of modern and sustainable real estate and offer a solution for the realization of attractive, affordable and climate-friendly living space. Samuel Renggli says: “We want to meet the high demand for timber construction capacities in the Berlin/Brandenburg area as needed and thus make a significant contribution to resource-friendly and climate-neutral construction. With the performance of this modern production plant, we meet the high standards of quality, efficiency and reliability.»
Market development in Germany – further development in Switzerland
The investment is the consistent strategic further development of activities in Germany and is based on Renggli AG’s long-term business plan. The commitment in Germany will not affect the activities in Switzerland. As planned, Renggli AG will continue to strengthen its market position in Switzerland and invest in the digitization and further development of the company in parallel to its expansion in Germany. In the production plant in Schötz (LU), Renggli AG continues to realize industrially manufactured, high-quality and climate-friendly buildings in element and modular construction. It thus serves the demand from Switzerland for architecturally sophisticated, multi-storey wooden buildings for housing developments, office and commercial buildings or kindergartens and schools.
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