immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Bau

  • Construction of the world’s largest building

    Construction of the world’s largest building

    With a height and width of 400 metres each, the Mukaab will surpass the Empire State Building in New York almost twenty times over. Construction work has now begun in the desert state and the megaproject is due to be completed by 2030. The cube will offer a variety of flats, shops and leisure facilities, strengthening Riyadh’s position as an up-and-coming tourist metropolis. Saudi Arabia is investing 50 billion dollars in the north-west of the capital to create a new urban landscape.

    Virtual reality and artificial intelligence
    The outside of the Mukaab is to be equipped with virtual reality technology to transport visitors to fascinating landscapes. Inside, artificial intelligence will create holograms and simulations that project different places and times at breathtaking scale. The building will thus become a kind of digital adventure park that will attract visitors from all over the world.

    Prestigious projects with challenges
    Mukaab is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030”, which aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a global tourist destination and business centre. The city of Neom and the linear megaproject “The Line” are also part of this ambitious plan. However, the plans for “The Line” have already been scaled back considerably due to logistical and financial hurdles. Instead of 170 kilometres, the structure will only be 2.4 kilometres long by 2030. It is uncertain whether it will ever reach the planned capacity for 9 million people.

    The Jeddah Tower – a long construction history
    Another mega project, the Jeddah Tower, was originally planned to be the tallest building in the world. After years of delays, the height was reduced from 1600 metres to 1007 metres. Construction began in 2013, but after a five-year break, the project is progressing slowly. The Jeddah Tower could be completed in 2029 at the earliest and become the new record holder.

    Criticism and controversy
    The Mukaab has already caused controversy. The design of the giant cube reminds many of the Kaaba in Mecca, the central shrine of Islam. This similarity is causing criticism in the conservative kingdom, as some citizens consider the construction to be disrespectful.

    It remains to be seen whether the Mukaab project will be realised on time or, like other Saudi megaprojects, run into difficulties. However, the size and ambition of these construction projects show the transformation that Saudi Arabia is undergoing. A transformation that is set to turn the country into a global tourism and business centre and will extend far beyond the oil era.

  • Five years of digital offensive in construction

    Five years of digital offensive in construction

    Five years ago, in 2019, an alliance of more than a dozen employers’ associations and three trade unions launched the Information System Allianz Bau (ISAB). The aim was to use the results of actual inspections more efficiently and thus ensure compliance with generally binding collective labor agreements (CLAs). What began with information on around 1,000 companies in the main construction industry has now developed into a comprehensive database containing information on over 45,000 companies.

    A comprehensive digital working tool
    ISAB has established itself as a comprehensive digital working tool through the introduction of the three modules ISAB Portal, ISAB CLA Certificate and ISAB Card. For the first time, cross-industry and cross-regional information is available on which companies are subject to which collective employment agreement, whether they have been inspected and whether any necessary back payments have been made. The use of the ISAB CEA certificate has increased significantly: While 3300 retrievals were recorded in 2019, this figure had risen to over 59,000 by February 2024.

    Significance for the Swiss construction industry and politics
    ISAB not only plays a central role in the construction industry, but also has a political dimension. It is the most effective instrument for protecting high Swiss wages. In the political debate, particularly in the context of EU negotiations, ISAB sends a strong signal against calls for additional accompanying measures that could burden entrepreneurs.

    A successful digital transformation project
    The digital offensive launched with ISAB 2019 impressively demonstrates how digital tools can increase efficiency and transparency in the construction industry. With secure information on more than 45,000 companies and the widespread use of ISAB CLA certificates, ISAB has established itself as an indispensable tool that protects the high standard of Swiss wages and ensures compliance with CLAs.

  • The through station at LUGA 2024

    The through station at LUGA 2024

    The Lucerne through station is the focus of this year’s Luga, the Central Switzerland Spring Fair, which takes place from 26 April to 5 May 2024. The project of the century will be brought to life in three dimensions over an area of around 800 square metres. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to learn about the project in an interactive and playful way and experience its enormous benefits for the entire region.

    Government President Fabian Peter emphasises the importance of the special exhibition: “By presenting the Lucerne through station at Luga, we are giving the people of Central Switzerland the opportunity to experience the project up close and understand the added value it will bring to our region.”

    The special exhibition will not only take place in Hall 1, but can also be experienced on the exhibition forecourt. There, the focus will be on public transport, with various activities under the motto “experience, try out and join in”. Lucerne’s through station is more than just a railway station; it is a crucial building block for a denser public transport network throughout Central Switzerland.

    Over 100,000 people board, alight or change trains at Lucerne station every day. However, the capacity limit has been reached and additional connections are no longer possible. The Lucerne through station paves the way for the further development of sustainable mobility and enables a forward-looking design of the public transport network.

    The special exhibition on the Lucerne through station is a joint initiative of the Canton of Lucerne and the Lucerne Transport Association (VVL), supported by the City of Lucerne, the Central Switzerland Public Transport Conference and other partners.

  • Launch of the competition for the “Aerogel Architecture Award 2024”

    Launch of the competition for the “Aerogel Architecture Award 2024”

    The fourth “Aerogel Architecture Award” is looking for inspiring examples of the use of aerogel in architecture and construction. The competition, which takes place in the categories “Realised Solutions” and “Student Designs”, offers a unique platform to present and honour innovative ideas and projects. An expert jury will select the finalists from all submissions, who will compete for the “Aerogel Architecture Award 2024” at an event on the Empa campus in Dübendorf on 12 July 2024.

    Architecture and civil engineering firms with projects in the areas of renovation, refurbishment or new construction can take part. Students of architecture and civil engineering are also invited to submit their designs and proposals for the use of aerogel. All projects will be assessed in a selection process that will be held in English. Realised renovation projects for listed buildings that have been improved with aerogel insulation materials will be particularly recommended.

    The award ceremony on 12 July 2024 in the NEST building on the Empa campus in Dübendorf will be available as a public livestream. The winning projects will not only receive recognition and public attention, but will also be published in international journals and on online platforms.

    Interested parties are invited to submit their projects in the form of a ZIP or RAR file by the closing date. Submissions should include a PDF poster in A1 format, JPEG images of the project, details of the use of the aerogel insulation and a registration form with a detailed description of the project. By entering the competition, participants agree to the publication of their project and confirm that they respect the rights to images, graphics and drawings of their submissions.

  • Sika invests in macro fibres in the USA

    Sika invests in macro fibres in the USA

    Sika is focusing on the market for macro-plastic fibres in North and South America. As the specialty chemicals company now announces, it has increased production capacities for these fibres at its plant in Chattanooga in the US state of Tennessee. Sika is thus positioning itself “even more strongly as a leading full-range supplier for the mining industry and a strong partner for sustainable construction projects”.

    Macro-plastic fibres reportedly shorten construction time by eliminating the need to install conventional reinforcement and significantly improve the properties of cured concrete compared to the use of steel reinforcement. They also increase the service life of concrete structures and thus their sustainability. According to Sika, these factors have a positive effect on the classification for ecological construction, for example in the international LEED certification system.

    Due to the construction of sustainable gigafactories and data centres in the USA, the demand for macrofibres for the production of abrasion-resistant floor slabs and industrial floors has also increased strongly, according to Regional Manager Americas, Christoph Ganz. In addition, the demand for macro fibres for shotcrete to secure tunnelling and mining is increasing in the USA as well as in Canada and Latin America. “With this sensible investment, we will further advance our market penetration throughout the Americas region and specifically tap the potential of strong growth markets.”

  • Nüssli builds Austria’s pavilion at Expo 2025

    Nüssli builds Austria’s pavilion at Expo 2025

    According to a press release, Nüssli, the event and construction services provider based in the St.Gallen-Lake Constance area, has once again been awarded the general contract for the construction of the Austrian pavilion for an international world exhibition, this time for the Expo in Osaka, Japan. It will take place from 13 April to 13 October 2025. The architectural design of the Austrian pavilion and the general theme were created by BWM Designers & Architects.

    Visitors to the Austrian pavilion will be able to experience an exhibition entitled Compose the Future on an area of 270 square metres. With music as the supporting medium, the pavilion is intended to lead from the past into the future, according to a statement by the traditional company. The central element is a “spiral sculpture rising spectacularly into the air”. The interior of the building is divided into three rooms. They are dedicated to the thematic complexes of relationship, human being and idea.

    “We are delighted to be realising the pavilion for Austria for the sixth time,” Andy Böckli, CEO of Nüssli, is quoted as saying. “The project has thus almost become a tradition and has regularly allowed us to act as a unifying element for innovation since 2005.” As Nüssli also shows in a video, the company is contributing its 23 years of experience in building country pavilions for world exhibitions.

  • Urbanistica calls for a return to urban planning

    Urbanistica calls for a return to urban planning

    Urban planning has been forgotten with the emergence of individual mobility, Urbanistica writes in a statement. The new association for good urban planning wants to revive the discipline of urban planning. According to Urbanistica, this is the only way to sustainably fulfil the mandate of densification of inner settlement development defined in the Spatial Planning Act and to create sufficient affordable living space.

    The association has launched a manifesto to initiate a discourse on urban planning and urban development. In it, urban sprawl and housing shortage are primarily described as a consequence of failed spatial planning. They are to be countered by urban planning and urban development, especially in the agglomerations. “Good urban planning leads to less traffic, more efficient land use, attractive public spaces, an improved urban climate and social mixing,” states Thesis 3 of the Manifesto.

    Urban planning is defined as “a central task of the public sector”. Proven planning teams” should generate solutions and impulses for urban development in competitive procedures. According to Urbanistica, this could be financed through existing taxes, levies and subsidy programmes.

  • Private conversion projects boost construction investments in 2022

    Private conversion projects boost construction investments in 2022

    Total construction expenditure is made up of construction investments and public maintenance work. They increased by 1.5% in 2022. However, since construction prices have risen sharply, this results in a real minus of 5.9%. Construction investments showed a nominal increase of 1.8% year-on-year. On the other hand, expenditure on public maintenance work recorded a decline of 1.4% compared to the previous year.

    Private clients invested heavily in conversion projects
    Investments in new buildings (+0.3%) and conversions (+4.2%) increased in 2022 compared to the previous year. This positive result is due to private clients, who invested significantly more in conversions (+7.2%). In the same period they also spent more on new construction projects (+0.3%). The public clients – i.e. the Confederation, cantons and municipalities – increased their investments in new buildings within the year (+0.3%). On the other hand, they spent less on renovation projects (-0.1%).

    Positive development of building construction investments
    Switzerland-wide, more was invested in building construction (+2.3%) compared to 2021. Both private clients (+2.4%) and the public sector (+1.3%) contributed to this positive result. In contrast, investments in civil engineering (-0.1%) declined within a year. Public clients spent less on infrastructure construction (-0.9%). Private clients, on the other hand, invested more in civil engineering (+3.2%).

    Outlook for 2023
    The work in progress (expenditure) for the following year 2023 for construction projects under construction (incl. public maintenance work) increased by 1.6% as of the reporting date 31.12.2022 compared to the previous year’s reporting date.

    Source: bfs.admin.ch

  • Federal government wants faster expansion of renewables

    Federal government wants faster expansion of renewables

    The Federal Council wants to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy production. To this end, the procedures for planning and building large-scale power plants are to be shortened, the Federal Council informs in a press release. At its meeting on 21 June, it passed a corresponding amendment to the Energy Act for the attention of parliament.

    According to the amendment, the cantons alone will now be responsible for a concentrated planning approval procedure for solar and wind energy plants of national interest. The Federal Council explains that this prevents a project from being divided into several stages that can be challenged individually. For hydroelectric power plants, the current tried and tested procedure is to be retained.

    The cantons are instructed to designate suitability areas for solar and wind energy plants in the structure plan. Such facilities of national interest will then no longer need a project-related basis in the cantonal structure plan. The protection of landscape, biotopes, forest, cultivated land and crop rotation areas is to be taken into account when designating the areas.

    In addition, the Federal Council wants to shorten the appeal process in connection with the planning and construction of solar, wind and hydropower plants. In future, only one appeal to the highest cantonal court will be possible at cantonal level. The group of persons entitled to appeal will be limited to the cantons and municipalities where the plants are located and to organisations active throughout Switzerland, such as WWF or Pro Natura.

    With regard to the expansion of the electricity grid, the Federal Council’s plans foresee a waiver of the definition of a planning area. Instead, the planning corridor is to be defined directly in the sectoral planning.

  • Second tube of the Gotthard tunnel: first tunnel boring machine “Carla” at its destination

    Second tube of the Gotthard tunnel: first tunnel boring machine “Carla” at its destination

    Sometimes Carla, with her followers more than 200 m long, came slowly, sometimes much faster than planned, depending on the nature of the rock. On average, Carla covered about 17 m per day. Her record performance is 45.4 m per day, achieved in rather soft gneiss.

    TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION IS TEAMWORK
    “It’s great that we were able to excavate the northern access tunnel on time and, above all, without any significant accidents,” says Jacopo Cheda, head of northern construction at FEDRO. Xavier von Mandach, Implenia’s site manager in charge, emphasises the good cooperation: “Tunnel construction is always teamwork. Our team, consisting of several companies and colleagues from many nations, has a great deal of experience and works in a highly professional manner. Together we were able to successfully master the technical challenges and reach this important milestone without incident. The team did a great job.”

    WHAT’S NEXT
    The excavation of the access tunnel, which runs parallel to the future second tunnel tube, also provided important findings for the other construction work that will be carried out in the future, which are important for Carla’s “big sister”, which will excavate the northern section of the main tube from 2025.

    In August 2022, FEDRO awarded the “secondo tubo” consortium with Implenia (60%) and Frutiger (40%) the contract for the northern main lot (Lot 241) of the second tube of the Gotthard road tunnel. The construction period for the 7.9 km long tunnel section up to the lot boundary in the middle of the tunnel is scheduled until 2029.

    The construction of the second tube will be driven simultaneously from the north and from the south. A total of four TBMs will be used for this: two smaller ones (Carla and Delia) for the two access tunnels and the two large ones with a shield diameter of over twelve metres for the main tunnel.

    Source: implenia.com

  • Property prices in the mountain region are on the rise

    Property prices in the mountain region are on the rise

    The ZWG, which was passed in 2015, has now largely halted the construction of new second homes in mountain areas, the Federal Office for Spatial Development(ARE) informs in a press release. In cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the ARE regularly monitors the effects of the law. According to the current monitoring, the impact of the ZWG on the construction industry and the hotel industry in the mountain region is low.

    “On the other hand, it has become difficult for locals and workers in the mountain area to find affordable housing,” writes the ARE. However, the experts at the Federal Office do not attribute this exclusively to the ZWG. Rather, the low interest rate environment and the possibility of working independently of location have also increased the demand for second homes. As a result, the supply overhang of second homes identified in the first monitoring in 2021 has disappeared in many places. Instead, an increasing number of so-called old-law flats that are free for use are being put on the market as second homes.

    The difficulties for the resident population, newcomers and employees to find affordable housing have led to “displacement and migration”, explains the ARE. Older people tend to move to more central valley communities, employed people to communities with affordable housing and the possibility to commute to work. Municipalities can restrict the conversion of primary to secondary residences with requirements for the creation of affordable housing. The Federal Office of Housing supports municipalities in an active housing location policy with the guide “Attractive Housing in Mountain Areas“.

  • Aargau department receives award for mediation

    Aargau department receives award for mediation

    For the first time, the Mediation Award of the Swiss Mediation Association (SDM) goes to a canton. The Aargau Department of Construction, Transport and the Environment(BVU) is being honoured for its consensus-oriented procedures in infrastructure projects. The procedure of the BVU shows “that living democracy with mediation and mediation-like participatory interests offers various forms that go far beyond majority decisions”, according to the SDM’s statement of reasons. Where controversies and different interests emerged, the possibilities of mediation were used. BVU, under its Secretary General Markus Büsser, plays a pioneering role in mediation in the public sector.

    The BVU is delighted with the award. “In the BVU’s areas of responsibility, conflicting goals, differences and differing perspectives are part of daily business,” Büsser is quoted as saying in a statement from the canton. “The department management therefore regularly considers how it can promote a culture of communication and conflict that enables dialogue-oriented and sustainable cooperation.” The BVU refers, for example, to the round tables on the expansion of the Mellikon quarry, the floodplains in the Rietheimer Feld and the settlement of grid usage prices for electricity.

    The Swiss Mediation Prize will be awarded for the third time in 2023. The Haus Tabea retirement centre in Horgen ZH also received an award. The prize will be presented at the SDM Congress, which will take place in Lausanne on 16 and 17 June.

  • BAU celebrates a successful comeback

    BAU celebrates a successful comeback

    “BAU has once again proven that it is and remains the most important stage for innovations and premieres in the building sector. Despite the four-year forced break, more companies presented themselves in Munich than ever before. This underpins the very positive response to trade fairs and, in particular, to leading world trade fairs, as was already evident in 2022,” say the two heads of the trade fair Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel, summing up BAU 2023.

    Dieter Schäfer, Chairman of the BAU Exhibitors’ Advisory Council, agrees that BAU 2023 was a great success: “We did everything right by moving BAU 2023 to April. Fully occupied halls and a high proportion of international visitors underline the relevance of BAU. It was all the more important that the fair took place again after more than four years. In future, BAU will return to its usual January date.”

    In addition to the Federal Minister of Construction, Klara Geywitz, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, also took a look at the innovations and trends in the building industry at BAU: “The largest construction and architects’ trade fair is a successful networking platform for planners and building tradesmen. We need the very innovations presented there on how to reconcile climate protection and the challenges such as affordable building and housing. The fair stands for progress, growth and competitiveness and sets the course for the future in building and urban planning.”

    For Felix Pakleppa, General Manager of the Central Association of the German Building Trade (Zentralverband des Deutschen Baugewerbes), BAU sends a trend-setting signal to the building industry after the long forced break: “With the key themes of digital transformation, the future of living, resources and recycling, as well as modular building, the biggest challenges and trends of the moment have been perfectly mapped out. This year, BAU thus once again offers a great platform for creating future perspectives.”

    Katharina Metzger, President of the Federal Association of the German Building Materials Trade, also considers the return after more than four years a success: “We are more than satisfied with BAU 2023, because such an important sector cannot afford to be without a trade fair platform for six years. Even if important manufacturers for our specialist dealers with their craftsmen were unfortunately not on board this time, we hope that we can count on the old presence of suppliers again in January in 2025.”

    Andrea Gebhard, President of the Federal Chamber of Architects, emphasised the important significance of personal exchange: “BAU 2023 reflects the current issues of the building industry. It is the ideal meeting place for architects and planners to discuss both innovative materials of the future and social issues such as affordable housing.”

    BAU project manager Matthias Strauss is already looking forward to the upcoming events in the BAU Network: “After the successful BAU, the entire team is already very much looking forward to the digitalBAU conference & networking premiere next July as well as the next digitalBAU in February 2024.”

    Internationality of visitors reaches record level
    At the top of the international visitor ranking of BAU are Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Thanks to strong growth, Poland and Turkey take fourth and fifth place. Overall, the international share is almost 80,000 visitors. This corresponds to 40 percent of the total number of visitors and marks a record figure. In percentage terms, the international share is thus still a good deal higher than the previous record result from 2019 (37 per cent).

    The number of Chinese visitors is particularly noteworthy. With 1,600 people, China is one of the top 10 visitor countries at BAU 2023, a positive surprise after the Corona restrictions on travel from China to foreign countries were only recently relaxed.

  • Infotech builds new building in Grenchen

    Infotech builds new building in Grenchen

    Infotech Automation is moving from Solothurn to Grenchen. The land purchase for a large new building in the new industrial park on Lebernstrasse took place a few days ago, and the building permit has been issued. Construction work will begin on 5 April. They should be completed in one and a half to two years. The company provides information about this in an article in the “Grenchner Tagblatt” of the “Solothurner Zeitung”, which it has published on its website.

    Infotech designs, produces and implements highly automated production systems, primarily for the manufacture of semiconductor power electronics. For this purpose, the new location will have 9600 square metres of office and production space on three floors instead of the previous 4400 square metres.

    The company, which is considered a so-called hidden champion and is growing continuously, could even add another storey later. The building, designed by SSM Architects of Solothurn, will reportedly be mostly glazed. The material regulates its own light transmission. Heating and cooling will be provided by geothermal probes fed by photovoltaics on the roof.

    According to its co-founder, CEO and shareholder Ernest Fischer, the recipe for success of the continuously growing company lies in quality, innovation, support and, without exception, customised developments: “The customers’ expectations must be exceeded in every respect. We are usually the most expensive in quotations and yet our customers remain loyal to us.” Personnel is sought for all departments.

  • Building in Andermatt meets Minergie-P standard

    Building in Andermatt meets Minergie-P standard

    The Andermatt Reuss part of the village, realised by Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, can boast a new attraction, writes the building directorate of the Canton of Uri in a statement. With the Frame flat house, the village district has the first building with Minergie-P certification in the Ursertal valley. For the top category of the Minergie standard, high requirements must be met for the building envelope, energy balance and overall energy efficiency.

    “Only a few buildings have received this award in Uri so far,” building director Roger Nager is quoted as saying in the press release. In Frame’s case, the alpine location of the apartment building is an additional factor. “It is a great achievement that this low-energy house could be built at around 1500 metres,” says Nager.

    The building owner, Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, is having all the new apartment buildings and hotels in the Andermatt Reuss part of the village built to the Minergie standard. In the case of the Frame apartment building, the developer decided to implement the Minergie-P standard thanks to support and advice from the Uri Energy Promotion Programme, writes the building directorate. It expects that two more buildings in Andermatt Reus will soon receive Minergie-P certification.

    The Frame apartment building at Ritomgasse 7 in Andermatt Reuss was built by the total contractor S+B Baumanagement AG. Its 34 flats have already been handed over to their new owners in 2021.

  • FHNW inaugurates pavilion made from recycled components

    FHNW inaugurates pavilion made from recycled components

    As part of the annual theme Constructive Futures – beyond Concrete, the University of Applied Sciences for Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics held a competition among the students of the third year of their bachelor's degree in architecture. The task was to reuse the components of a storey-high wooden ramp that was temporarily attached to the Swiss Architecture Museum. A place to stay protected from wind and sun was to be created in the park of the FHNW campus in Muttenz.

    The Silvestris project, which won the competition, was deepened and implemented in an interdisciplinary elective course last spring semester, explains the FHNW in a statement . "Various structural and static challenges" had to be mastered. The project also showed the limits of the recyclability of the components. Specifically, the waste wood of the ramp did not have the necessary strength for the structurally relevant components of the planned pavilion. Here, construction wood not originating from the ramp had to be used.

    The now completed "Arena Circular" is intended to serve as a place for teaching, performances and as a place for use and participation by members of the university and residents of the quarter. On September 27th, the FHNW invites all interested parties to the inauguration in the park of the FHNW campus in Muttenz. Registration is not required.

  • New reuse pavilion at the FHNW Campus Muttenz

    New reuse pavilion at the FHNW Campus Muttenz

    In the spirit of the annual theme "Constructive Futures – Beyond Concrete", the students of the third year course of the bachelor's degree in architecture, under the direction of Professors Ursula Hürzeler and Shadi Rahbaran, dealt with the reuse of components. The starting point for this was the floor-to-ceiling wooden ramp, which was attached to the front facade of the Swiss Architecture Museum S AM as an urban intervention as part of the exhibition "Access for All – Architectural Infrastructure Buildings São Paulo" 2021. This ramp was dismantled again after the end of the exhibition and the components should now be used for a new purpose.

    Architectural competition for students
     For this purpose, an architecture competition was held among the students in the 2021 autumn semester. The task was to design a place to stay in the park that was protected from the wind and sun, for use and free use by the university and the district. The winning project "Silvestris" that emerged from the competition was selected for further development and implementation. The students then developed the design idea together and in the spring semester of 2022 went into more detail in an interdisciplinary elective course. At the same time, the structural design, the static dimensioning, the development of the node connections and the execution planning were carried out by the Institute of Civil Engineering under the direction of Prof. Dr. Simon Zweidler, head of the construction laboratory. From the design to the manufacture of all steel nodes, digital fabrication was used in a pioneering way: After the complete 3D modeling, the surfaces required for the fold were calculated by software and the developed surface was cut from the solid sheet by laser; the subsequent three-dimensional bending was also carried out fully automatically.

    Static Challenges
     In the course of this detailed planning, various structural and static challenges had to be mastered. The limits of the reusability of components also became apparent; In this specific case, the old wood did not have the strength required for the new arena and the planned intensive use and duration. This led to the decision to build the statically relevant components with construction wood intended for this purpose with the appropriate strength and to use some of the old wood for secondary components. This resulted in a valuable learning process regarding the complexities and challenges of reusing components. However, the original structure of the ramp is still reflected in the dimensions of the elements and the shape of the new arena.
    The arena created in this way should offer various possible uses. The roof made of light fabric creates a shady place to stay, which can not only be used for teaching and teaching at the university, but also provides space for performances and also invites residents in the neighborhood to use and help shape it. The winning project and all other project proposals developed by the students are also on public display in an exhibition in the porch of the campus building.

  • Morand Constructions Métalliques builds its first decarbonized steel structure

    Morand Constructions Métalliques builds its first decarbonized steel structure

    The metal construction company Morand Constructions Métalliques based in Enney has built Switzerland's first supporting structure made of decarbonized steel for the newDIMAB car dealership in Rossens. At 333 kilograms of CO2 per tonne, decarbonized steel releases seven times less carbon dioxide, according to a statement from Stahlbau Zentrum Schweiz ( SZS ). Classic steel from the steel mill causes 2300 kilograms of carbon dioxide per ton.

    According to the information, the ecologically sustainable steel beams were produced in an electric arc furnace from scrap steel and with 100 percent renewable electricity. At 600 kilograms of CO2 per tonne, the recycling of steel also releases comparatively few greenhouse gases and has been common practice for more than 100 years. If electricity from 100 percent renewable energy sources is also used during production, "the environmental impact of decarbonized steel is almost halved – and at a small additional price of 2 to 4 percent," it says.

  • Nüssli builds a stadium for the Swiss Confederation

    Nüssli builds a stadium for the Swiss Confederation

    The event and construction service provider Nüssli , based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, was responsible for the construction of the arena for the 22nd time for the Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival , which takes place from August 26th to 28th in Pratteln BL. According to a press release , the company from Hüttwilen has been building the festival arena for the largest sporting and cultural event in the country since 1961. With six stands and seating for 50,900 spectators, the arena is one of the largest temporary stadiums in the world.

    In addition to the festival grounds, an athletes' village has also been created since June. In order to connect this with the festival area, the ten-strong Nüssli team decided on a footbridge over the nearby railway tracks. Nüssli received support from the army and civil defense. At peak times, up to 300 people were scheduled on the construction site.

    While the majority of the 300,000 building elements from projects in Switzerland were transported to Pratteln in the Basel area, certain components such as stair and roof elements as well as the company's premium grandstand for VIP guests from abroad and major international projects had to be brought in.

    After the crowning of the wrestling king, Nüssli starts dismantling again and transports the components to the next event.

  • Implenia implements real estate projects in Geneva and Lausanne

    Implenia implements real estate projects in Geneva and Lausanne

    Implenia 's Buildings Division has been awarded two contracts in western Switzerland with a total volume of CHF 200 million, the Opfikon-based construction and real estate company said in a statement . Specifically, Implenia is to renovate the historic headquarters of an international organization in Geneva and build two new buildings for production and research in Chesaux-sur-Lausanne on behalf of Pulse , a company belonging to EPIC Suisse AG .

    In Geneva, Implenia will adapt the facades and security installations of the historic building to current standards, redesign the interior and modernize the equipment in the around 1,200 workplaces there. In Chesaux-sur-Lausanne, two four-storey buildings are being built, which are connected by two shared basements. Both projects are being implemented according to the principles of lean construction, explains Implenia. This approach to the planning and execution of construction projects focuses on avoiding waste and exceeding the needs of the client.

  • The foundation stone for the Gupfengarten housing estate is laid

    The foundation stone for the Gupfengarten housing estate is laid

    According to a press release , real estate service provider Steiner celebrated the laying of the foundation stone for the Gupfengarten residential area. With the official starting signal, the construction project for a “family-friendly development in the Zurich Unterland” will be initiated. Steiner took over development, consulting and sales. The general contractor Eiffage Suisse AG , headquartered in Glattbrugg ZH, the architects Graf Biscioni based in Winterthur and the client Evostate Immobilien AG from Zurich are involved in the implementation.

    By the end of 2023, 36 terraced single-family houses and three multi-family houses with 21 condominiums are to be built on the Gupfengarten site south of the center of Niederweningen. The housing estate meets a contemporary living and development standard and covers the strong demand for high-quality living space.

    The planning meets the criteria for sustainable construction. The heat is generated almost entirely by means of a heat pump, geothermal probes and photovoltaic system. An energy management system enables “efficient and intelligent” use of energy. According to the announcement, the wooden building envelope has optimal thermal insulation.

  • Empa is researching climate-friendly concrete

    Empa is researching climate-friendly concrete

    The Swiss National Science Foundation ( SNSF ) is funding a five-year project by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( Empa ) to research CO2 binding in cement. As part of the SNSF Advanced Grant, the scientists working with project manager Barbara Lothenbach will receive 2.2 million francs for their research project, according to a press release .

    The grant replaces funds from the European Research Council of the European Commission , to which Swiss researchers currently have no access.

    With the help of the funding, the Empa experts will carry out basic research in the field of CO2 binding in cement together with partners from the Finnish University of Oulu.

    The background to the project called Low Carbon Magnesium-Based Binders is that the cement industry releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. At the same time, concrete is considered a beacon of hope for binding CO2 and thus as a potential reducer of climate-damaging greenhouse gases if it is based on magnesium and not on lime as is usually the case.

    Starting in 2023, the researchers will find out how stable magnesium concrete is in the long term, how it can best be produced on construction sites and how temperature, pH value and other factors affect the molecular level.

  • Holcim buys Belgian building materials specialist Cantillana

    Holcim buys Belgian building materials specialist Cantillana

    Building materials producer Holcim has announced the takeover of Belgian building materials dealer Cantillana . With Cantillana’s presence and portfolio, Holcim can advance the expansion of the solutions and products division, which is expected to account for 30 percent of Group net sales by 2025, according to a press release .

    For Holcim, the decision in favor of the provider of special solutions means a further optimization of its market position in facade construction systems and thermal insulation composite systems. “This expansion further strengthens our presence in Europe, particularly in the area of building renovation and energy efficiency,” said Miljan Gutovic, head of Holcim’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

    The investment ties in with the adopted strategy of “green growth”. Both companies announce that they aim to “take a bigger role in providing innovative and sustainable solutions for energy-efficient buildings”.

    After acquiring the French PRB Group , the Belgian PTB-Compaktuna and Izolbet in Poland, Holcim is adding Cantillana, a privately held company, to the “Holcim family”. Originating as a branch of a construction company, Cantillana has specialized since it was founded in 1875 in the sale of and trade in building materials and building material accessories for the construction and related trades. Today, Cantillana is part of the Stadsbader Group and employs more than 200 people at nine production sites in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

    Holcim AG has focused on innovative and sustainable construction solutions in building construction, civil engineering and infrastructure. At 55 locations across Switzerland, the company produces concrete, gravel and cement suitable for all construction projects and recycles demolition materials into resource-saving products.

  • Umwelt Arena shows new exhibition on insulating materials

    Umwelt Arena shows new exhibition on insulating materials

    The Swiss Environmental Arena is opening a new special exhibition. According to a message on Facebook, it is about the recycling of old insulating materials in the construction industry. Instead of old insulating materials ending up in the dumpster and then in the landfill during renovations and demolitions, they are taken back and processed again, according to Facebook on the subject. The Flumroc company based in Flums is showing how this is done in the new exhibition in the so-called Recycling City in the Umwelt Arena. Flumroc is a “pioneer in the field of insulation recycling”, according to the press release.

    On its website , Flumroc advocates the sustainable use of insulating materials. “Rockwool becomes rockwool”. it says there. Flumroc stone wool is 100 percent recyclable. This “closed cycle” should be maintained as far as possible. The company therefore appeals not to simply throw away construction site cuttings and construction site waste made from Flumroc stone wool during demolition, renovation or conversion work. “We’re happy to take them back in the bags or containers provided and recycle them,” says the company.

    The new exhibition provides information about the procedure for reprocessing.

  • Jaisli-Xamax completes work on Confiserie Speck

    Jaisli-Xamax completes work on Confiserie Speck

    Jaisli-Xamax has completed the work on the electrical installation at the new production site of the traditional company Confiserie Speck . The confectionery remains in Zug, but moves to the Göbli area. There will be over 3,000 new jobs there in the future, which makes the area very attractive, confectionery owner Peter Speck is quoted as saying in a media release by Jaisli-Xamax. In a short interview published there, Speck emphasizes the special features of the electrical installation brought in by the Dietiker company. “We wanted to optimize the production process and make it as sustainable as possible. We are able to do this thanks to the cooperation with the Multi-Energy-Hub, which combines local energy sources into a CO2-neutral overall energy system with a maximum degree of self-sufficiency,” Peter Speck is quoted as saying.

    In addition, one wants to bring visitors closer to the craft in the confectionery. This is achieved by looking into the well-lit production hall, which is also called the “aquarium”.

    The new Confiserie Speck location is more than just a production hall. In addition to the bakery, there are also offices, apartments, a café and a shop at the new location.

    The electrical manufacturer Jaisli-Xamax from Dietikon only opened a new branch in Zug in 2021. The company, which has been active in the entire electrical sector for over 50 years and specializes in innovative solutions, now has offices in Basel, Bern and Zug in addition to its headquarters in Dietikon. Jaisli-Xamax AG employs a total of around 400 people.

  • Swisspor is building in Reiden

    Swisspor is building in Reiden

    Swisspor wants to set up a production plant for mineral insulating materials and a service center in Reiden Mehlsecken. The internationally active company based in Stans has secured the area of 200,000 square meters designated by the canton of Lucerne as a strategic work area, according to the Lucerne State Chancellery in a press release . The establishment of a building and environmental technology cluster planned by swisspor is supported by the canton of Lucerne and the municipality of Reiden .

    swisspor will use 145,000 square meters of the total area of the site for its own facilities. The remaining area is reserved for research institutions and other companies active in the field of building and environmental technology. The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts wants to expand its existing cooperation with swisspor in Reiden Mehlsecken.

    In addition, other industry-related companies and research partners are to be recruited. The coordination for this was taken over by the Switzerland Innovation Park Central , according to the statement. The Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ) was also addressed.

    “We support the creation of a building and environmental technology cluster with swisspor and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts,” government councilor Fabian Peter is quoted as saying in the statement. The head of the construction, environment and economic department sees a double opportunity for the region and canton: “On the one hand, jobs, innovation and value creation are created and on the other hand, the cluster makes a contribution to achieving our climate goals”.

  • The winning project for the Reussbühl West district has been chosen

    The winning project for the Reussbühl West district has been chosen

    Office of Living Things and Büro Dudler for space and traffic planning.

    The 27’000 square meters

    The assessment committee for the study contract for the redesign of the CKW site in Reussbühl, which is now used for commercial and industrial purposes, unanimously decided in favor of the “Habitat – Quartier im Hain” project. It was developed by the Zurich architects Salewski Nater Kretz in collaboration with the Office of Living Things and the Dudler office for space and traffic planning.

    According to a CKW press release , the 27,000 square meter area is to be “transformed into an attractive, lively and distinctive city quarter”. The energy service provider will give up its location there “in a few years”. In the call for tenders, requirements were made with regard to heat generation and rainwater management. In addition, at least half of the CKW shed hall, a former silk mill, was to be retained. Residential buildings will primarily be built on the remaining area.

    The winning project “convinces in the reinterpretation and further development of the historical landscape”, which was once characterized by floodplains and water-using industry. The design based on the so-called sponge city principle “cleverly” incorporates these historical references. This project will be further developed in the coming months and will then form the basis for the Reussbühl West development plan. The designs of all planning teams are on display at CKW in Rathausen from June 21st to July 4th.

  • Zurich is testing colored road surfaces for their cooling effect

    Zurich is testing colored road surfaces for their cooling effect

    Since the summer of 2020, the civil engineering office in Zurich has been running a pilot project to reduce heat. According to a press release from the city of Zurich , differently colored road surfaces were applied to Roggenstrasse in Zurich-West in order to measure the effect on the temperature. The results show that the light-colored coverings – in contrast to shadows from trees and houses – only have a minor influence on the temperature.

    For these measurements, new surfaces were installed on Roggenstrasse and the road was divided into three areas: a reference area made of conventional, street-gray asphalt and two areas with a beige and a reddish surface, according to the city’s statement. Cameras and embedded probes recorded the surface temperature and heat storage of the pads.

    The results now available show a minor effect of the light-colored deposits on the surface temperature. The reference surface in conventional gray was even about 2 degrees cooler on average than the two bright surfaces. This result can be explained by the shadow that trees and a high building temporarily cast on the reference area, it is said. It therefore heated up less.

    The differences between the two light surfaces were small. The beige covering stayed a little cooler than the reddish one. Calculations showed that if all surfaces had been exposed to the same amount of sunlight, the light surfaces would have been 2 degrees cooler than the reference area.

    The results of the pilot project clearly show how important shade and trees are for reducing heat in cities, according to the civil engineering office.

  • Catalog recommends materials against urban heat islands

    Catalog recommends materials against urban heat islands

    The federal government has presented a reference work for new buildings and buildings to be renovated that shows the effect of building materials on the heat in urban and densely populated areas. It was created by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland on behalf of the Federal Office for Housing ( BWO ).

    According to a media release by the BWO, the catalog compares materials for outdoor use such as floor coverings and facades and explains their effect on the outside temperature. It also takes into account other properties of the materials, such as how they reflect sunlight or how much water floor coverings allow to seep away.

    The BWO calls on planners, developers and house owners to consult this material catalog when choosing suitable materials. In addition, the Office invites the scientific community to further develop and research the topic. Because according to the latest climate scenarios, the average temperatures in Switzerland will be 2.5 to 4.5 degrees higher by 2060 than in the period from 1981 to 2010. This means that the buildings that are being built or renovated today will be the microclimate of tomorrow shape.

  • FHNW strengthens the Institute for Digital Building

    FHNW strengthens the Institute for Digital Building

    The Institute for Digital Building at the FHNW has won Eder Martinez as a professor. According to a press release , the focus of his teaching will be on digital twins and the information lifecycle. “Anyone who wants to build with digital support and needs-oriented in the future must be able to collect, automate, map and process information in a targeted manner,” explains Manfred Huber, head of the institute, explaining the background to the focus.

    Martinez received his master’s and doctorate degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). Among other things, he worked as a civil engineer and specialist for cooperation processes on construction sites in Chile and Ecuador. He has also supported companies such as Hilti and Implenia in digital construction projects.

    The FHNW only founded the Institute for Digital Building in 2018. According to the university, it has grown significantly since then. With Martinez, the second professorship in the field of information management will be filled this year.