immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Baudirektion

  • Canton of Zug strengthens its property portfolio

    Canton of Zug strengthens its property portfolio

    The Building Directorate is legally responsible for the construction and maintenance of the canton’s own buildings. The financial framework conditions are carefully analysed in order to make targeted use of both the maintenance and investment budgets. Sound, long-term planning is becoming increasingly important in order to ensure that the buildings retain their value.

    Strategic guidelines for property management
    The Canton of Zug’s real estate strategy is based on the overarching objectives of the Cantonal Government and the specific guidelines of the Building Department. Priority is given to maintaining existing infrastructures rather than building new ones. The targeted use of resources ensures future-orientated buildings that meet the requirements of sustainability and efficiency.

    Cost and benefit efficiency as guiding principles
    The Building Directorate pursues a differentiated strategy that focuses on cost control and the fulfilment of public tasks.
    Properties that do not directly serve a public purpose are used for value creation or exchange transactions in order to optimise the management of the portfolio.

    Investment requirements and future developments
    The Building Department has further expanded the cantonal property portfolio. With the projects realised, the value of the portfolio has risen to CHF 1.06 billion by 2023. Further investments are planned for the coming years. Planned major projects in the education and administration sectors will contribute to the canton’s infrastructural development and strengthen the economic attractiveness of the region. A forward-looking real estate strategy ensures that the canton of Zug makes optimum use of its property portfolio and is equipped to meet future requirements.

  • Recycling construction waste instead of landfilling it

    Recycling construction waste instead of landfilling it

    In the canton of Zurich, around 1 million tonnes of waste end up in a landfill each year. Most of this comes from construction activities – even though a large proportion of all construction waste is already used as recycled building material, for example in road and earth construction or for the production of recycled concrete. Landfill capacities in the canton of Zurich are scarce, and the construction of new landfills is becoming increasingly costly and difficult. The Department of Construction therefore wants to adapt the specifications for the treatment and recycling of construction waste with the aim of ensuring that in future even more waste is returned to the material cycle and does not end up in a landfill. This will also conserve natural resources.

    Recycling up to 100,000 tonnes of additional waste per year

    By far the largest part of the waste produced during the construction of buildings, roads and infrastructure is excavated material, i.e. soil and rock. If this is contaminated by pollutants, it must first be treated in a soil washing plant or a thermal plant before it can be recycled as construction material. Up to now, the Department of Construction has stipulated that at least 50 per cent of excavated and excavated material with low and low levels of pollution must be treated during excavation work. This quota is now to be increased to 75 per cent. This would mean that between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes of polluted construction waste could be treated each year and returned to the material cycle as recycled construction materials.

    Dismantling material only in exceptional cases directly to landfill

    The demolition or conversion of existing buildings also generates around 2.5 million tonnes of construction waste per year in the Canton of Zurich. Of this, about 90,000 tonnes are deposited directly in a landfill. In future, only those demolition materials that are explicitly listed will be allowed to go directly from the construction site to a landfill. This list includes materials for which no recycling process exists to date, such as ceramics, porcelain or expanded clay. All other deconstruction materials must first be taken to a sorting or processing plant. This new regulation is intended to ensure that demolition materials are reprocessed into new building materials wherever possible.

    The specifications for the recycling of construction waste are laid down in a guideline (“Treatment rule for contaminated construction waste, bullet trap material and demolition materials”), which must be applied to construction projects in the canton of Zurich. The Construction Directorate has submitted the adaptation of this guideline to the stakeholders concerned for comment by the end of September.

  • Learn better in the new replacement building

    Learn better in the new replacement building

    In order to construct a new replacement building of convincing architectural quality in a transforming quarter, the building department of the canton of Zurich, represented by the building department, organized a one-stage project competition in an open procedure on behalf of the canton’s real estate department. Gunz & Künzle Architects from Zurich convinced the jury with their contribution and were commissioned with the project planning.

    The slender building is located directly on Limmatstrasse between Klingenpark and a new, spacious courtyard towards the quarter. The high, covered outdoor spaces lead from the opposite corners of the building to the center of the building, where the entrance to the vocational school is located in a wide passage. Various paths around and through the building connect the vocational training mile with the main train station and the district. Spatial relationships are created between the blade park and the new schoolyard. The building is organized simply and efficiently. From the entrance at street level, the path leads down to the sports facilities. On the 1st floor are the school’s public uses such as the multi-purpose room, the lounge, the media center, the administration and the workshop, a room for exhibitions and events that can be used flexibly. On the three floors above, a contemporary learning environment is being created on the basis of a classroom.

    The new BBZ replacement building is sustainable and meets the Minergie-P-ECO standard. In addition, it is the first educational building in Switzerland with the 2.1 building construction certification of the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard (SNBS). Large windows with parapets in the classrooms ensure good natural lighting. Together with the external sun protection, it ensures a pleasant indoor climate all year round. Controlled ventilation reduces heat loss. The economically and ecologically sensible separation of the systems and components is consistently implemented. The simple expandability and retrofitting of the structure meets the requirements of the Minergie-P-ECO label. Likewise, the careful selection of building materials from the point of view of low environmental impact and sustainable use of raw materials. In the outdoor area, native plant species promote biodiversity. Seen in this way, the BBZ future can begin.

  • "The Energy Act takes us a decisive step further in terms of climate protection"

    "The Energy Act takes us a decisive step further in terms of climate protection"

    What topics do you deal with as the head of the building department of the canton of Zurich?
    Martin Neukom: As a member of the government, I have many different tasks. On the one hand, I lead the construction department with around 1,800 employees. On the other hand, I am a member of the seven-member government, which deals with the important political business from all directorates. As the construction director, I deal with very different topics, from noise protection to agriculture and waste management. Among other things, it is this variety of topics that makes my work exciting.

    How many construction projects are you currently working on?
    There are around 700 construction projects – from the roof renovation of a school building to the PJZ police and justice center, which is currently one of the largest construction sites in Switzerland. We do nature conservation and water protection projects as well as the maintenance of the 1500 kilometers of state roads in the canton. Through spatial planning, we influence development, protect the cultivated land and shape the appearance of the canton.

    To what extent do you benefit from your engineering degree and your master’s degree in solar energy systems for your work as head of the canton’s building management?
    The exchange with the experts in the building department is exciting and enriching. My scientific background helps me understand numerous topics and projects, for example in the energy or environmental protection sector, but also in the construction sector.

    What are the most important construction projects that are currently running in the cantons or that will start in the near future?
    These include the police and justice center as well as the Zurich Center university area with its new buildings for the university and the upgrading of public spaces. The laying of the foundation stone for the Winterthur district facility is planned for this November.

    Several construction projects are underway at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). Where do you see the greatest challenges and progress here?
    Building in existing structures is a major challenge here. In addition, the space in the densely built-up Winterthur must be used optimally. Various projects have already been successfully completed, for example the university library.

    According to a survey, less than half of homeowners have looked at alternatives to oil and gas when it comes to replacing heating
    The subject of energy is very important to you. The CO2 law failed in the last vote at the ballot box. The canton of Zurich will vote on the energy law in autumn. What goals do you want to achieve with this new law? What are the key issues for residential and commercial property owners?
    With the amendment to the Energy Act, the Canton of Zurich is creating an important basis for effective climate protection in the building sector. In the future, oil and gas heating systems will have to be replaced by climate-neutral heating systems at the end of their service life. In order to avoid high costs and hardship cases, there are exceptions. The canton’s financial contributions to climate-neutral heating will be increased to make the switch easier.

    The homeowners association of the Canton of Zurich has called the referendum. The HEV advocates voluntariness and personal responsibility instead of coercion and regulations. In addition, the HEV says that homeowners have long been assuming their responsibility. How do you react to these arguments?
    Today more than every second oil or gas heater is replaced by a new oil or gas heater at the end of its service life. This means that the canton is not achieving its climate targets. According to a survey in the city of Zurich, less than half of homeowners have looked at alternatives to oil and gas when it comes to replacing heating. In order to achieve the climate targets, binding rules are needed for the replacement of heating systems. The Energy Act takes us a decisive step further in terms of climate protection.

    How confident are you that there will be a YES this time?
    The population in the canton of Glarus has just approved an even more ambitious energy law than we are putting it to the vote in the canton of Zurich. In addition, the canton of Zurich has approved the CO2 law with over 55 percent. I am confident. But it is definitely not going to be a walk, on the contrary.

    The city of Zurich seems to be on track in terms of climate technology. The picture is different in the canton. How do you sensitize the rest of the canton of Zurich to the energy issue?
    It is now more about acting than about raising awareness. The Energy Act would bring us a lot further here.

    When it comes to financial support for solar systems, the canton of Zurich does poorly in a Swiss comparison. When and how do you intend to change that?
    There is indeed a need for action here, and we are working intensively on it. In addition, the Cantonal Council has instructed the Government Council to work out a corresponding template by 2022.

    What does your solution in the mobility sector look like?
    Here, too, net zero must be the goal. This means that there must be no environmentally harmful emissions. The era of fossil internal combustion engines has passed. The sooner they are replaced, the better for the climate and thus for us and future generations. Good cooperation with the Department of Economics, which is in the lead in mobility, is also important to me here.

    Most cantons rely on architects for their master builders. You have appointed Beat Pahud as the new cantonal master builder on August 1, 2021. Critics complain that he did not complete a degree in architecture. What do you reply to them?
    The management of the structural engineering department with its 150 employees does not require a degree in architecture. What it takes: a strong leader with a lot of know-how in the construction sector. Beat Pahud is the ideal cast for this.