immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Bauwesen

  • Smartwindows receives eco1 certificate

    Smartwindows receives eco1 certificate

    The window manufacturer smartwindows, based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, has been awarded the eco1 certificate for its classico PVC window. According to a press release, it is the first and so far only window in the country to receive this certification. According to the press release, the vinyl window is the result of the company’s efforts to plan and build in a particularly sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

    The advantages of the smartwindows-classico include its high proportion of 70 per cent recycled materials. Furthermore, the raw material is reused up to eight times. The window fulfils the high requirements of ecobau and Minergie-Eco and meets the first priority of ecoBKP and ecoDevis. According to the press release, the installation of the classico PVC-U window should contribute to sustainably designed, well thought-out buildings that are of better quality and have a long service life. The result is rooms with a healthy indoor climate, less CO2, grey energy and pollutant emissions. Windows play a key role in this, according to the press release.

  • Heating network in Villmergen utilises local waste wood

    Heating network in Villmergen utilises local waste wood

    On 16 November, AEW Energie AG celebrated the start of construction of the heating centre in the Villmerg industrial area with a ground-breaking ceremony. The heating centre will be built on the Cellpack Power Systems site. According to a press release, it will initially be equipped with a boiler for waste wood with a nominal output of 2,000 kilowatts and an oil-fired boiler for peak loads with a nominal output of 4,000 kilowatts.

    The plant will supply heat for the first time at the end of 2024. It will replace around 710,000 cubic metres of natural gas and thus avoid the emission of 1500 tonnes of CO2. A further waste wood boiler with a nominal output of 4000 kilowatts is to be added in the final stage. This should also be able to supply other companies in the industrial area. The expansion of the heating network to neighbouring areas is being considered.

    Most of the waste wood will come from untreated wood waste from the industrial estate and will be supplemented with wood from the region as required. The proportion of oil for the peak load should not exceed 10 per cent. A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof and on two sides of the heating centre. This will achieve a peak output of 260 kilowatts.

  • Kengo Kuma in Vals more than architectural innovation

    Kengo Kuma in Vals more than architectural innovation

    Kengo Kuma, an architect known for the artistic fusion of buildings with their surroundings, has realised a building in Vals that can be interpreted as a homage to nature. The building rises organically out of the landscape and almost appears to be interwoven with the mountains. This approach of fusion is a constant theme in Kuma’s work and reaches its peak here.

    The architectural style is based on the traditional timber construction of the region, but with a modern twist. The façade combines stone, wood and glass in a way that captures light and shadow. As a result, the building changes its appearance depending on the time of day and weather, creating a dynamic atmosphere.

    Another notable element of the project is the close collaboration with the local community. This participatory approach has resulted not only in an aesthetically pleasing building, but also one that meets the needs and sense of identity of the locals. In Vals, the building stands not only as an architectural landmark, but also as a place that represents the community and its identity.

    Inside, the building fascinates with its careful use of natural materials such as wood and stone, which create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The design is conceived in such a way that the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space almost disappear. Large windows provide breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain landscape, while at the same time promoting an inner calm and harmony.

    Functionally, the building significantly expands the village’s social and cultural offerings. It not only houses public meeting rooms and exhibition spaces, but also provides space for local art and gastronomy. In this way, regional culture is effectively integrated into the design and the building becomes a lively centre for the community.

    Finally, Kuma’s new building in Vals is not only an architectural achievement, but also a testament to the possibility of a profound connection between people, nature and the built environment. Through this seamless integration and the strong involvement of the local community, Kuma has created a monument that is significant not only locally, but far beyond its borders. It reminds us that architecture can be emotionally resonant as well as functional, and emphasises the need to take a holistic approach to modern design.

  • Holcim divests businesses in Uganda and Tanzania

    Holcim divests businesses in Uganda and Tanzania

    Holcim has signed agreements to divest its businesses in Uganda and Tanzania. According to a press release issued by the Zug-based building materials manufacturer, its local subsidiary in Uganda, Hima Cement Ltd, has been sold to the Sarrai Group for an enterprise value of USD 120 million.

    Holcim has also agreed to sell its 65 per cent stake in Mbeya Cement Company Ltd in Tanzania to the Amsons Group for an undisclosed amount. The completion of both transactions is subject to the respective regulatory approvals.

    “These divestments advance our strategy to consolidate our leadership position in core markets as the world’s leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions,” said Martin Kriegner, Regional Head Asia, Middle East & Africa. “We are delighted to have found strategic and trusted partners in the Sarrai Group and the Amsons Group, who are ideally positioned to develop these businesses in the long term.”

  • ETH and Climate Foundation cooperate on innovations in construction

    ETH and Climate Foundation cooperate on innovations in construction

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

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

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

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

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

    ETH project aims to make ultra-green concrete accessible worldwide

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Energie 360° gets green light for solar façade

    Energie 360° gets green light for solar façade

    According to a press release,Energie 360° has been given the green light for its planned photovoltaic façade. With this and the planned solar installation on the roof, it will be able to convert its headquarters accordingly. The specialist for sustainable energy and mobility intends to cover around half of its annual electricity requirements itself.

    Construction work began at the end of March 2023. After construction began, the canton of Zurich’s building insurance changed its authorisation policy for photovoltaic façades. Since then, proof has been required that a fire from the solar modules cannot spread over more than two storeys.

    In the absence of a suitable testing facility in Switzerland, two fire tests were carried out at the Leipzig Materials Research and Testing Institute for the Construction Industry(MFPA Leipzig). They made it clear that steel sheets act as horizontal fire barriers between the individual modules. This construction fulfils the test criteria specified by the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers.

    “Energie 360° will be the first company to realise a PV façade under the new requirements,” CEO Jörg Wild is quoted as saying. “The photovoltaic systems will turn the headquarters in Altstetten into a green power plant.”

  • Strabag completes work on Brunau bridge

    Strabag completes work on Brunau bridge

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

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

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

  • Innovativer Akkuspeicher

    Innovativer Akkuspeicher

    Die Firma ist ein Spezialist für mobile Batteriespeicher, hat bekannt gegeben, dass sie in das Bürgschaftsprogramm des Schweizer Technologiefonds aufgenommen wurde. Dieser Fonds, der dem Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU), Abteilung Klima, angegliedert ist, unterstützt innovative Unternehmen, die wegweisende Technologien zur Reduzierung von CO2-Emissionen entwickeln und zur Förderung der Schweizer Wirtschaft beitragen.

    Die mobilen Batteriespeicher finden insbesondere in Branchen wie Bauwesen, Veranstaltungen und Filmproduktion Anwendung. Benedikt Domke, CEO mit Sitz in Dietikon, äusserte sich zur Aufnahme in das Bürgschaftsprogramm: “Diese Anerkennung zeigt, dass unser Engagement für wirtschaftlich und ökologisch sinnvolle Alternativen zu Dieselgeneratoren anerkannt und geschätzt wird. Mit der Unterstützung des Technologiefonds können wir unsere Skalierung, Forschung und Entwicklung beschleunigen und unser europaweites Vertriebsnetzwerk für mobile Energiespeicher in den Bereichen Bauwesen, Veranstaltungen und Filmproduktion erweitern.”

    Simone Riedel Riley, Leiterin der Geschäftsstelle des Technologiefonds, betont: “Die Produkte tragen durch den direkten Ersatz von Dieselgeneratoren zur erheblichen Reduzierung von CO2-Emissionen bei.” Das Unternehmen ist aus Axpo hervorgegangen. Ein Team von Axpo entwickelte über mehrere Jahre hinweg einen batteriebetriebenen Generator für Baustellen. Im November 2022 wurde die Technologie an ein Konsortium aus Management und Unternehmern verkauft, die das Unternehmen gründete.

  • Schweizer Technologiefonds nimmt emost AG auf

    Schweizer Technologiefonds nimmt emost AG auf

    Die auf mobile Batteriespeicher spezialisierte emost AG ist laut einer Medienmitteilung in das Bürgschaftsprogramm des Schweizer Technologiefonds aufgenommen worden. Der Schweizer Technologiefonds ist beim Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU), Abteilung Klima, angesiedelt und unterstützt innovative Unternehmen, die wegweisende Technologien zur Reduktion von CO2-Emissionen entwickeln und zur Förderung der Schweizer Wirtschaft beitragen.

    Die emost AG ist ein Anbieterin von mobilen Batteriespeichern, die insbesondere in der Bau-, Veranstaltungs- und Filmbranche zur Anwendung kommen „Diese Anerkennung zeigt, dass unser Engagement für ökonomisch und ökologisch sinnvolle Alternativen zu Dieselgeneratoren anerkannt und geschätzt wird“, wird Benedikt Domke zitiert, CEO der emost AG mit Sitz in Dietikon. „Mit der Unterstützung des Technologiefonds können wir unsere Skalierung nebst unserer Forschung und Entwicklung schneller vorantreiben und unser europaweites Vertriebsnetzwerk für mobile Energiespeicher für die Bau-, Event, und Filmindustrie ausbauen“, so Domke weiter. „Durch den direkten Ersatz von Dieselgeneratoren werden durch die Produkte von emost grosse Mengen des Treibhausgases CO2 eingespart“, wird Simone Riedel Riley zitiert, Leiterin der Geschäftsstelle Technologiefonds.

    Die emost AG ist entstanden aus der Axpo. Ein Team von Axpo hatte in mehrjähriger Arbeit einen batteriebetriebenen Generator für Baustellen entwickelt. Die Technologie wurde im November 2022 laut einer Mitteilung an ein Konsortium aus dem Management und Unternehmern verkauft, das die emost AG gründete.

  • Partners test innovations for construction sector in new NEST unit

    Partners test innovations for construction sector in new NEST unit

    After three years of planning, construction is underway again at NEST. The new modular building part (unit) is called STEP2. As in all other modules of the research and innovation building of the two research institutes, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) and the Water Research Institute of the ETH Domain(Eawag), the project partners are also testing innovations with high market potential there. STEP2 is scheduled for completion in spring 2024.

    As STEP2’s main partner, BASF is making a significant contribution to the success of the project with its expertise, network and sustainable materials, according to a media release. After completion, all units will also be used as offices or flats.

    On the first floor of the two-storey unit, a noise-insulating ribbed filigree ceiling for office and high-rise buildings was installed. The 3D-printed formwork is 100 per cent recyclable. The circular concrete further increased sustainability. The Cadenza concrete staircase, also made with computer-aided design and 3D printing, leads to the second floor.

    STEP2 also addresses the building envelope and its potential for energy optimisation. The building façade is designed in such a way that various fixtures can be tested with minimal effort. In addition, a comprehensive energy and comfort concept including innovative lighting design was developed.

  • Austrian Hasslacher Group relies on urb-x

    Austrian Hasslacher Group relies on urb-x

    The internationally active Hasslacher Group from Sachsenburg in Carinthia is taking a stake in urb-x. The young company from Basel-Landschaft develops innovative cycle paths that are assembled from lightweight wooden elements. “With its cycle highways, urb-x offers a real revolution in urban cycling,” Christoph Kulterer, CEO and owner of the Hasslacher Group, is quoted as saying in a corresponding statement by the Austrian timber construction company. “The renewable raw material wood is also a central element in the mission of our two companies, through which we create innovative products and solutions for the challenges of modern cities

    The urb-x cycle lanes are made of prefabricated wooden hollow box elements mounted on steel supports. The anti-slip coated lanes can also be used by ambulances and street cleaning machines. In addition, the paths are equipped with heating elements, sensors and control computers. The energy needed to operate them is supplied by solar panels on the side borders.

    “We are very pleased to have gained a partner with leading production expertise and a clear strategic vision in the Hasslacher Group,” Klaus Kirchmayr, CEO of urb-x, is quoted as saying in the statement. “Our focus is now on making our product known throughout Europe for the first projects.”

  • Zurich brickworks put first photovoltaic system into operation

    Zurich brickworks put first photovoltaic system into operation

    The Zurich brickworks recently started producing the first quarter of its total planned photovoltaic output. As the Regensdorf-based company reports on LinkedIn, this means that around 680 kilowatt peaks are connected to the grid: “Thanks to this first phase, we are already generating clean energy.”

    It is produced on two large roof surfaces that are completely covered with solar panels. An attached video shows in fast motion “how hard we have worked on our heart’s project over the last few months”. The company is “overwhelmed by the interest” it has received so far and thanks everyone for the positive feedback, “which spurs us on”. Now the remaining part of the roof surfaces will also be equipped with solar panels.

    The Zurich brickworks are now once again in Swiss hands as part of the swisspor Group. Before that, they were owned for more than 20 years by the Wienerberger Group, one of the largest brick producers in the world, based in Vienna. The company has existed as Zürcher Ziegeleien since 1912.

  • Steiner converts and expands Basel’s ex-UBS building

    Steiner converts and expands Basel’s ex-UBS building

    The former UBS building at Aeschenplatz 6 in Basel will be further developed into a “versatile urban building block”. Steiner AG announced this in a message on LinkedIn. Through conversions and extensions, it will in future offer attractive space for living, working and relaxing for people of all ages and population groups.

    “Located in the pulsating heart of Basel, at the entrance to the city centre, within walking distance of the railway station and close to the St. Alban and Gellert quarters, this site represents an exciting challenge for us,” says the Zurich-based real estate service provider, which also has a location at this very Basel address.

    According to the information provided, the project focuses on the efficient and careful use of resources. The planned preservation of the existing building will make a significant contribution to optimising the ecological footprint. The added new construction is intended to exploit previously unused potential and provide attractive, new living space.

    During the development process, Steiner will provide continuous online updates on the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with completion planned for 2030.

  • IKEA celebrates topping-out ceremony in Valais

    IKEA celebrates topping-out ceremony in Valais

    IKEA Switzerland, headquartered in Spreitenbach, is building its first store in the canton of Valais. After only seven months of construction, the topping-out ceremony was celebrated on the building site in Les Morand near Riddes with around 150 construction workers and representatives of authorities, partners and IKEA employees, according to a media release.

    Since the groundbreaking ceremony in March, the shell for the 23,000 square meters of store space on two floors on the total 49,000 square meters of land has been completed on schedule. In total, the investment amounts to more than 100 million Swiss francs. After opening in 2024, IKEA will then have ten stores and two planning studios in Switzerland with around 3300 employees.

    This will be IKEA’s first foray into the Swiss mountain region with a large store, according to a media release. “The opening of the IKEA store in spring 2024 is a great opportunity for the municipality of Riddes and of particular economic importance for the entire canton of Valais,” Riddes municipal president Christel Duc is quoted as saying.

    Recruitment for around 200 jobs at IKEA Riddes has been underway since September. The most modern and sustainable IKEA store in Switzerland is being built there, featuring a zero-waste approach and a huge solar installation, among other features, the statement said. The next steps include technical installations inside the building and the removal of the unloading ramps for the storage racks; the storage and self-service hall is the first area to be built. At the end of November, the construction of the furniture exhibition and market hall departments will begin in stages. The installation of the photovoltaic system is expected to start in November, once the roof is completed.

  • Pilot project measures potential of CO2 in recycled concrete

    Pilot project measures potential of CO2 in recycled concrete

    A pilot project led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich(ETH) in collaboration with experts from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), the ETH Domain’s Water Research Institute(Eawag), the Paul Scherrer Institute(PSI) and the companies Kästli Bau from Rubigen BE and neustark from Bern, as well as 18 other partners, has shown that concrete demolition granulate fumigated with CO2 can save around 15 per cent of the greenhouse gas produced during its manufacture.

    A total of 10 percent of this is achieved by the novel building materials enriched with carbonated concrete granulates. Another 5 to 7 percent can be achieved because the concrete granulate enriched with CO2 makes the cement compounds in recycled concrete stronger than normal concrete. This is the result of complex measurements carried out by Andreas Leemann of Empa’s Concrete & Asphalt Department, among others: “A reactive phase, in other words, which is newly formed in the granulate and produces a higher strength in the recycled concrete. That surprised us,” he is quoted as saying in a media release.

    Further potential was also shown by the CO2 treatment of the so-called recycling water from water, cement and sand, which is produced during the cleaning of concrete vehicles and mixing plants. One kilogram of it could bind the considerable amount of 120 grams of CO2 gas. Life cycle analyses have summed up that the carbonated material can reduce the greenhouse effect by about 13 per cent net compared to concrete with conventional cement and without recycled material. For concrete with recycled material, the effect is still 9 percent.

    The project leaders will present the research results to the public at the so-called closing event. It will take place on 6 December at ETH’s Audi Max.

  • Dormakaba receives two prizes at the Iconic Award 2023

    Dormakaba receives two prizes at the Iconic Award 2023

    The Rümlang-based company dormakaba, which specialises in building access management, has won two awards at the Iconic Award 2023: Innovative Architecture, according to a media release. The EntriWorX EcoSystem door system and the Argus V60 sensor lock were each honoured with a winner in the Product-Building Technologies category. The awards ceremony took place on 4 October at BMW Welt in Munich.

    The EntriWorX EcoSystem is an innovative hardware and software application that supports the planning, installation and commissioning of access solutions along the building creation process and thus optimises the building planning process, according to dormakaba’s description. Architects, planners, fabricators and operators can access the same planning data for a door in every performance phase. Planning processes, installation procedures and operation would be simplified by the minimisation of door configurations and the digital networking of components.

    Regarding the new Argus V60 sensor barrier, the company points to the compactness of the model, which offers safety and efficiency in the smallest of spaces. Thanks to modern sensor technology, the sensor barrier gives architects and users more freedom in personal protection and separation detection. Argus V60 is one of the smallest full-featured sensor barriers on the market. RFID readers for transponders or tags, barcode scanners or escape route components can be integrated.

    At the award ceremony in Munich, Bernhard Heitz, Strategic Product Design at dormakaba, presented the special prize sponsored by the company in the Architects of the Year category to Sou Fujimoto Architects from Japan.

  • Empa researches clay as a sustainable building material

    Empa researches clay as a sustainable building material

    Clay releases significantly less CO2 than concrete, explains the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research(Empa) in a press release. Ellina Bernard from Empa’s Concrete & Asphalt Laboratory in Dübendorf and the Chair of Sustainable Construction at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is working to establish clay as a sustainable alternative to concrete. Their project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF) with an Ambizione grant.

    Clay is found in different geological compositions all over the world. The sustainable building material could replace concrete in non-load-bearing structures as well as in load-bearing walls of residential buildings. For large-scale use, Bernard and her team want to define standards for composition and mechanical strength. On the other hand, additives must be found that increase the load-bearing capacity of the material. Conventional cement is currently still used here, but this pushes the ecological footprint of clay “back into the red zone”, Empa writes.

    Bernard, in collaboration with geologist Raphael Kuhn, has found a promising approach in magnesium oxide. In initial laboratory experiments with clay formulations, a compressive strength of up to 15 megapascals was achieved, Empa informs. Clay with added cement achieves up to 20 megapascals.

  • AIHK submits building application for its new construction project

    AIHK submits building application for its new construction project

    With the building application to the city of Aarau at the end of September, the new building project of the Aargau Chamber of Commerce and Industry(AIHK) has reached an important milestone, according to an article in the magazine “Impulse” published by the AIHK. Depending on the building permit, construction work is expected to start at the beginning of 2025, the article continues. The building permit for the new Haus der Wirtschaft was handed over by AIHK President Beat Bechtold to City President Hanspeter Hilfiker and City Clerk Fabian Humbel in front of Aarau City Hall, the report says.

    The AIHK project team had already been in contact with various city officials beforehand, the report continues. For example, the city architect and the city image commission were consulted when it came to realising a building project that was as broadly supported as possible.

    The approval process starts with the building application. Demolition is planned for the end of 2024. The new building is expected to be ready for occupation in the third quarter of 2026.

    On the one hand, the new facilities in the new Haus der Wirtschaft will enable more professional courses and events to be held, the report in “Impulse” continues. On the other hand, the new building stands for the progressive digitalisation and modernisation that has been taking place at the association for several years.

  • Neustark expands into the EU

    Neustark expands into the EU

    Neustark has opened a commercial plant for the permanent storage of CO2 in demolition concrete together with the construction and recycling company Heim. In the plant, more than 1000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere and bound annually, informs the Bern-based ClimateTech company in a statement. The CO2 mineralised in demolition concrete comes mainly from MVV’s biowaste fermentation plant in Dresden-Klotzsche.

    “According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, negative emissions are indispensable in order to achieve our net zero targets,” Johannes Tiefenthaler, founder and co-CEO of neustark, is quoted as saying in the press release. The young Bernese company has developed a method for this, in which demolition concrete is transformed into a corresponding sink for CO2 emissions. “New also in Germany, which is a big step for neustark, but above all for the entire CO2 removal market,” Tiefenthaler says.

    In neustark’s technology, CO2 is converted into limestone, which is bound to the pores and surface of the concrete granulate. The granulate carbonated in this way can then be used in road construction or for the production of recycled concrete. In the twelve large-scale plants currently operated by neustark in Switzerland and Germany, around 5000 tonnes of CO2 are bound each year.

    Neustark has set itself the goal of expanding its annual capacity to 1 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030. To this end, 15 additional plants are planned in the DACH region and in France. Another major step is the adoption of the technology in Holcim‘s recycling plants.

  • BKW acquires Darmstadt architecture firm

    BKW acquires Darmstadt architecture firm

    The Bern-based BKW Group intends to significantly expand its presence in southwest Germany. This is according to a media release in which BKW announces the acquisition of the architecture and urban planning firm Planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer und Partner GmbH. Planquadrat, with 160 employees, is one of the larger architectural firms in the Rhine-Main region. The Darmstadt-based company specialises in residential construction, administrative building and hotel construction as well as logistics and the construction of laboratory buildings. The broad range of services also includes an independent department for urban planning.

    Planquadrat is involved in both public and private tenders. Founded in 1993 by the three namesakes, the architectural firm has since associated two further partners. The company has a stable, wide-ranging and long-term clientele, which is now being integrated into BKW’s portfolio. Planquadrat’s broad range of services strengthens the BKW engineering network in all service phases of object planning, especially for general planning projects, the statement says.

  • EKZ invests in new substation in Dielsdorf

    EKZ invests in new substation in Dielsdorf

    EKZ is building a new substation in Dielsdorf. According to a media release from the energy supplier, the investment will amount to a good 14 million Swiss francs. Commissioning is planned for autumn 2025.

    EKZ wants to ensure security of supply in the future. According to the information, electricity demand in the Dielsdorf region has risen on the one hand due to the increasing electrification of society. On the other hand, the industrial area of Dielsdorf requires additional electrical energy.

    Green Datacenter from Lupfig is currently building the Zurich Metro Campus there. It reportedly consists of three energy-efficient high-performance data centres and a business park with office space. The first data centre has been in operation since December 2022, and the groundbreaking ceremony for two more is planned for this year. Construction of the first office building also began in January.

    According to EKZ, the campus will be supplied via the new Dielsdorf substation and secured via the existing Regensdorf and Steinmaur substations. “Secure power supply via two independent substations is central to secure data centre operations, because data centres are the backbone of digitalisation,” Green CEO Roger Süess is quoted as saying. “In addition to investing in a secure supply, we at Green actively develop sustainable concepts and use waste heat. We also pay attention to high energy efficiency.”

  • Huber+Suhner presents innovation for fast internet

    Huber+Suhner presents innovation for fast internet

    Huber+Suhner has expanded its Resa range to improve high-speed internet coverage in rural areas. According to a media release, the new RESA CC connection solution accelerates broadband coverage for individual properties in rural residential areas. Network operators benefit from time and money savings, and homeowners from greater speed and flexibility when connecting to the Internet via fast fibre-optic lines. RESA CC is smaller and more compact than the RESA SC connection solution, which also requires other work around the fibre optic installation.

    Step one of the installation includes a pre-installation under the ground along the property line by the network operator, after which the household is connected to the street distributor via a duct bundle system. In the second phase, the final metres of the fibre connection are made in cooperation with a local installer. The two-stage approach allows the expansion of the broadband infrastructure for “an entire street at once”. Another advantage of the procedure is the reduced effort for the cost-intensive splicing. In future, splicing will only have to be done at the street distributor, not at each individual property. This will have a cost-reducing and resource-saving effect on the civil engineering work.

    “Given the increased demand for home network connections, we are pleased to add RESA CC to our already revolutionary portfolio,” Andreas Sila, Vice President for the Data Centre and Fixed Network Markets at Huber+Suhner, is quoted as saying.

  • New school toilets to transform Sri Lanka’s construction industry

    New school toilets to transform Sri Lanka’s construction industry

    Paolo Tombesi, the director of the Laboratory of Construction and Architecture(FAR) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL), and visiting scientist Milinda Pathiraja have completed a groundbreaking construction project at its old high school in Kandy in central Sri Lanka: The construction of two toilet facilities is designed to demonstrate industrial development potential through architectural design. Their prototype is based on 20 years of joint research.

    With strategic planning, the design of such infrastructures “can be used as an opportunity to showcase and disseminate innovations and introduce practice-based triggers for a much-needed revitalisation of local building culture”, Pathiraja is quoted as saying in an EPFL report. It was also about “cultivating new, economically sustainable and ecologically oriented building ‘traditions’ for countries facing urbanisation pressures, limited raw materials and financial constraints”.

    For example, non-sustainable building materials that require functioning supply chains, such as glass and aluminium, or are not available in the country, such as clinker, were avoided. The two researchers also wanted to illustrate how building policy and sustainability lead to value creation at different points, for example in the case of vaulted roofs made of ferrocement.

    For all this, the industry needs concrete examples and prototypes “that show both the technical value and the economic feasibility of such ideas”, says Tombesi. These toilets simultaneously lower the total cost to $400 per square metre, including sanitation. “And given the nationwide need for this type of programme, the lessons we’ve learned will likely be picked up by others.”

  • Halter realises residential development in Rothenburg

    Halter realises residential development in Rothenburg

    A project team led by Schlierer Halter AG will construct two identical buildings in Rothenburg, according to a media release. There will be 16 flats with 3.5 rooms, eight flats with 4.5 rooms and six flats with 2.5 rooms. The flats with 2.5 rooms will be rented out as retirement flats. The complex will also have adjoining rooms and cellars as well as a parking garage with 31 parking spaces.

    Following the recent ground-breaking ceremony, Halter AG is aiming to complete work on the building shell in the first half of 2024. The flats should then be ready for occupancy at the beginning of 2025. The developer is Lucerne-based Caranto AG.

  • Halter pushes ahead with project in Bischofszell

    Halter pushes ahead with project in Bischofszell

    Halter AG of Schlierem has pushed ahead with the Schützengütli site project in two steps, according to a media release. After the urban planning, a study contract was awarded for the architectural planning. Of the six participating teams, Daniel Cavelti Architektur AG from St.Gallen came out on top. The study, called Zauberwald, will now be further developed.

    In addition to representatives of the municipality and landowner Halter, the jury also included several experts. They agreed that the winning design fits perfectly into the surrounding neighbourhood. In addition to 54 condominiums, which will be realised in several buildings, the design envisages a spacious inner courtyard that will be lushly planted in accordance with its name, Zauberwald. If construction begins in 2026, the flats could be completed in 2028.

    Until a few years ago, the site was used for production by the Laumann und Co malt factory and fruit pressing plant. The plans by Daniel Cavelti Architektur call for a chimney to be retained as a reminder of the previous use of the Schützengütli site. Halter AG acquired the site in 2022. ce/jh

  • Dietikon and SBB present winning project for station area

    Dietikon and SBB present winning project for station area

    SBB and the town of Dietikon have selected the winning project of the architectural competition to redesign the station area. The jury chose the design by Hosoya Schaefer Architekten from Zurich and BRYUM Landschaftsarchitekten from Basel. The three best competition projects are now on display in the foyer of the Stadthaus.

    According to a press release, the Dietikon railway station area is to become a contemporary transport hub and a lively urban district. To this end, the station square and bus station will be redesigned over the next few years, the station building from 1977 will be renovated and extended, and new residential and commercial space will be created on the station site.

    The winning project of the tender envisages a tree canopy varying in density from the centre of Dietikon to the railway station and connecting the station building to the market square and town centre on foot. The final stops of the bus station are divided between the north and south bus islands separated by the tree canopy. Under the tree canopy is a chaussiered area that is intended as both a movement and recreation space. There will be space for event areas, fountains and seating.

    The city council followed the jury’s recommendation and decided to continue working on the winning project with the corresponding planning team. The completion of the redesign of the station square and bus station is planned for between 2027 and 2030.

    In addition to the three best architectural projects, the SBB design plan will also be available for public inspection for 60 days. After the public display, the documents will be revised, approved by the city council and submitted to the municipal council for approval. The design plan is expected to become legally binding in 2025.

  • Siemens puts climate-neutral campus into operation

    Siemens puts climate-neutral campus into operation

    Siemens has officially opened the new research and development building at the global headquarters of its Siemens Smart Infrastructure Division in Zug. The climate-neutral campus for 1700 employees is now complete after seven years of construction, according to a media release. The German technology group has invested around 250 million Swiss francs in cutting-edge technology and in Switzerland.

    Zug is an important location for the development of building technologies. Every year, about 80 new patents are registered from there. The technology company sees the campus, which consists of three buildings, as a model for its new digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator for sustainable building technologies. One part of this is Building X. At the opening ceremony, the participants also had the opportunity to experience Building X on a tour. The scalable digital building platform from Siemens helps to digitise, manage and optimise building operations.

    “Siemens uniquely connects the real and digital worlds,” Matthias Rebellius, CEO of Smart Infrastructure and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, is quoted as saying in the release. “The new Siemens Campus in Zug is an excellent example of this. Using the latest technologies from our portfolio to improve building operations and achieve maximum efficiency, the campus will be operated in a completely climate-neutral manner.” This means that the company is already achieving the goal to which it committed two years ago.

  • Veriset renews kitchen exhibition

    Veriset renews kitchen exhibition

    Veriset AG has invested in its kitchen exhibition at its headquarters in Root. After six months of construction, the showroom has been completely refurbished. The infrastructure had reached its limits since the last major renovation in 2010, according to a press release. In addition to modernisation, the aim was also to present the exhibition kitchens in a fresher way. Now the exhibition appears airier and larger.

    At the same time, many new functions will be introduced. For Veriset, these include a new type of appliance wall, where new built-in appliances can be quickly and easily exchanged, or a kitchenette with a utility room that is “cleverly hidden behind a cupboard door, as is customary today”.

    The two partners Cozza Plättli and Textilwerke are also represented with their products. For the employees, Veriset has reportedly created attractive workplaces with new, modern offices.

    The three kitchen professionals have two consulting stations with numerous material samples and a large computer screen for visualisation and planning. According to Veriset, both the simple rental flat kitchen and the luxurious black island kitchen have been considered for the exhibition kitchens. A virtual tour and pictures are intended to provide a first impression.