immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Flughafen Zürich

  • Autonomous shuttle buses reach new test phase at the airport

    Autonomous shuttle buses reach new test phase at the airport

    The pilot project for autonomous shuttle buses at Zurich Airport has entered a new phase. According to a press release, the project has reached automation level 3. This means that airport employees can use the buses for their commute between the airport head (Gate 101) and the maintenance depot (Gate 130). There are security drivers on board the buses who can intervene in the event of a problem. So far, the buses have travelled without passengers in an initial test phase.

    The current success is due to the co-operation between several airport departments and the technology partner WeRide. Preparations included setting up a new IT infrastructure, hundreds of test drives and a large number of technical checks. In addition to training, regulatory requirements and technical processes were also optimised.

    In a further phase, journeys are carried out without a safety driver using a remote cockpit. If these journeys without passengers are successful, the buses could then also drive autonomously without a driver. “We assume that we will be able to carry out the first tests with remote monitoring and without a safety driver by the end of the year at the earliest,” says Raphaël Glaesener, Senior Innovation Manager at Flughafen Zürich AG, in the press release. If successful, Zurich Airport would be the first in Europe with autonomous driving on its premises.

  • Zurich Airport tests solar fences

    Zurich Airport tests solar fences

    Flughafen Zürich AG in Kloten wants to come closer to its net-zero target for company emissions by 2040 with a significant expansion of renewable energies. According to a press release, photovoltaic systems are to be significantly expanded. In addition to systems on roofs and facades, the airport is now testing the installation of solar fences. The first system has been installed next to the airport’s heating center.

    The vertically mounted panels offer several advantages. As they can be exposed to solar radiation on both sides, the electricity yield is increased by 10 to 30 percent. This means that electricity production can be extended throughout the day. At the same time, the solar panels serve as a security fence for the airport area.

    “As a first step, we want to gather experience with the vertical solar systems and check whether this technology could be considered for other locations. Parking lots, for example, are conceivable. The test phase will last at least a year in order to be able to map the seasonal effects,” Guido Hüni, Head of Energy and Decarbonization at Flughafen Zürich AG, is quoted as saying in the press release.

    Photovoltaic systems are currently installed on twelve building roofs. Further locations are being examined in a feasibility study. Among other things, glare safety for pilots and the tower must be guaranteed. By 2040, the airport’s photovoltaic systems should produce enough electricity to supply 5,000 households.

  • Cantonal Council committee approves extension of airport runways

    Cantonal Council committee approves extension of airport runways

    The Zurich Cantonal Council ‘s Commission for Energy, Transport and the Environment is in favour of the planned extension of Runways 28 and 32 at Zurich Airport by eight votes to seven, the Zurich Cantonal Council informs in a statement. According to the eight commission members from SVP, FDP, Mitte and EVP, an extension of the two runways will only lead to the consolidation of flight operations during peak times and bad weather conditions. Among other things, the communication cites greater reliability and punctuality.

    The minority of SP, GLP and Greens, on the other hand, fears that an extension of the runways will also be used to expand capacities at Zurich Airport. However, they reject any growth at the airport “due to the pressing climate problems”, the statement says.

    The airport is “pleased to note” the decision, it writes in a statement. The extension of the runways was an important measure to increase the safety margin and stabilise operations. They do not lead to an increase in capacity. There is no correlation between the length of the runways and the number of aircraft landing and taking off.

    The Zurich Chamber of Commerce(ZHK) also welcomes the Commission’s decision. The existing system has proven to be “not stable enough”. Increased delays endanger “the function of Zurich Airport as Switzerland’s only intercontinental air traffic hub”, the ZHK writes in a commentary. “The runway extensions already demanded by the federal government enable the airport to function reliably and stably in all weather conditions.”

    The next step is for the cantonal council to decide. The project is subject to an optional referendum.

  • Your gateway to business success

    Your gateway to business success

    With Westgate, a representative business center is being built in the immediate vicinity of Zurich Airport – and thus to the whole world: “The unique mix of state-of-the-art office space, optimal accessibility and first-class infrastructure makes Westgate the perfect company headquarters,” says Patrick Angioy from Seitzmeir Immobilien AG. “The Westgate combines everything that makes a successful business location: outstanding architecture, over 16,000 m² of flexibly scalable office space, excellent gastronomy and a well-developed conference center.”

    But not only the infrastructure is excellent, the location is also hard to beat: The Westgate is being built in the economically successful Zurich airport region – only 600 meters from Zurich Airport and a few steps away from the new Glattalbahn. The building elements Dock A, B and C together with the cube form the architectural work of art. The constitutive element of the building is the interior atrium with a spacious lobby, lounge area and bar. The light-flooded architecture meets the highest aesthetic standards. “The interplay of warm bronze and gray tones as well as the combination of metal, textile and wood has a timelessly modern effect and is at the same time a symbiosis of home and far away,” says Angioy.

    The Westgate Business Center meets all the requirements of “Green Building Switzerland”, is CO2-neutral and is certified according to Minergie P and Leed Gold Standard. Natural building materials such as wood and stone ensure a pleasant, healthy indoor climate. Thanks to intelligent building technology, the networked systems of heating, cooling, ventilation, sun protection, photovoltaics, etc. are ideally
    coordinated with each other and enable maximum efficiency. Heating and cooling (free cooling) are provided by groundwater pumps, and optimized heat recovery supports the sustainable energy cycle. The high insulation quality of the building envelope prevents energy losses and at the same time reduces unwanted heat input through high-quality glazing.

  • Zurich Airport is rebuilding Dock A

    Zurich Airport is rebuilding Dock A

    Zurich Airport has chosen the Raumfachwerk project as the winner of its competition for the construction of the new airport terminal Dock A with tower and dock root. It prevailed against ten competitors and is intended to replace the existing and aging Dock A.

    From 2030, according to a statement from Zurich Airport, “probably the largest airport dock to date made primarily of wood” will be built next to the existing Dock A while operations continue. The investments are estimated at around CHF 700 million.

    The planning team for this project is led by the renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. In addition to his Copenhagen and New York-based architects’ office BIG , the largest architecture and engineering company in the USA, HOK , is also involved, as is the Zurich architects’ office 10:8 . For example, it was responsible for the conversion of Zurich Oerlikon station. The London engineering and consulting company Buro Happold , which is experienced in airport construction, is also part of this team, as is the engineering office Pirmin Jung from Rain, which specializes in timber construction.

    According to Bjarke Ingels, the team tried to meet the complex global challenge of CO2 reduction with the simplest possible solution, a space structure made of solid wood: “A simple but expressive design that is rooted in tradition and committed to innovation and the cultural and natural elements of Swiss architecture.”

  • Settlements reach pre-corona level

    Settlements reach pre-corona level

    Company settlements are increasing again after the Corona dip. The Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA), as the location marketing organization for nine cantons, was able to settle a total of 125 companies in 2021, an increase of 36 companies compared to the first Corona year 2020. According to a statement by the GZA, 42 companies came from the USA (+20 ), 19 from Germany (+4), ten from Italy (+5) and five each from China (-6), Great Britain and Singapore.

    Overall, the companies created 582 jobs in the economic area, an increase of 11 percent compared to the previous year. In the next five years there should be a total of 1843 jobs.

    The ICT sectors are most strongly represented with 42 companies, followed by the life sciences with 25 companies and the machine industry with 18 and financial services with 13 companies. The life sciences companies created 235 jobs, followed by the ICT companies with 154 jobs.

    However, the importance of the companies for the location goes beyond the number of new jobs. “We specifically address those companies that achieve high added value and strengthen the existing ecosystem,” said GZA Managing Director Sonja Wollkopf Walt at a digital media conference.

    One of the newly settled companies is Benchling . The American provider of cloud solutions for life sciences wants to create up to 150 jobs in the Circle at Zurich Airport. The Chinese pharmaceutical company Hengrui already has its European headquarters in Basel and is now setting up a research and development site in Zurich.

    The German RegTech company targens will sell its software for compliance solutions to banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein from Schwanden GL. Ruedi Becker, the Swiss head of the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg subsidiary, was able to convince his superiors of the advantages of Glarus together with the GZA.

    That pleases the Glarner location promoter Christian Zehnder. So far, Glarus has been strong in manufacturing and food production. “We want to get away from our traditional image,” he said. “When companies settle here, however, we depend on the strong partner GZA, who markets the location internationally.”

    Sonja Wollkopf Walt sees it similarly: the settlement of targens strengthens the ecosystem as a whole and sends the signal that the economic area extends beyond Zurich and Zug. “In the Greater Zurich Area there is the ideal location for every company.”

    The Greater Zurich Area includes the cantons of Glarus, Graubünden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri, Zug and Zurich.

  • Europe's largest capsule hotel opens at Zurich Airport

    Europe's largest capsule hotel opens at Zurich Airport

    Capsule hotel opened a new capsule hotel at Zurich Airport on February 12, the Lucerne-based hotel company announced in a statement. The new hotel, named Alpine Garden, is the company’s third capsule hotel after the hotels in Lucerne and Basel. The capsule hotel at the airport directly opposite Check-in 1 has 144 beds on around 1100 square meters and is the largest hotel of this concept in Europe, according to the announcement.

    Prices for an overnight stay in one of the lockable, soundproof sleeping capsules with individual fresh air conditioning start at 65 francs. Six of the sleeping pods are barrier-free, one sleeping pod is wheelchair accessible. Meeting zones, a small wellness area, co-working spaces and a bar with breakfast options are also available to guests.

    For the inner workings of the hotel, capsule hotel cooperated with the Swiss nature photographer Fabio Zingg . His images give the sleeping pods and common areas an Alpine Garden theme. “With the design of this innovative hotel, I can bring travelers closer to the most beautiful aspects of Swiss nature and at the same time give them an unforgettable experience,” Zingg said in the statement.

    Flughafen Zürich AG is also pleased with the opening of the new capsule hotel. “The capsule hotel directly opposite Check-in 1 ideally complements the existing accommodation options at the airport,” explains Lydia Naef, Head of Property & Portfolio Management at Flughafen Zürich AG, in the press release. Peter Schiffhauer, VRP capsule services AG, relies on being able to meet the needs of national and international guests “with the unique design concept, vibe and overnight prices from 65 francs”.

  • The Circle receives certification for sustainability

    The Circle receives certification for sustainability

    The Circle is expected to receive LEED Platinum certification in the spring of next year, HRS informs in an interview on the portal of the real estate company from Frauenfeld. HRS realized the area at Zurich Airport as a general contractor in collaboration with Amstein + Walthert , the main building technology planner responsible. For the highest standard of the green building classification developed by the US Green Building Council , a project must achieve 80 or more points.

    The LEED classification tries to “map all aspects of sustainable building”, explains Christian Appert from Amstein + Walthert in an interview. According to the CEO of the engineering service provider based in Zurich, The Circle was able to score points in a number of categories. As examples, Appert cites, among other things, drinking water savings through rainwater tanks, a combination of photovoltaics and greenery on the roofs as well as generous infrastructure for bicycles. The Circle has shown that “even large projects can be very sustainable,” says Appert.

    With the certification, The Circle will be “the largest LEED Platinum project in Europe and one of the ten to twenty largest in the world,” explains Rebecca Kull in an interview. According to the COO of HRS, this is “a superlative with great charisma” for Switzerland. Talking about sustainability is easy, says Kull. The decisive factor, however, is “lived sustainability”.

  • The Circle draws its first annual balance

    The Circle draws its first annual balance

    Since the opening on November 5, 2020, a number of new tenants have moved into The Circle , writes Flughafen Zürich AG in a message . She realized the quarter at Zurich Airport together with Swiss Life . One year after the opening, the co-owner company is “largely satisfied” with the development of the quarter, writes the company.

    “It is a great pleasure to see how the Circle is getting livelier”, Stefan Feldmann, Head of The Circle, Flughafen Zürich AG, is quoted in the press release. According to her, 85 percent of the space is now occupied “with an exciting mix of well-known companies from the technology, pharmaceutical, finance and consulting sectors”. The alleys of the quarter are also livened up by restaurants, exhibition rooms, the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle Hotel, the coworking space Spaces and the branch of the University Hospital Zurich. At the end of the year, the day care center in the Circle is also due to be inaugurated. “We are aware that everything is not yet perfect, but we are on the right track and are working on it every day,” says Feldmann.

    In September 2021, the first district festival was also celebrated in the Circle. The new winter festival Zauberpark will start on November 25th. Live open air concerts and children’s shows are planned here every day for 18 days. Finally, on December 15th, the second Hyatt Hotel, the Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle, will open its doors.

  • Siemens technology makes The Circle sustainable

    Siemens technology makes The Circle sustainable

    The Circle building complex at Zurich Airport, which was inaugurated in November last year, is not only Minergie-certified, but also meets the LEED PLATINUM standard of the US Green Building Council, Siemens Switzerland informs in a press release . At the highest standard of the organization, seven areas are checked for sustainability, it says there. Products for building and energy technology from Siemens have made an active contribution to the sustainability of The Circle.

    In total, over 30,000 Siemens components have been installed in the Circle, the company writes in the press release. "We are present with our products in every room", Felix von Rotz, Head of Building Products Switzerland, is quoted there. For the implementation of the order, Siemens Switzerland had "designed a unique logistics concept, with a warehouse at our Steinhausen location and a transport vehicle that is only on the road for The Circle," explains von Rotz.

    When it comes to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, Siemens products create a healthy and optimal room climate. Other components regulate the communication of the controls of these systems with blinds and lights. All buildings can be fully automated using the KNX communication standard.

    A further 7,000 Siemens components were installed in the power engineering systems. There are also voice alarm systems in private and public areas of the complex.

  • Zurich Airport welcomes new tenants

    Zurich Airport welcomes new tenants

    AMAG , Bruno Wickart , RehaClinic , cermony Swiss and Vebego have signed rental contracts for sales, event, therapy and office space in The Circle , according to a statement from Flughafen Zürich AG . In addition to shops and service providers, The Circle also houses restaurants and a Hyatt Regency Hotel.

    The car dealer AMAG is now also setting up a center for new mobility in The Circle. The furniture store Bruno Wickart will present offers for work and living in a new exhibition area. The RehaClinic will move its RehaCenter from the airport to The Circle in mid-2021. The real estate service provider Vebego is creating a location for its international activities in The Circle. And cermony is opening its Bliss Center for massages and other health-promoting services in spring.