Tag: immobilien

Empa awards the use of airgel

The Airgel Architecture Award enters the second round. Since January 19th and until June 30th, Empa has been accepting examples of the use of aerogel in architecture, construction, renovation and monument preservation, the research institute informs in a press release . Architects, civil engineers and employees in design offices can apply for the prize. Architecture and civil engineering students are also invited to participate.

The exact conditions of participation can be found in the announcement or on the Airgel Architecture Awards website. “The prize recognizes the best examples of energy efficiency, unconventional solutions, translucent daylight lighting and high-performance building solutions using super-insulating airgel materials,” writes Empa. This year’s winners are to be announced on August 5th in Empa’s NEST building in Dübendorf.

The Airgel Architecture Award was launched in 2020 by Empa and the industrial partners Fixit , Agitec , Haga AG Naturbaustoffe and Hasit as well as the AdvaPor association. It should help to publicize the possibilities of airgel insulation materials in monument protection and in the renovation of buildings among architects and civil engineers. Five offices applied last year.

January 2022
Energieverbund Thalwil goes to the starting position

For the new energy network Thalwil, energy is extracted from the water of Lake Zurich in a lake water center, informs Energie 360 ° on the project page of the lake water energy network of the Zurich energy service provider. This energy is fed to the network’s energy center and fed from there into the district heating network. Peak loads are to be covered with a gas heating system integrated into the energy center.

with the dr. Ernst Th. Jucker Foundation, Energie 360° has now found the location for this energy center. In a statement , the energy service provider announced that it would be moving into the second basement floor of a foundation property currently under construction on Gotthardstrasse in Thalwil. The ground floor and first floor are reserved for Bank Thalwil. Rental apartments are to be built on the remaining floors.

“The space in the center of Thalwil is tight,” Foundation President Christine Burgener is quoted as saying in the statement. The former mayor has accompanied the planning of the new energy network from the start. “When Energie 360° and the municipality of Thalwil approached us, we offered a hand so that the energy center could be implemented in our building.” In return, Energie 360° will supply the property with energy at a fixed price. The new network is scheduled to start work at the beginning of the heating season this fall.

January 2022
Switzerland launches building education offensive

The shortage of skilled workers in the construction and real estate industry is to be remedied. To this end, the Swiss “Building Education Offensive” has now been launched. The starting event will take place on January 20 at 4 p.m. and will be streamed live. According to a press release from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy , a “roadmap with 32 measures and four fields of action” will be presented.

Ultimately, the building sector in Switzerland should make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. To do this, “hundreds of thousands of fossil-based heating systems would have to be replaced by renewable ones, a large number of buildings would have to be renovated in terms of energy, intelligent control systems would have to be installed and the power supply of the buildings would have to be completely converted to renewable energies”. However, there is already a shortage of skilled workers. At the same time, the number of those who decide to do an apprenticeship in this industry is declining.

The education offensive was developed by all relevant representatives of the building and education sector. They were supported by EnergieSchweiz , the Swiss Federal Office of Energy’s program for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation , the Federal Office for the Environment and the State Secretariat for Migration were also involved.

January 2022
The Federal Office of Energy is funding significantly more projects

In 2021, the Federal Office of Energy funded a total of 79 new projects and 13 new programs as part of competitive tenders to save electricity in the industrial and service sectors and in households. The number of subsidized projects was thus significantly higher than in 2020, according to a press release . In 2020, the number of funded projects was 39 and the number of funded programs was 15.

According to the Federal Office of Energy, this increase in projects is “at least partly due to the softened selection process in 2021”. It was introduced as an "immediate measure for projects due to the Covid 19 pandemic". In 2021, the beneficiaries received a total of 40 million francs.

The subsidies were used, among other things, to optimize shaft heating for snowmaking systems in terms of energy, to replace a production system for drawers at a furniture manufacturer and to replace vacuum pumps in a paper production machine.

Taken together, the funded projects and programs save 90 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. "That corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of 16,000 households," says the press release.

The competitive tenders for 2022 have meanwhile already begun. Interested parties can submit programs until May 2nd. Applications for projects can be submitted at any time throughout the year. The entry is made online. The participants will receive confirmations and rejection of funding after four weeks at the latest.

January 2022
Halter redesigns the center of Wetzikon

With the demolition of buildings in the northern part of the planned new development, the Schliere-based construction company Halter AG has started to redesign the center of Wetzikon . According to the media release , a lively center with shops, services and apartments is to be built there by the end of 2025. In the past two years, Halter AG, as the developer, has brought the project to construction maturity together with the Wetziker architectural office meierpartner . The investor is Turintra AG Zurich, represented by UBS Fund Management. The investment volume on the 9013 square meter area amounts to around 138 million Swiss francs.

The shell construction work for the building construction of the first stage is to begin in the spring. Delivery is planned for November 2023. The second stage should be ready for occupancy in November 2025. According to a statement by Halter AG, the superstructure offers space for shops and restaurants, public-oriented uses and a medical center. Rental apartments ranging in size from 2.5 to 4.5 rooms for different target groups are being built on the upper floors. Some of the rental apartments are offered according to the MOVEment concept, in which electronically movable room elements create living comfort in a small space.

114 apartments and 35 MOVEment apartments are planned. 3,100 square meters are planned for the services area, and 4,600 square meters for sales and gastronomy. Garages for 176 cars, 34 motorcycles and 450 bicycles will be created.

A central city lane for pedestrians and passers-by and a city square are to be created in Wetzikon. A "Spanish Step" is intended to serve as a cross connection between Bahnhofstrasse and Jörg-Schneider-Park as well as the Wetzikon vocational school.

January 2022
Sanitas Troesch takes over Fischer

Fischer AG has been part of Sanitas Troesch since January 7th. Both companies want to jointly expand the range of kitchens and household appliances, the Lucerne specialist for kitchens and household appliances and the Bernese provider of kitchen and bathroom furnishings inform in a joint statement . There is no information about the purchase price.

With the takeover, Sanitas Troesch wants to strengthen its own market position in Zurich and increase its expertise in the service and repair of household appliances. The Fischer family company has found a successor solution under the umbrella of Sanitas Troesch. According to her, Daniel Dubach, Managing Director Kriens of Element-Kitchen AG, which belongs to Sanitas Troesch, will take over the management of Fischer on April 1, 2022. The former owners Monika and Peter Fischer will accompany the integration until the end of 2022 as members of the management.

"We are very proud of what we have achieved together with our employees," Monika and Peter Fischer are quoted in the statement. "In Sanitas Troesch we have found a partner with whom we can be sure that the values and entrepreneurial tradition of Fischer will be continued and that our customers and employees are in good hands." For Patrick Maier, Fischer is "an excellent company that for Proximity to customers and high quality of service". With the takeover, the CEO of Sanitas Troesch wants to "strengthen our market position in Central Switzerland and in Zurich" and "benefit from the skills and expertise of Fischer's employees".

January 2022
Zurich is investing CHF 573 million in district heating

In a press release , the City of Zurich announced the approval of the “Thermal grids of the power plant” credit line in the amount of CHF 573 million. The amount is to flow into the switch from fossil to renewable heating and cooling in the city and financially secure the conversion of the heating supply required to achieve the climate target. Those entitled to vote should decide on the approval in 2022.

The city set the course for the climate policy expansion plans “ Net Zero 2040 ” of the electricity company of the city of Zurich ( ewz ) in spring 2021 with the opening of the Zurich Heat Advice Center. The legal foundation was laid in November 2021 with the Heat Supply Ordinance.

City Councilor Michael Baumer is quoted as saying that the municipal measure, which is divided into six sub-projects, makes an “important contribution to decarbonisation in the heating sector”. The financial buffer is “only a first step, the actual work is just beginning,” announces Baumer.

January 2022
Canton releases 2.5 million Swiss francs for Uri energy funding program

Residents of the canton of Uri can access a total of 2.5 million francs from the Energy Uri 2022 funding program this year. The government council recently passed this sum, according to a media release . This is intended to renovate and insulate buildings, replace old heating systems and finance photovoltaic systems and charging stations for e-cars.

Building owners can have the insulation of the roof and facade subsidized at 60 francs per square meter. According to the press release, this covers a large part of the total costs. Applicants who also opt for a photovoltaic system integrated into the façade or roof can receive an additional CHF 200 per square meter occupied by modules.

What is new in this funding period is that the plants must be designed for electricity production in the winter months. "The angle of the modules must be 60 to 90 degrees and thus optimized for the production of valuable winter electricity." The canton wants to increase the spread of photovoltaic systems in facades, "where the electricity production is higher in the winter months with the appropriate orientation". , contribute.

The funding program also provides for subsidies for consultations. After a free initial consultation at the Energy Office, interested parties can receive 700 francs for more detailed advice on the façade, roof, windows and other parts of the building envelope. The funding amount was increased by CHF 300 this year. Advice on replacing oil heating systems with more sustainable types of heating is CHF 350 for buildings with fewer than five apartments. Owners of six or more apartments receive a subsidy of CHF 700.

Owners of apartment buildings who want to equip at least ten parking spaces with charging options for electric cars will be supported with a flat-rate amount of CHF 2,000. This is intended to cover part of the cost of a load management system. This is necessary if several e-cars are to be charged at the same time.

The canton has been supporting energy-efficient refurbishments in buildings since 2000 with the funding programme. "In the last two years, the funding budget has been fully utilized, which can be seen as a success," says the press release. It proves that owners take their responsibility seriously and make a contribution to the energy transition and climate protection.

January 2022
Zurich homes fetch record prices

"Zurich's home prices are skyrocketing," writes the Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ) in its real estate barometer for the fourth quarter of 2021 . According to the analysts at ZKB, prices for residential property in the Canton of Zurich rose by an average of 9.3 percent year-on-year to new record levels. The analysts account for the highest increase of 11.3 percent for residential property in the lake communities and the city of Zurich.

Rents also achieved “the highest overall annual growth since the end of 2014” in the reporting period, the barometer continues. The analysts attribute this to the currently falling figures for vacant apartments “in combination with robust immigration”. In the city of Zurich, on the other hand, “the centers lost their attractiveness during the pandemic”. Here, rents increased by only 0.5 percent year-on-year.

The analysts also cite the long approval period for the construction of apartment buildings as a background for the developments. The approval period for major projects has almost doubled since 2001 from 183 to 324 days. "High-density construction often generates areas of friction and often leads to lengthy appeals and delays," the analysts explain. As a result, the implementation of many major projects is no longer decided in the Zurich building department, but in court. Ultimately, however, "in most cases a solution" can be found.

January 2022
Poenina and Burkhalter explore fusion in building technology

Poenina Holing AG from Opfikon and Burkhalter Holding AG from Zurich have announced the start of their merger negotiations in a press release . The aim is to get “a strong, local provider” on the way who “could design and install future-oriented building technology across trades”, it says.

According to the Federal Energy Strategy 2050, energy consumption in buildings is to be halved by upgrading the building services. The companies Poenina and Burkhalter, which specialize in building technology, want to contribute to reducing consumption by offering all building technology services from a single source in the future. This marks a "future-oriented offer in the field of building technology" and could make a contribution to the energy transition.

At the same time, both companies expect a growth spurt and the creation of additional jobs. With the presence of the Burkhalter Group throughout Switzerland, Poenina wants to open up new customer segments. Poenina plans to provide information on further plans at the balance sheet media conference on March 31.

January 2022
Holcim issues first sustainable bonds

Holcim has issued two bonds in Swiss francs that are geared towards sustainability and put climate protection at the heart of the financing strategy. The bonds raised CHF 325 million and CHF 100 million, with maturities in 2026 and 2032 and carrying an annual interest rate of 0.35 and 0.90 percent, respectively.

If Holcim does not achieve its climate target, investors are entitled to a higher coupon. "We are proud to be the first company to issue a sustainability-related bond on the Swiss franc market," CFO Géraldine Picaud is quoted as saying in a company statement. "The bond has attracted new ESG investors who have demonstrated their confidence in Holcim's financial strength, strategy and ability to achieve sustainability goals."

With the current transactions, Holcim is expanding its global leadership position in this area. To date, the company has concluded around 6.7 billion in sustainable financing agreements. This current transaction represents a significant step on the way to more than 40 percent sustainable financing contracts as part of "Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth".

This was Holcim's third transaction in the Swiss public bond market in the last ten months. They allowed the company to raise a total of 1.1 billion Swiss francs.

January 2022
Swiss Prime Site Solutions completes initial fund offering

The subscription period for the Swiss Prime Site Solutions Investment Fund Commercial began on November 1, 2021. By the deadline of December 10, 2021, the real estate fund had brought in a total of CHF 144.2 million, Swiss Prime Site Solutions announced in a statement . They are spread over a total of 1,441,705 fund shares.

The Swiss Prime Site group company uses the new equity to build up a real estate portfolio. The proceeds from the issue have already flowed completely into the purchase of real estate with a total value of 220 million, according to the statement. The first real estate fund from Swiss Prime Site Solutions has 13 properties to start with. The focus of the fund is on "commercial real estate in economically good and established locations", explains Swiss Prime Site Solutions.

January 2022
An algorithm controls thermostats

Two researchers from the Urban Energy Systems Lab at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( Empa ) have created a self-learning algorithm for heating thermostats. According to an Empa report , it can be integrated into conventional intelligent or smart thermostats via a cloud connection and regulate the room temperature in a predictive manner.

"The potential is enormous," says Felix Bünning, co-founder of the Empa spin-off viboo, which markets this algorithm. "Our experiments at NEST have shown that energy savings of between 26 and 49 percent can be achieved with this approach."

To create a model of the building, building data such as valve positions and room temperature measurements from just two weeks are sufficient. In combination with forecasts for the local outside temperature and global solar radiation, the algorithm then independently calculates the ideal amount of energy required to heat or cool the building up to twelve hours in advance.

According to the information, a first partner is the Danish company Danfoss . The internationally active thermostat manufacturer is currently testing in a pilot project together with viboo how high the savings potential is in conventional existing buildings. In addition, the start-up is already in talks with other industrial partners. For example, it will integrate the algorithm directly into the central building automation system in a Zurich office building.

January 2022
Sustainability drives real estate prices

The Swiss real estate market will remain attractive for investors in 2022, writes EY Switzerland in a statement on the real estate trend barometer 2022 from the consulting firm. According to the EY surveys, the real estate market is currently being determined by the three factors of sustainability, digitization and the pandemic. The vast majority of investors are also of the opinion that the overall investment volume will remain at the level of the previous year.

Last year, the pandemic increased the focus of investors on residential real estate. "This clear preference is also clearly evident for the year 2022, because the residential segment is still clearly favored over other types of use," says Tizian Scheidegger, Senior Consultant Real Estate Switzerland, in the statement. "Like last year, logistics and healthcare properties are also very popular."

Almost nine out of ten people surveyed for the study believe that sustainability criteria are decisive in the purchasing decisions of institutional investors. Three quarters of investors have observed price premiums for sustainable real estate. At the same time, more than nine out of ten respondents believe that the implementation of sustainability strategies in the real estate sector is still in its infancy. Just as many investors are in favor of creating CO2 balance sheets for buildings or real estate portfolios. 97 percent of investors attach great importance to an intelligent infrastructure with charging stations, connectivity and intelligent energy concepts.

January 2022
Five start-ups move into Büro Züri Innovationspark

The Züri Innovationspark office has officially opened, according to a press release . Five start-ups have moved into a total of 170 square meters in the converted fire station of the former Dübendorf Airport. They were selected by public vote from among ten candidates last summer.

The modern building offers 16 flexible workplaces, meeting rooms, a kitchen and a generous infrastructure. With their move into the Dübendorf office in Züri, the teams will also become part of the ecosystem in the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, according to the Zürcher Kantonalbank . The Zürcher Kantonalbank, co-founder of the Zurich Innovation Park, makes this space available free of charge for an innovative and collaborative working group. In a statement , the bank describes the Züri office, of which there is another edition in Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, as its "gift" to the population.

The five start-ups from Büro Züri Innovationspark include Medtech aiEndoscopic and the data processing platform for artificial intelligence, Lightly . Soma Rem is also on site, which helps people with body image disorders with virtual and augmented reality. TerraRad Tech brings remote space sensing technology to agriculture. And Tethys Robotics develops underwater robots.

January 2022
Michael Qamar expands the business in Switzerland for Capital Bay

Berlin, January 18, 2022 – The owner-managed Capital Bay Group, an internationally integrated asset manager, investment fund manager and cross-industry real estate developer, has appointed Michael Qamar (45) as Director of Business Development on January 1, 2022. He will drive business development in Switzerland and selected international markets and raise equity from institutional and semi-professional investors.
Michael Qamar has worked at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse in the areas of sales, marketing, business development and process optimization, among others, and has a total of 25 years of experience in the financial services and real estate sectors. Most recently, he built up investor relations for the European investor boutique 777 Capital, where he was responsible for capital raising, marketing and public relations.
"With an investment volume of more than 3.5 trillion euros, Switzerland offers diverse and attractive market opportunities for Capital Bay," says Rolf Engel, CFO of the Capital Bay Group. “For this reason, we are intensifying our relationships with Swiss investors and further expanding our international business. We are delighted to have gained an experienced expert in Michael Qamar.”
"I am pleased to be able to contribute my broad network, which I have built up over the past few years, as part of my new challenge at Capital Bay," says Michael Qamar, Director of Business Development at Capital Bay Group.
About Capital Bay Group
The Capital Bay Group is an owner-managed, independent investment, asset, property and facility manager for real estate of all types of use, which is integrated at all stages of the value chain. Overall, the Capital Bay Group manages real estate assets worth EUR 7 billion with a focus on Germany and neighboring European countries. Within the Capital Bay Group, the German Capital Bay GmbH takes over the transaction management, the development and the administration of real estate. The range of services includes the creation of building rights, the planning and implementation of new construction projects, the conversion and revitalization of existing properties as well as construction management with our own teams of experts and external partners. Capital Bay Fund Management Sarl, a fully regulated, independent alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) based in Luxembourg, serves national and international, institutional and semi-professional investors in all areas of real estate investments. The Capital Bay Group thus offers institutional and semi-professional investors the entire range of direct and indirect regulated and non-regulated real estate investments. In addition, the Capital Bay Group, with its exclusive cooperation partner, 360 Operator GmbH, has access to a platform for the operational management of operator properties. The portfolio of the internationally active 360 Operator GmbH includes over 70 properties with more than 10,000 units.
https://capitalbay.de/

January 2022
After successful restructuring, Novosan AG is returning to its roots

Bern, January 18, 2022: Novosan AG was acquired by Spycher Group Holding AG at the beginning of 2021. Now, one year after the takeover and the successfully implemented corporate restructuring, Novosan AG is returning to its roots. With retrospective effect from the beginning of January 2022, the fire and water damage specialist will go to the experienced industrial specialist Martin Schweizer.
The life partner of company co-founder Deneshini Santschi takes over the share package of the Spycher Group and the operational management of Novosan AG. The founder Hanspeter Santschi keeps his company shares and remains with the company.
Since 2021, Novosan AG has been restructured by those responsible at Spycher Group Holding AG. New business areas were also created and the structures adjusted. The renovators were thus able to arm Novosan AG for the future.
The makers of the Bern company have been carrying out fire and water damage restoration for years and are also popular and proven in drying, electrical and industrial renovation, odor neutralization and special cleaning. In the event of damage, the Novosan AG team is always on hand immediately.
The Spycher Group will retain the two newly created business areas "pollution remediation" and "facility management" of Novosan AG under a new name. The two business areas now form PuraTec GmbH and are based at Ey 9 in Ittigen. PuraTec GmbH perfectly complements the company portfolio of Spycher Group Holding AG and offers those responsible for it the opportunity to further expand their comprehensive real estate services.
Novosan AG
Novosan AG, founded by Hanspeter Santschi in 1992, became a successful fire and water damage restoration company under the joint management of Deneshini and Hanspeter Santschi. Far beyond the Bern region, the Novosan AG team is on the spot immediately after damage, to save what can be repaired with care and respect, to limit the damage and to protect property and cherished objects. For those who have suffered damage and their insurance companies, rehabilitation is often more ecological and economical than replacement. In addition to fire and water damage restoration, the team also specializes in electrical and industrial renovation, odor neutralization, drying and special cleaning. novosan.ch
The PuraTec GmbH
Shortly after the takeover of Novosan AG by Spycher Group Holding AG, Novosan harmful substances GmbH was set up together with its managing director, Pascal Meier. In addition, the Novosan Facility Management division was created. PuraTec GmbH, which also takes over the former Novosan Facility Management department, emerges from Novosan harmful substances GmbH. PuraTec pollutants specializes in analyzes and pollutant remediation for construction pollutants such as asbestos, PCB and PAH. PuraTec Facility Management, in turn, offers a wide range of services related to house maintenance and property services. puratec.ch
The Spycher Group Holding AG
The Spycher Group holds subsidiaries and holdings in the construction industry, in communications and in the tourism industry. In the construction industry, these are Maler Pfister AG, Intertapis AG, Fritschi Fensterbau AG, Akzent Küchen GmbH and GIO CERAMICA GmbH. The communications division includes the companies Prolith AG, Werbehorst and Witschi + Partner AG. In tourism it is Belpmoos Reisen AG. spychergroup.ch
Press Office Spycher Group Holding AG / Novosan AG / PuraTec GmbH
IMS Marketing AG; Dominik Rothenbühler, dominik.rothenbuehler@ims-marketing.ch , Gartenstadtstrasse 17, 3098 Köniz, +41 79 262 66 60, ims-marketing.ch

January 2022
Basel Rosental Tower enters the planning phase

HRS Real Estate is taking over the overall management of the further project development, the search and selection of investors as well as the realization and marketing of the Basel project Rosentalturm at the Basel exhibition center. According to a press release , MCH Messe Basel and HRS Real Estate have signed a corresponding agreement.

A project competition is now being held in cooperation with the construction and transport department of the canton of Basel-Stadt and with the support of the Zurich planning specialists Planpartner . According to the information, seven architectural firms were invited: Buchner Bründler Architects, Herzog & de Meuron and Morger Partner Architects from Basel. Burkard Meyer Architekten from Baden AG as well as the two Zurich offices Michael Meier and Marius Hug Architekten and Armon Semadeni Architekten are competing for the best design.

The assessment committee made up of national experts is chaired by Thomas Hasler from Staufer + Hasler Architekten from Frauenfeld. The results are expected in autumn 2022. Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2023.

The Rosentalturm building is to be erected on the site of the existing trade fair car park. The parking lot will be underground. Of the total of 48,000 square meters planned, 40,000 are intended for housing and 8,000 for commercial use.

January 2022
Groundbreaking for the new community center in Spreitbach has taken place

The construction of the new community center in Spreitbach has started with the ground-breaking ceremony. According to a press release by fsp architects from Spreitenbach, the new administration building is designed for a population of 15,000. When the old community center was built in 1964, Spreitenbach still had around 9,000 residents. According to the municipality's website , there are now 12,079, of which 5,986 are Swiss and 6,093 are foreigners.

Planning for the new parish hall began in 2016. A first draft with a planned cost of more than 18 million Swiss francs was rejected. The new cost plan provides for expenditure of CHF 13 million and was approved in early 2020.

According to an article in the "Aargauer Zeitung", architects, entrepreneurs and members of the building commission were present at the start of construction, as well as mayor Markus Mötteli (centre) and councilor Roger Mohr (SVP). "For the building commission and the planners involved, this is a big moment and the step from theory to practice," says architect and overall project manager Markus Schärer from fsp Architekten. With the new community center in a central location between the village and the commercial zone, the population will have a center and point of identification, according to the statement by fsp architects.

According to the planning, the new community center should be ready in June 2023. It will also have an underground garage as well as a parking lot. A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof to supply energy. The old parish hall may later be converted into a school building.

January 2022
Steiner AG sells housing project in Suhr to Corpora

13 apartment buildings with a total of 146 apartments are to be built on Neumattweg Ost in Suhr. The superstructure is designed for use by different age groups and family sizes, Steiner AG informed in a press release . The real estate developer from Zurich has decided to sell the project to Corpora Immobilien AG from Aarau before it is actually implemented.

"With Corpora Immobilien AG, Aarau, we were able to sell this extensive project to an investor with development expertise and local roots, who will ensure the successful further development and realization of this attractive residential development," project manager Daniel F. Hauri is quoted as saying in the press release. No information is given there on the purchase price for the approximately 1.6 hectare area. Steiner cites an adjustment to the portfolio that was initiated last year as the reason for the sale.

January 2022
Architonic ArchDaily takes over Designboom

The ArchDaily online platform, founded in 2008, is geared towards the needs of architects and designers. Among other things, ArchDaily offers a database of innovative architectural programs and information on products and materials used by the industry. Around two years ago, ArchDaily merged with Architonic, which has been part of the NZZ Media Group since 2015. Launched in 2003, the platform offers a research tool for architects.

Architonic ArchDaily has now taken over the international online magazine Designboom, the NZZ media group informed in a statement . "Our companies are international market leaders and, thanks to the selective selection of their content, enjoy a high level of credibility in the industry," Stephan Bachmann is quoted as saying in the press release. According to the Architonic ArchDaily CEO, the three platforms "each cover specific interests in product, project and news content". Together they counted more than 270 million visits a year.

Even after the transaction, Architonic, ArchDaily and Designboom are to continue their independent branding. Legally, the companies Architonic ArchDaily and Designboom will be merged into the organization DAAily Platforms. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose the purchase price for the takeover.

January 2022
Innovation from Studer Innotec enables solar self-sufficiency

According to Studer Innotec , the next 3 is the world’s first intelligent inverter charger for private or company-owned photovoltaic systems. It represents “the future of self-consumption” and enables “full energy self-sufficiency” for everyone. With their own charging stations for battery-powered cars, electromobility will become cheaper solar mobility, according to Studer’s website. In addition, neighborhood microgrids, so-called mini-grids, would also be possible in remote rural areas. “With the next3, we are ready to play a very active role in the energy transition,” says Studer Innotec on its website.

The next3 allows complete control over the production, storage and distribution of its electrical energy. In addition, it can operate with the public power grid, according to a media release. It is therefore suitable for grid-independent (off-grid), grid-dependent (on-grid) and hybrid systems. Installation and wiring is easy. The company also explains further technical specifications in a video .

“This new approach completely breaks through the previously known technical and economic limits,” says Studer Innotec. “It’s disruptive.” By turning your own living space or business building into a self-sufficient system, you contribute to a stable power supply, protect yourself against price fluctuations and ensure that your electric vehicle or company car fleet is charged every day.

January 2022
Sika posts record sales

Sika generated record sales of 9.24 billion Swiss francs in the 2021 financial year, the Zug-based group specializing in specialty chemicals in the construction and automotive industries, which is active around the world, reports in a press release. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to growth of 17.1 percent in local currencies. Organic growth is put at 15.1 percent year-on-year in the announcement. A number of acquisitions made during the reporting period contributed 2.0 percentage points to sales growth.

"As expected, the challenging year 2021 ended very successfully for Sika", CEO Thomas Hasler is quoted in the announcement. "We benefit from various growth platforms and are excellently positioned to achieve long-term success." Hasler expects government investment programs to further boost sales growth in the future. In addition, the CEO sees an enormous need for sustainable solutions in the construction industry.

In the year under review, Sika sales in the construction industry grew faster than the market, the press release further explains. Sika shows double-digit growth year-on-year in all regions of the world. The strongest growth in sales, at 21.0 percent, was in the Americas region. In the separately reported business with the automotive industry (Global Business segment), Sika returned to the growth zone in the reporting year after a decline in 2020. Specifically, growth of 4.3 percent was achieved in local currencies.

The group plans to communicate its detailed annual report for 2021 on February 18. In doing so, Sika expects to be able to report a disproportionately high increase in the operating result at EBIT level and an EBIT margin of 15 percent.

January 2022
Holcim concrete is supposed to charge electric vehicles

Holcim has entered into a strategic partnership with the start-up Magment . The young company based in Oberhaching near Munich is working on a wireless inductive charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. According to Magment's understanding, they should be charged where they go instead of having to go where they are charged. This reduces the need for charging stations and at the same time saves time, according to a message from the Zug-based building materials manufacturer.

Together, the development departments of both companies have created a "unique concrete with high magnetic permeability" for road surfaces. The technology is currently being tested at Purdue University in the US state of Indiana. Applications for industrial floors to charge robots and forklifts while driving are also in preparation.

Magment CEO and co-founder Mauricio Esguerra believes that both companies will be an “important companion for the sustainable electric transport of the future” “by developing superior qualities” of magnetizable concrete technology. Holcim is also pleased to “develop concrete solutions with Magment to advance electromobility,” said Edelio Bermejo, Head of Holcim's Global Innovation Center. The Zug-based company is shifting "the limits of innovation by working with start-ups all over the world in order to take on a pioneering role in terms of sustainability".

January 2022
Emanuel von Graffenried Appointed as Local Chair Romandie of ULI Switzerland

For more information, contact media@uli.org

ZÜRICH (XX JANUARY 2022) – The Urban Land Institute Switzerland (ULI) has announced the appointment of Emanuel von Graffenried, associate director at CBRE Building Consultancy in Lausanne, as Local Chair Romandie of ULI Switzerland who officially began his voluntary two-year term on 1 January 2022.

ULI is the world’s oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate experts, with more than 45,000 members globally and more than 4,000 members across Europe. ULI Switzerland involves over 100 leading real estate stakeholders from the private and public sectors representing all disciplines within the Swiss commercial and residential property market.

With the appointment of Emanuel von Graffenried the ULI Switzerland wants to strengthen its activities in the western part of Switzerland. In particular in the areas Lausanne, Geneve and Fribourg, a lot of urban development triggered by environmental and social issues are expected to impact the whole region. Professor Jürgen M. Volm, Chair of ULI Switzerland says: “Emanuel is highly passionate to establish ULI in the Romandie. He has a very strong network and can motivate young members to contribute in ULI’s Young Leader and NEXT programmes.”

Emanuel von Graffenried is an accomplished real estate industry expert with experience in real estate analysis, development strategy and project management. Before moving to CBRE, von Graffenried was Business Development Manager B2B, deputy head of partnermanagement at MoneyPark AG and before Managing Partner at Ateliers GEC SA. With a Master of Science in Architecture from EPFL and a federal degree from USPI Formation as Expert for Real Estate Valuation, he is member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), member of REG A for professional architects and professional member of the SIA.

“I am very pleased to support the further growth of ULI Switzerland and to contribute with my network and expertise to further knowledge exchange within Switzerland and the whole DACH region. I am looking forward to having a positive impact and exchanging views on the future of the built environment and the sustainability of the Swiss building stock”, said von Graffenried.

Sabine Georgi, ULI DACH CEO, said: “Emanuel is a very engaging and motivating real estate expert. With his network in the western part of Switzerland he can accelerate the expansion of ULI Switzerland. His open and kind attitude enables him to connect real estate professionals of every age. ULI Switzerland has been expanding rapidly within the DACH region and we look forward to seeing the next stage of growth under Emanuel’s chairmanship.”

Since its founding in 2014, ULI Switzerland has successfully held over 30 events with more than 1,000 participants, including various formats such as roundtables, breakfasts, summer dinners and site tours, in addition to webinars. It also has an active Young Leaders group (for members aged under 35), which benefits from a mentoring programme enabling professionals at the beginning of their career to benefit from experience of renowned senior executives.

For more information about ULI Switzerland and its programme of events, visit switzerland.uli.org.

January 2022
Vebego drives the development of cleaning robots

Vebego wants to be the driving force in the development of cleaning robots. A media release from Vebego AG states that digitization is also a strong driver for innovations and further development in the cleaning industry. “As an innovative company”, Vebego wants to help determine, shape and drive digitalization. Cleaning robots and their development are therefore a big topic in the company.

Vebego has been analyzing the market and customer needs for five years in order to be able to make cleaning even more innovative and flexible in the future and to be able to further expand it while maintaining the cleaning quality. The company works with partners such as Soobr , a technology company based in Stettlen BE.

Vebego started with the needs-based planning and execution of cleaning tours by Soobr. By optimizing resources, the assignments of employees could be planned more efficiently. Robotics is still not a sure-fire success. Cleaning robots are currently not yet fully autonomous and continue to require regular support from people. Vebego tested the robots and used the mature models in a field test. Two models are currently in continuous use.

Vebego is working with its partners on further developing the models in the direction of autonomous robots. It should be noted that workplace design has changed significantly in recent years. The pandemic with the resulting increased work from home brought changes not only in terms of land use. The associated cleaning planning had also been given a further boost.

January 2022
Building cooperative receives 40,000 francs from the climate fund Stadtwerk Winterthur

The municipal energy supplier Stadtwerk Winterthur has given the building cooperative 40,000 francs more than housing from its climate fund. It wants to finance the pilot operation of a self-learning heating controller in two houses on the 2000-watt Hobelwerk area in Oberwinterthur, according to a media release .

The heating controller was developed by the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ) in Dübendorf. It is supposed to optimize the heating systems in a climate-friendly way, "by including solar power production on the roof, the interaction between main heating (heat pump) and peak load (pellet boiler) as well as the load on the power grid," the media release said. This offers knowledge for the climate-friendly use of energy with the lowest possible load on the power grid in buildings.

January 2022
Betterhomes has the most successful financial year

In 2021, Betterhomes had the most successful financial year since it was founded 16 years ago, the brokerage company from Zurich, which is active in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, informs in a message . According to her, Betterhomes brokered 3006 properties in Switzerland last year. In Germany there were 1687 placements. Both values represent new record values for Betterhomes.

The company attributes this success to its hybrid business model of technology and local expertise. "Due to the dried up market, all brokerage companies are in a challenging position when it comes to winning new brokerage contracts," Cyrill Lanz is quoted as saying in the press release. For the founder and CEO of the Betterhomes Group, a large personal network is the key to success for real estate agents. "That is why, in addition to our in-house technology, we have been relying on strong local sales with a large internal and external network since the company was founded."

Betterhomes has planned a technology platform for broker and customer software for this year. It should be launched in the first half of 2022. Based on this platform, Betterhomes plans to expand beyond the DACH region into other European countries in the second half of the year.

January 2022
Basel area relies on solar power from the roof

The canton of Basel-Landschaft is going on the solar power offensive. The canton's own buildings will be equipped with photovoltaic systems, the canton administration informs in a message . So far, 2177 modules with an area of almost 3900 square meters have been installed on the roofs of the secondary schools in Hinterzweien in Muttenz, Gerenmatt in Arlesheim, Laufental in Laufen, Lärchen in Münchenstein and Rheinpark in Birsfelden as well as the Werkhof Kreis 3 in Sissach and the new technical college in Muttenz been. They can generate around 800,000 kilowatt hours of solar power a year. This means that the electricity requirements of the respective location can be completely covered, writes the cantonal administration.

According to the announcement, further plants are already being planned. "The canton's largest photovoltaic system in the future" is to be tackled shortly. It is being built on the new building of the Augusta Raurica Collection Center in Augst. More than 400 modules are planned here, which could deliver around 450,000 kilowatt hours of solar power a year. The plans also include systems on the roofs of the Tannenbrunn secondary schools in Sissach and Frenke in Liestal and the Arxhof action center in Niederdorf.

The building authority is following the instructions of the district administrator with the solar offensive, it says in the message. According to them, the canton should "on the one hand be a role model for other investors and on the other hand cover the growing demand in schools and other buildings with as much self-produced solar power as possible". The district administrator provides the funds for the investments via building loans and as part of the investment program.

January 2022
Baden promotes charging stations for electromobility

The city of Baden financially supports the construction of new charging stations as part of its energy promotion program. According to a press release , half of all new registrations are already electric or hybrid vehicles. The city of Baden wants to make the switch easier. That is why new charging stations for electric vehicles will be funded with 25 percent of the investment costs from now on.

According to the city, the offer applies to existing apartment buildings and condominiums with three or more residential units. Shared garages of individual units are also taken into account. The expansion of the electrical infrastructure will also be promoted, according to the press release. Not only could the applicant install a charging station in the underground car park, but others could also be added. That can be done at the same time or later. The aim of this funding is that tenants can also become electromobile.

The funding program is broken down on the city's special website for electromobility. For electric charging stations, there is a subsidy of 25 percent of the investment costs, but no more than 1,000 francs per charging point. To develop the charging infrastructure, there are also 25 percent of the investment costs in communal underground car parks, but no more than CHF 500 per parking space. The development costs include the creation of power and communication lines to the parking lots.

The application for funding can be downloaded by clicking on this page and on the city's environmental blog.

January 2022