immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: immoNews

  • Sonova inaugurates zero-energy building

    Sonova inaugurates zero-energy building

    Sonova Holding AG has realized one of the first zero-energy company buildings in Murten, Freiburg, writes the hearing aid manufacturer from Stäfa in a press release . The new Wireless Competence Center will accommodate 180 employees from the Phonak Communications subsidiary and serve the development of miniaturized communication and hearing protection systems. The new building is part of Sonova's sustainability program. By the end of the year, the hearing aid manufacturer wants to have made all of its business operations CO2-neutral.

    “As one of the first zero-energy company buildings in Switzerland”, the new building in Murten “also belongs to the first generation of CO2-neutral buildings worldwide,” Sonova CEO Arnd Kaldowski is quoted in the press release. According to her, the building adapts to the respective outside climate, so that the temperature inside is always between 21 and 26 degrees. High and perfectly adapted window areas guarantee maximum natural light incidence and regulate the air renewal via controllable ventilation blades. The humidity is regulated by walls and ceilings plastered with lime.

    A photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the building will generate around 260,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, the press release further explains. This is more than Sonova needs to run its Competence Center. The excess electricity is to be fed into the power grid.

  • Sika invests in Qatar

    Sika invests in Qatar

    Sika has increased the production capacities for concrete admixtures at its location in Qatar's capital Doha, informs the Zug-based building materials group in a press release . In addition, the production of epoxy resins has now also started there, it says there. They are needed for the production of floor coverings and adhesives.

    The expansion investments are intended to put Sika in a better position in the competition for major government contracts in Qatar. Here, the national procurement policy stipulates that primarily domestically manufactured products are procured, explains the group. According to the announcement, high investments in the supply infrastructure for energy and water are pending in Qatar.

    "Our latest investment in Qatar positions us for further growth and strengthens our competitiveness in the country", Sika Regional Manager EMEA Ivo Schädler is quoted in the press release. "As a result of the expanded production, we are assuming a significant increase in demand and volume for our high-quality adhesive and flooring solutions for our business."

  • Switzerland falls behind in the country ranking

    Switzerland falls behind in the country ranking

    The Best Countries Report was published for the sixth time this year. It rates 78 nations across a range of categories, including economic impact, education, and quality of life. It is produced by US News & World Report in collaboration with the BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .

    Last year, the ranking was still headed by Switzerland. This year, however, the country has dropped three places to fourth. Canada now takes the top spot. Both Japan (second place) and Germany (third place) have overtaken Switzerland.

    However, Switzerland is still seen as the best location for companies. As the country report shows, it once again took first place in the Open for Business category this year. Above all, it scores with its low corporate taxes and the transparency of government practices.

    As a location for entrepreneurship, however, Switzerland has fallen from fifth to seventh place since the previous year. In contrast, it was able to move up from seventh to fifth in terms of quality of life. In the remaining categories, Switzerland did not make it into the top seven countries this year.

  • LafargeHolcim green building solutions receive certificate

    LafargeHolcim green building solutions receive certificate

    Among the 1000 solutions identified by the Solar Impulse Foundation that protect the environment in a profitable way, ten are from the building materials group LafargeHolcim . In 2018, the Lausanne Foundation of environmental pioneer Bertrand Piccard set out to find, evaluate and certify at least 1000 solutions worldwide. Now they are presented to decision makers to accelerate their scaled application.

    According to a company release, LafargeHolcim's products that have been awarded this environmental label include the green concrete ECOPact, which enables CO2-neutral construction, as well as bioactive reef concrete, which restores marine ecosystems, and 3D printing technologies for the faster creation of affordable housing and infrastructure.

    "It's great to see companies like LafargeHolcim committed to implementing several such solutions that are positive for the planet," said Piccard. "Given the global reach and size of the company, that can make a real difference in tackling today's climate crisis."

    LafargeHolcim CEO Jan Jenisch is proud of his company's “strong contribution” to the goal of the Solar Impulse Foundation. "More than half of our development activities focus on sustainable building solutions," he is quoted as saying. "Today's confirmation of our clean technologies is a great encouragement for our teams to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation for sustainable building."

  • ewz involves citizens in further solar systems

    ewz involves citizens in further solar systems

    ewz offers people who want to actively participate in the energy transition the opportunity to acquire stakes in photovoltaic systems. This type of crowd financing enables the construction of new systems, for example on school roofs. According to a press release , ewz is offering a total of 4,000 square meters of new space for this purpose.

    Of this, 1,100 square meters of photovoltaic area are now available on the Falletsche municipal school building in Leimbach. The Rebhügel school buildings in Wiedikon, Kolbenacker in Seebach and Mattenhof in Schwamendingen will go online in the course of the year. A maximum of ten square meters of participation at CHF 250 per household can be purchased on the Internet. In return, customers receive 80 kilowatt hours of sustainably produced solar power from Zurich per square meter of participation credited to their electricity bills.

    The last square meters of participation are still available for the first large-scale high-alpine solar system in Switzerland, which has already been completed on the ewz dam in Graubünden's Bergell. Because the yield is more than twice as high as in the Unterland, both the participation price and the credit are higher there.

  • New energy solutions at the start

    New energy solutions at the start

    The use of fossil fuels still dominates, especially in the area of heating living space. Thanks to innovative technologies, new climate-friendly alternatives are emerging here – for example, heating with sea thermal systems or the use of waste heat from computers. Both approaches use existing heat sources to heat buildings.

    Lake thermal energy is one of the youngest forms of energy generation and makes use of the lakes as huge heat stores. In summer, the lakes absorb the sun's warmth and give it off slowly. Even when it is below zero, the lake water retains a certain temperature in the depths – ideal for extracting heat from the water in the lower layers and using it as a natural source of heat. The water is then returned to the lake in a cooler condition. This is harmless to the ecosystem and to a certain extent even counteracts climatic warming. With this technology, the largest lake thermal project in Switzerland is successfully launched in Lucerne.

    The Paris startup “Qarnot” takes a different approach and relies on the waste heat from computers. Instead of laboriously cooling computers in large server rooms, they are built into radiators. In this way, data flows in the radiators instead of water. The decentralized computing power is sold to large companies, the digital radiators themselves to private households. After the initial investment, they no longer have any heating costs. The more heat is desired, the more data power is generated. The data is encrypted and is not saved, so it is not possible to trace which data is flowing. The same thing works with hot water boilers – an entire residential complex in Bordeaux has already been equipped with this technology. Due to the increasing amounts of data around the world, the future potential seems enormous.

    Read more about intelligent solutions here:
    https://proptechmarket.net/loesungen

  • JED gets neon and icons

    JED gets neon and icons

    The JED in Schlieren is to be supplemented by art in architecture, informs a corresponding report on the website of the center in Schlieren. Art in architecture creates identity and meaning and shows the way, it says at the beginning. The owner Swiss Prime Site hired the artists Roland Ammann and Gregory Gilbert-Lodge to realize the works of art in JED.

    Glassblower Roland Amman comes from Neonhaus Ammann and has dedicated himself to the creation of three-dimensional works of art from neon after the lighting industry switched from neon to LED. For the JED he will create three oversized letters, a J, an E and a D. Amman has already installed the first work of art on the ceiling of the Jake barista bar. At first glance, the object, which looks like a fragile shining ball, turns out to be a J on closer inspection, says the report. “I like it when my art has several levels and the hidden only becomes recognizable at a second or third glance,” artist Ammann is quoted there.

    On the wall of the barista bar, visitors can already see the first work of art by Gregory Gilbert-Lodge in the JED. The independent illustrator has provided the bar with an oversized portrait of its namesake Jake in green. Jake is supposed to represent building J and give the bar “a face”, it says in the report.

    Gilbert-Lodge designed portraits of Eve and Didi for buildings E and D. “The fictional characters in the JED should act as icons,” explains the artist in the report. The values and ideas embodied by them, "even an attitude towards life", are what the icons give to the individual buildings, says Gilbert-Lodge.

  • LafargeHolcim becomes Holcim again

    LafargeHolcim becomes Holcim again

    At this year's General Meeting, the Board of Directors will propose that the name of the LafargeHolcim Ltd. in Holcim Ltd. to change, informs LafargeHolcim in a message . The aim is to increase the “efficiency and impact” of the globally active company and build on “the legacy of the group”. The various LafargeHolcim brand names will remain unaffected by the group's name change.

    The company, which was founded in Holderbank AG in 1912, had been operating under the name Holcim since 2001. After the merger with the French building materials manufacturer Lafarge, the group was renamed LafargeHolcim in 2015.

    In addition, the general assembly on May 4th is due to vote on the relocation of the headquarters from Rapperswil-Jona to Zug. This will complete the restructuring of the Group's office locations, which was initiated in 2018, writes LafargeHolcim.

    In addition, upcoming changes to the Board of Directors will be communicated in the notification. Its Vice President Oscar Fanjul has decided to resign, LafargeHolcim informs. Fanjul was nominated for the Board of Directors by Lafarge in 2015. He had "played a central role in the successful merger of Lafarge and Holcim and made a significant contribution to making the company the leading global provider of building materials and solutions that it is today," said Chairman of the Board Beat Hess in the press release.

    Jan Jenisch, who has been CEO of the Group since September 2017, is also to be elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting. This serves to ensure continuity in management, explains the group.

  • Map helps with the restructuring of the energy system

    Map helps with the restructuring of the energy system

    For the first time, progress in the expansion of renewable energies can be publicly viewed and checked. For this purpose, according to a press release , the Swiss Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ) is making its geospatial base data available online for all around 110,000 electricity production plants in Switzerland. More than 100,000 of them are currently photovoltaic systems.

    All systems are displayed transparently on the Internet on an interactive map and updated monthly. According to the SFOE, this would enable the municipality and cantons to monitor the local expansion and, if necessary, take measures to accelerate it.

    In addition to the location of the system, the data also shows its output in kilowatts and the date on which it was commissioned. All systems with an output of more than 30 kilovolt amperes and small systems with more than 2 kilowatts that have been voluntarily registered are included. The database also contains systems that are funded through a feed-in or one-off payment, additional cost financing or an investment contribution.

  • Flatfox buys furniture

    Flatfox buys furniture

    Mobiliar acquired Flatfox on April 7th, informs the insurance cooperative in a message . The Zurich-based company has developed a platform with a free marketplace for real estate. Flatfox also offers corporate customers digital tools for the rental process.

    With the takeover of Flatfox, Mobiliar wants to strengthen its real estate business. Founders and employees should remain active for Flatfox under the umbrella of Mobiliar, explains Mobiliar. In addition, the new acquisition will continue to operate under the brand name Flatfox. The two partners have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

    The insurance cooperative is already active in the real estate sector together with Ringier with the marketplace Scout24 Schweiz AG as well as with the craftsmen platform buildigo and the tenant platform aroov. The aroov tenant platform developed jointly with Garaio REM is to remain independent, but will cooperate with Flatfox in the future. "The interaction between aroov and Flatfox offers private customers attractive services and complete solutions for real estate professionals, thanks to which they are present with the right offer at the right time with the tenants," explains Mobiliar COO Andrea Kleiner in the press release.

    In addition to this offer on the tenant market, Mobiliar is planning to launch an offer for owners of residential property this summer, the press release further explains. The corresponding Liiva platform was developed by Mobiliar together with Raiffeisen.

  • Rental prices drop slightly in March

    Rental prices drop slightly in March

    The prices for rents fell in March compared to the previous month by 0.4 percent. This short-term development is only reflected in the national averages. In the most expensive and densely populated regions, rents rose in March, according to the latest data from the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index. In the long term, too, prices have increased on average.

    Tenants in the Lake Geneva region had to pay 0.2 percent more in March, and even 0.9 percent in the greater Zurich region. According to a press release, rents in north-western Switzerland also rose by 0.3 percent, in eastern Switzerland by 0.2 percent and in Ticino by 1.9 percent. In Central Switzerland, on the other hand, rents fell by 1.2 percent. Over the year as a whole, rental prices rose by an average of 0.6 percent for the country.

    In the case of home ownership, prices have also developed differently, depending on the type of residence. While those interested in condominiums benefited from an average of 0.4 percent lower prices in March, buyers of single-family homes had to add 1 percent.

    In the past twelve months, home prices even rose by a record 7.2 percent. While the square meter cost 6398 francs in March 2020, it was 6857 francs in March of this year.

    In the case of condominiums, the plus of 3 percent was somewhat more moderate. Here, the price per square meter rose from 7,366 francs in March 2020 to 7,587 francs in March 2021.

    The data of the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index is created in real time on the basis of advertisements on the real estate platform ImmoScout24 and in cooperation with the real estate consultancy IAZI AG .

  • Implenia is renovating the St.Gallen city motorway

    Implenia is renovating the St.Gallen city motorway

    The Federal Roads Office has commissioned ARGE Stadtautobahn with the renovation of the St.Gallen urban motorway between the St.Gallen West and St.Gallen East connections, Implenia explains in a press release . The construction and real estate company from Dietlikon has a 30 percent stake in ARGE Stadtautobahn. In addition to construction work, Implenia will take over the commercial management of the project for the renovation of the St.Gallen city motorway.

    The repair work should start at the end of May and be completed by the end of 2024, Implenia further explains in the communication. During this period, coverings, drainage, edge closures and noise barriers will be renewed and some bridges, galleries, support structures and the Stephanshorn tunnel will be renovated. In addition, the construction of a new passerelle is planned.

    "The renovation of the St.Gallen city motorway is a complex, large-scale project," Christian Späth is quoted as saying in the communication. The Head Civil Engineering Division Implenia is looking forward to being able to “combine Implenia's accumulated expertise in bridge, tunnel and road construction with our extensive experience in managing large infrastructure projects”.

  • WWZ Group defies the pandemic

    WWZ Group defies the pandemic

    According to a statement from the WWZ Group , the Zug-based energy, telecommunications and water supplier generated total net sales of CHF 227.6 million in the 2020 financial year. In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to a marginal decrease of 0.3 percent.

    "Despite the corona pandemic, WWZ was largely able to achieve its goals," CEO Andreas Widmer is quoted as saying in the press release. "Although energy sales fell as a result of the lockdown and the warm weather, we were still able to keep net sales at the previous year's level." In addition, the group has pushed ahead with "expanding our strategic growth areas", explains Widmer.

    The CEO particularly points out the area of district heating. In the year under review, the group's flagship project, Circulago, put the first district headquarters into operation. Circulago uses the energy of the Zug lake water to generate heat and cold.

    In the year under review, WWZ invested a total of 87.0 million francs in maintaining the infrastructure and expanding district heating and telecommunications networks. As a result of these high investments and increased depreciation, the operating result at EBIT level fell by 10.8 percent year-on-year, explains WWZ. Specifically, an operating result of 37.4 million francs was achieved. At 39.0 million francs, consolidated profit was 19.1 percent lower than in the previous year.

    For the current year, the group assumes that investments, operating costs and depreciation will remain high. "The transition from fossil natural gas to renewable district heating and the establishment of further growth areas will temporarily burden the income statement," explains WWZ CFO Andreas Ronchetti Salomon. However, the group is well equipped to continue its strategic development “even under difficult conditions”.

  • The innovation award is intended to promote the Unterland location

    The innovation award is intended to promote the Unterland location

    SMEs based in the Zürcher Unterland can apply for an innovation award for the first time. The official announcement takes place in summer. This award is being launched by the new business and trade council of the Zürcher Unterland location association. It is endowed with 5000 francs. It is donated by the Zürcher Kantonalbank .

    According to a press release, the ZKB Innovation Prize Zürcher Unterland will be awarded for the first time on October 1st at the new Zurich North business symposium in Glattfelden ZH. Both the innovation award and the business symposium are viewed by the Zurich Unterland Economic and Commercial Council, which was founded last autumn, as its first two “flagship events”.

    According to Co-Managing Director Darius Daftarian, the Zürcher Unterland is still insufficiently perceived as a business location in a cantonal comparison. What is missing is “a regional and supra-regional awareness of the strength of the location”.

    This is one of the reasons why the new economic and trade council wants to promote knowledge transfer for SMEs. To this end, existing economic and trade networks would have to be merged. "When different people with different backgrounds meet, everyone can benefit," said Michael Ricklin, President of the Dielsdorf ZH district trade association, quoted in the press release.

  • Caleira lets poenina grow

    Caleira lets poenina grow

    According to a message from the poenina Group , the building technology company from Glattal generated operating income of 302.2 million francs in the 2020 financial year. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to growth of 19.4 percent.

    The merger of poenina with the Caleira Group, which was consolidated at the end of June 2020, is mentioned as the background to the strong growth. Caleira is an amalgamation of twelve companies from seven cantons that specialize in building envelopes and building technology. In 2019, Caleira had a turnover of 112.0 million francs.

    In the top-selling area of sanitary ware, poenina earned 112.4 million francs in the year under review, while the heating and cooling business area earned 88.3 million francs. 38.4 million francs were realized in customer service.

    At 15.0 million francs, poenina's operating result was 1.3 percent lower than in 2019. In contrast, net profit increased by 2.4 percent to CHF 12.6 million. Despite the sharply increased number of shares due to the merger with Caleira, poenina intends to distribute CHF 2.00 per share to the shareholders as in the previous year.

    For the current year, the building technology group is assuming good market conditions in the building construction segment. The group plans to continue its growth strategy, writes poenina. The company also wants to strengthen its presence in Switzerland through further acquisitions.

  • The coworking industry is optimistic about the future

    The coworking industry is optimistic about the future

    The coworking industry can look back on a difficult 2020, as stated in a press release by the industry association Coworking Switzerland . According to a survey, 56 percent of the association's members suffered losses in the past year. After the restrictions in spring 2020 and a subsequent recovery, the obligation to work from home, which was declared in autumn, hit the industry hard. In addition, the community concept is one of the essential aspects of the coworking concept, but is difficult to maintain in times of contact restrictions.

    For the time after Corona, however, the industry is looking positively to the future. Many employees would like to not return to the office to the extent they were used to after the crisis. Instead, they want to make their working hours more flexible and use other locations for their work, according to Coworking Switzerland. The home office is an option here, but then there is no social exchange. In this respect, coworking spaces are the ideal alternative.

    Coworking Switzerland refers here to a study by Deloitte. According to this, only 12 percent of those surveyed want to continue their work in the usual framework after the crisis. On the other hand, 62 percent would like more flexibility in the future, with 44 percent viewing the lack of social contacts in the home office as the greatest challenge.

    The industry wants to take advantage of this opportunity. With 150 coworking spaces, there is a nationwide offer in Switzerland. Coworking Switzerland is now also starting a campaign in which attention is drawn to the advantages of coworking spaces. The association also produced a video for this.

  • ETH Zurich helps with the construction of the Zug wooden high-rise

    ETH Zurich helps with the construction of the Zug wooden high-rise

    A ten-story office building with wooden components is to be built on the Suurstoffi site in Risch Rotkreuz. With a height of 80 meters, it will be one of the tallest wooden houses ever, as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH ) writes in an article. A lot of basic research is also required for the construction. Due to fire protection, this type of construction has only been allowed in Switzerland since 2015.

    According to the article, basic research for the new building is being carried out in the ETH building hall on the Hönggerberg. There, for example, it is simulated how the timber structure would behave in strong winds. Computer models are not always sufficient for such simulations. This is why experiments are carried out in the ETH building hall. "For us, testing something usually means loading it until it is destroyed," explains Dominik Werne, head of the construction hall, in the article. In the case of innovations in particular, computer models have to be validated through tests, adds Andrea Frangi, Professor of Timber Construction at the Institute for Structural Analysis at ETH.

    Tests on the structure of the Zug high-rise are currently being carried out in the building hall. This is planned by the Zurich engineering firm WaltGalmarini and built by the general contractor Implenia . After the tests at the ETH, the researchers decide together with engineers from WaltGalmarini which systems Implenia should use during construction.

  • Coop takes over Jumbo

    Coop takes over Jumbo

    Coop takes over the Dietlikon-based DIY store company Jumbo from Maus Frères SA. The chain with a total of 40 stores is an ideal complement to the Coop Group's locations, according to a media release . The purchase has to be approved by the Federal Competition Commission.

    Maus Frères SA now wants to focus on its core business, explained Didier Maus, Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the announcement. This includes the department store chain Manor and the brands under the name MF Brands Group. In addition, the company is strengthening its financial base with the sale and is thus preparing for possible acquisitions of other brands.

    Coop is convinced that with the acquisition “it has created an ideal basis for the future for all parties,” says Joos Sutter, CEO of the Coop Group Cooperative. With the current takeover of the DIY chain, Coop is buying the second part of Jumbo's business. In 2007 the retailer had already taken over the wholesale chain from Jumbo, in which Maus Frères and the French retail chain Carrefour each held half.

  • Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia and BAM Swiss signed an agreement on March 29 for the takeover of BAM Swiss AG by the Dietlikon construction and real estate company, Implenia informed in a press release . The acquisition is intended to strengthen Implenia's competitive position in future tenders. In addition, this will make the company “a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector,” writes Implenia.

    Both companies are involved in the realization of the Aarau Cantonal Hospital. Implenia, BAM Swiss AG and BAM Deutschland AG have so far been involved, explains Implenia in the press release. In the future, the project is to be implemented “from a single source”.

    The new acquisition also gives Implenia a stronger presence in north-western Switzerland. Specifically, Implenia's project portfolio will be strengthened with the construction of a laboratory and research building for biosystems science and engineering in Basel and the Felix-Platter Spital project in Basel. In Zurich, Implenia will also take on the construction of a student residence hall for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich through the acquisition.

    "With this transaction, Implenia is strengthening its market presence and is becoming a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector in Switzerland, an industry with great growth potential in terms of real estate," Implenia CEO André Wyss is quoted in the press release. "The acquisition is in line with our strategy and the goal of Implenia's Buildings Division to expand its market share as a total contractor for complex, large-scale projects."

  • High alpine solar system works highly efficiently

    High alpine solar system works highly efficiently

    The first large high-alpine solar system was set up last summer on the Albigna dam in Graubünden's Bergell. At an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level, 1200 photovoltaic panels were installed over a length of 670 meters at an angle of 78 degrees. The steep angle serves the better processing of the winter sun and prevents snow deposits on the modules, explains the electricity company of the city of Zurich ( ewz ) as operator of the system in a message .

    In the first six months after commissioning in September 2020, the high-alpine system has already produced 223 megawatt hours of electricity, ewz further informs in the press release. This fulfilled the “high expectation”, according to which high alpine locations have significantly better production conditions for solar power than the Central Plateau. The winter months have also shown that the system on the Albigna dam works just as efficiently in winter as it does in summer. Between October and March, the efficiency of a high-alpine system is more than a quarter higher than that of a flat-roof system in the Swiss Plateau, writes ewz.

    According to calculations, the system on the Albigna dam will generate around 500 megawatt hours of electricity annually with a total output of 410 kilowatts. Ewz customers can join the project via the ewz.solarzüri public participation model. Here, the 2170 square meters of the high-alpine facility are for sale at a price of 560 francs per square meter. The buyers are credited with 180 kilowatt hours of solar power annually for 20 years.

  • City of Baden starts revision of land use planning

    City of Baden starts revision of land use planning

    With the opening event on Saturday, May 29, the participation of the people of Baden in the revision of the land use planning of the city of Baden begins. According to the press release, this revision should take place in several phases and bring a result by 2025, which will then be submitted to the residents' council and the government council for approval.

    After 25 years in which various partial revisions have taken place, it is time to undertake an overall revision, the message says. It is about the structural development in view of the expected growth and the effects on settlement, traffic and open space. The guideline for the overall revision is the spatial development concept 2040 of the city of Baden. The structure plan of the canton of Aargau predicts a population growth of plus 34 percent or 6330 people for the city of Baden from 2013 to 2040. At the same time, Baden is listed on the structure plan map as an economic development focus of cantonal importance.

    The public should be actively involved in the revision of the land use planning, according to the announcement. Information events, dialogue events, walks and workshops take place regularly under the motto “Baden will”. All information on participation can be found on the wiewird.baden.ch website, which was activated on Wednesday.

    The revision of the land-use planning is currently in the first phase, which will determine the process and basis this spring. In the second, a good two-year phase, the draft of the new land use plan is drawn up. In the third phase from 2023 the formal participation and public edition will take place, with the possibility of submitting entries and objections. The third phase will be completed by the city council approving the land use planning revision, is explained in the press release. In phase four, the residents' council and the government council approve the revised land use plan.

  • The Zurich economic area remains attractive for new settlements in the corona crisis

    The Zurich economic area remains attractive for new settlements in the corona crisis

    Together with partners, the location marketing organization Greater Zurich Area AG (GZA) was able to relocate 86 companies despite the corona crisis, which corresponds to a decrease of 21 percent compared to the previous year. According to the GZA, the new settlements have already created 510 new jobs in the region, and 1599 new jobs are to follow in the next five years. GZA published these figures at a digital media conference. On this occasion, GZA managing director Sonja Wollkopf Walt commented: “In view of the global crisis, the result is very solid.” This is due to a well-filled project pipeline at the beginning of the crisis, but also to long-term networks abroad and the sustainable work of GZA and the partner of the location funding. According to Walt Wollkopf, the crisis has digitalized the work of the GZA even more: Existing instruments have been expanded and others newly developed.

    Almost half of the companies located here come from the information and communication technology (ICT) and life sciences sectors, with biotech accounting for the lion's share. Machine industry and financial services take third and fourth place. According to GZA, the origin of the companies by world region reflects the course of the pandemic in 2020. The US remains the leader with 20 companies, but the number of projects here has almost halved. With 14 settlements, Germany remains almost at the previous year's level and there are even two more projects from China than in 2019.

    The successful ICT settlement Speed U Up stands for the digitization boost caused by the pandemic and the strengths of GZA in the digital sector. The digital agency from Austria with a focus on alpine tourism founded a joint venture in Chur GR with the Swiss media company Somedia in October 2020. A technology hub with 75 new jobs is to be created. Somedia CEO Thomas Kundert said: "For us, the joint venture is a further step towards the growth market of digital services." This is playing an increasingly important role in the media company's strategy.

    Sven Thoenes, member of the Board of Directors of Speed U Up Suisse AG , emphasized: "In the Zurich economic area we find excellent talents to further develop our technologies in the areas of speech recognition, artificial intelligence and augmented reality." U-Up customers like Zermatt Tourismus benefit.

  • Kompotoi feels the spring

    Kompotoi feels the spring

    With spring comes the need for toilets in public spaces again. Kompotoi , the Zurich-based provider of composting toilets, has been back in the city of Zurich with over 20 of its toilets since last Monday in March. You can find them on the Saffainstel near Landiwiese, on Bullingerplatz and in Hohensteinpark on the Uetliberg, as the company reports.

    Kompotoi is also continuing its expansion into Germany this year. After the company delivered its toilet houses in Germany from Darmstadt, this year it is also represented in Munich. In Switzerland, Kompotoi supplies not only from Zurich, but also from Basel, Bern, Freiburg, Graubünden, Lausanne, Martigny and St.Gallen, and now also from Wohlen BE.

    Kompotoi toilets process the human legacy into a soil conditioner without using chemicals or flushing. They are handcrafted in Switzerland. Kompotoi sells and rents out the facilities.

  • Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project known from the Rockwell site study contract

    The Rockwell area belongs to the western part of the Torfeld Süd and was acquired by Mobimo in 2001. Rockwell Automation GmbH intends to discontinue production at the Aarau location at the beginning of 2022. Only the research and development areas will remain at the long-standing headquarters. This will free a large part of the area – and the further development of the Aeschbach district can be tackled.

    As of today, the Aeschbachquartier comprises 167 rental apartments, 92 condominiums, the Aeschbachhalle, the Oehlerpark and commercial space. The urban planning guidelines designed by the renowned Dutch architect and retired ETH professor Kees Christiaanse and the associated vision of the “Urban Village” – an urban village – with diverse uses should also shape the further development steps.

    Mobimo has invited five renowned architecture firms to take part in a study. In addition to the high demands on the sustainability of the project – it should be made of wood and meet the SNBS Gold standard – the results of the participation process from 2020 were also part of the task package.

    The proposal by Baumberger & Stegmeier Architects from Zurich in collaboration with Hoffmann Müller landscape architects and Pirmin Jung timber construction engineers particularly impressed the jury and was chosen as the winning project. Your project envisages an increase in the historical Hall 5 and a new wooden building (see visualization). In addition to the ecological construction method, the winning project is characterized by many green areas with large trees. The project envisages 110 rental apartments of various sizes and suitable for families and senior citizens. Alternative forms of living such as cluster apartments are also to be created.

    Mobimo will invest around CHF 50 million (amount excluding land value). Realization can probably begin in mid-2023, which means that completion would be possible in mid-2025.

    Quote from project manager Thomas Schaz: “We are delighted to be able to open a new chapter in the Aeschbach district. Rockwell Automation remains an important and valued user of the quarter in a reduced space. "

  • Innosuisse aims to promote high-risk projects with a lot of potential

    Innosuisse aims to promote high-risk projects with a lot of potential

    The federal government has set the strategic goals for Innosuisse for the years 2021 to 2024. According to a media release , he expects the agency to focus on projects with a higher risk and "above-average economic potential". The selection should be made after “careful consideration” of the projects.

    Innosuisse should also focus on thematic tenders. The aim is to ensure that innovation topics of "great and cross-sectoral importance" are taken up. This includes the federal government, for example, key issues of digitization as well as challenges in connection with sustainability or coping with the corona pandemic.

    Innosuisse should also ensure that SMEs have easy access to the services of research institutions. The agency should attach great importance to young companies that come from the university environment.

    Innosuisse will also be commissioned to implement the Swiss Innovation Power Initiative in 2021 and 2022. The program is intended to help companies maintain their innovation activities despite the recession phase. This is not only in the interests of companies, but also important for the competitiveness of Switzerland as a business location.

    Innosuisse is a federal institution under public law with its own legal personality. Through the agency, the federal government promotes science-based innovation in Switzerland.

  • open2work is looking for investors

    open2work is looking for investors

    Many companies have too much space all the time or even temporarily. Moving to smaller premises would be too time-consuming. Conversely, other companies or sole proprietorships often need more space temporarily. Open2work GmbH wants to mediate between the two groups.

    The start-up founded in 2020 by Alexandre Roque and Lionel Ebener from western Switzerland handles the bookkeeping and payment transactions. New providers can activate their offices themselves on the open2work portal, and interested parties can book their workplaces there. There are currently a total of 22 offices around Zurich and Zug, two in Bern and one in Sion.

    "We are the solution for those who have too much space," says co-founder and CEO Lionel Ebener. Conversely, users of the offer can choose offices from companies that correspond to their own interests. "This cultural aspect is important to us."

    Open2work is currently in talks with investors. The company wants to grow faster with fresh capital. After the end of the Corona crisis, the two founders see a growing need for flexible solutions, both on the part of the providers of office space and among the users.

  • Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia takes over BAM Swiss AG

    Implenia and BAM Swiss signed an agreement on March 29 for the takeover of BAM Swiss AG by the Dietlikon construction and real estate company, Implenia informed in a press release . The acquisition is intended to strengthen Implenia's competitive position in future tenders. In addition, this will make the company “a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector,” writes Implenia.

    Both companies are involved in the realization of the Aarau Cantonal Hospital. Implenia, BAM Swiss AG and BAM Deutschland AG have so far been involved, explains Implenia in the press release. In the future, the project is to be implemented “from a single source”.

    The new acquisition also gives Implenia a stronger presence in north-western Switzerland. Specifically, Implenia's project portfolio will be strengthened with the construction of a laboratory and research building for biosystems science and engineering in Basel and the Felix-Platter Spital project in Basel. In Zurich, Implenia will also take on the construction of a student residence hall for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich through the acquisition.

    "With this transaction, Implenia is strengthening its market presence and is becoming a leading construction service provider in the healthcare sector in Switzerland, an industry with great growth potential in terms of real estate," Implenia CEO André Wyss is quoted in the press release. "The acquisition is in line with our strategy and the goal of Implenia's Buildings Division to expand its market share as a total contractor for complex, large-scale projects."

  • Steiner plans a new residential complex in Winterthur

    Steiner plans a new residential complex in Winterthur

    The real estate developer Steiner AG is planning to build a new residential complex in Winterthur, according to a media release . It is to be built on the KIM site at Winterthur Neuhegi train station. The so-called Haus Weiler is to be built on a plot of 3328 square meters and comprises 80 condominiums. Twelve of these will be built as studio apartments on the ground floor with private garden terraces. A further twelve are being built as attic apartments with private roof terraces.

    The design plan for the KIM area already became legally effective in September 2013. The newly emerging quarter combines living and working. It includes green areas, playgrounds and car-free zones. Grocery stores, cafes and restaurants are within walking distance. In addition, Zurich Airport can be reached in 25 minutes by car or train.

    According to the announcement, the building application was submitted to the city of Winterthur on March 25th. Steiner AG expects construction work to start in summer 2022. Completion is planned for spring 2025.

  • NaturLoop wins CHF 150,000 for composites made from coconut

    NaturLoop wins CHF 150,000 for composites made from coconut

    The start-up company NaturLoop from Biel BE won 150,000 francs from Venture Kick for its project to manufacture sustainable biocomposites, or composite materials, from coconut shells. According to a press release, NaturLoop wants to use the money to strengthen its marketing activities and to set up a new pilot project in the Philippines by the end of 2022. A factory for the production of cocoboard is to be built there. The natural fiber board is made from coconut shells. By using coconut shells instead of wood, the Biel-based start-up aims to limit deforestation, increase the local availability of furniture and building materials, improve farmers' livelihoods and promote a circular economy.

    NaturLoop wants to replace wood-based composite materials with Cocoboard. According to the communication, these release formaldehyde and other harmful gases, which leads to indoor air pollution. In addition, their production leads to excessive waste generation and energy consumption. The start-up now wants to use part of the around 21 million tons of coconut shells that are produced around the world every year and are either burned or thrown in the trash. NaturLoops Cocoboard is a natural fiber board made from coconut shells and pressed into boards with natural tannin glue. It can be used to make furniture, cupboards, floors or ceiling tiles.

    "What distinguishes Venture Kick from other startup programs are the people behind it: The feedback I got during the Kickers Camp was honest and unbiased," Daniel Dinizo, co-founder and CEO of NaturLoop, is quoted as saying.

    NaturLoop is a spin-off from the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and was co-founded by Daniel Dinizo (CEO) and Michail Kyriazopoulos (CTO). The team is currently working on exclusive supply contracts, pre-sales orders, the completion of the production concept and the opening of the seed financing round. According to the announcement, NaturLoop estimates the market for imported wood-based materials at $ 1 billion.