Tag: Infrastruktur

DETEC approves road construction projects

This year the federal government will spend a total of around CHF 2.8 billion on new or continued work on the Swiss road network. The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications(DETEC) has now approved the corresponding construction programmes.

According to this, by far the largest part of 1.6 billion Swiss francs will be spent on the maintenance and improvement of the existing national road network. A total of 482 million Swiss francs will be available in 2023 for projects within the framework of the Strategic Development Programme for National Roads and for larger projects. According to a press release from the Federal Roads Office, these funds will be invested mainly in the second tube of the Gotthard road tunnel, the six-lane expansion of the Zurich northern bypass (A1), the Lucerne bypass (A2) and the Le Locle bypass (A20).

In addition, around 453 million Swiss francs are earmarked for the maintenance, the so-called operational maintenance, of the national road network. This includes, among other things, winter services, greenery maintenance, removal of accident damage and cleaning.

This year, 264 million Swiss francs are available for new constructions within the framework of the network completion, a joint task between the federal government and the cantons, which was decided in 1960. The largest credit, 111 million, was allocated to the canton of Valais. Obwalden receives 18 million, Schwyz 12 million and Uri 7 million.

March 2023
Holcim buys Belgian building materials specialist Cantillana

Building materials producer Holcim has announced the takeover of Belgian building materials dealer Cantillana . With Cantillana’s presence and portfolio, Holcim can advance the expansion of the solutions and products division, which is expected to account for 30 percent of Group net sales by 2025, according to a press release .

For Holcim, the decision in favor of the provider of special solutions means a further optimization of its market position in facade construction systems and thermal insulation composite systems. “This expansion further strengthens our presence in Europe, particularly in the area of building renovation and energy efficiency,” said Miljan Gutovic, head of Holcim’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

The investment ties in with the adopted strategy of “green growth”. Both companies announce that they aim to “take a bigger role in providing innovative and sustainable solutions for energy-efficient buildings”.

After acquiring the French PRB Group , the Belgian PTB-Compaktuna and Izolbet in Poland, Holcim is adding Cantillana, a privately held company, to the “Holcim family”. Originating as a branch of a construction company, Cantillana has specialized since it was founded in 1875 in the sale of and trade in building materials and building material accessories for the construction and related trades. Today, Cantillana is part of the Stadsbader Group and employs more than 200 people at nine production sites in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Holcim AG has focused on innovative and sustainable construction solutions in building construction, civil engineering and infrastructure. At 55 locations across Switzerland, the company produces concrete, gravel and cement suitable for all construction projects and recycles demolition materials into resource-saving products.

July 2022
Flooded river Sihl should flow into Lake Zurich

From 2026, extreme flood peaks in the Sihl are to be channeled into Lake Zurich via a relief tunnel, according to a statement from the Canton of Zurich ‘s building department. For this purpose, a 2 km long underground tunnel with a diameter of 6.6 m is planned between Langnau am Albis and Thalwil. The start of construction for the project took place on March 18th with the groundbreaking ceremony.

Extreme flooding of the Sihl could cause severe flooding in the lower Sihl valley and in the city of Zurich, the statement said. The possible damage for the city of Zurich alone is estimated at up to 6.7 billion Swiss francs. They should be averted by the relief tunnel.

The costs for the planning and construction of the tunnel as well as for the ecological replacement measures on the Sihl and on Lake Zurich are estimated at around 175 million francs. They are largely borne by the canton of Zurich. In addition, the federal government, the city of Zurich, the SBB and the Sihltal Zurich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG share in the costs. The Canton of Zurich is making further information on the project available on the internet .

March 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
Bauwerk Schweiz is under pressure

Five Swiss experts have worked out why Switzerland is facing major challenges and how they can be tackled sensibly and efficiently. To this end, they have drawn up a so-called roadmap entitled “The Swiss structure is under pressure to adapt”.

With its bird's eye view of the entirety of buildings, streets, supply and disposal networks, traffic and much more, according to a report by the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ), the group wants to give a new impetus to the Swiss construction project that began ten years ago, and thus research and advance practice. Today Switzerland is facing massive challenges, for example due to climate change, natural hazards and population growth.

Under the direction of Peter Matt, Fritz Hunkeler, Hans Rudolf Ganz, Laurent Vulliet, Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne , and Empa Deputy Director Peter Richner identified five segments that are particularly affected by the upcoming challenges: the building stock, the Infrastructures for freight and passenger traffic as well as drinking water and sewage networks. They rate the need for action and the potential for impact in passenger transport and buildings as particularly high.

According to Richner, the group is pursuing several goals with the roadmap: “To show the importance of Switzerland as a structure for our society, to specify the need for action and, above all, to raise awareness that we can only develop a target-oriented strategy from an overall perspective. "

December 2021
Steiner AG can realize the residential building project Haus Weiler

The building permit for the new building project Haus Weiler in Winterthur's Neuhegi district is legally binding. As Steiner AG , which was commissioned with the planning, informed in a press release , the first apartments should be ready for occupancy in spring 2025. Residents will find peace and quiet and close to nature, but at the same time can reach the city in around 15 minutes by bike or bus, according to the message.

The new residential development will close another gap in the KIM area. A modern building with 80 modern apartments with two and a half to five and a half rooms is to be built on 3328 square meters. The extraordinary room heights are a special feature. "While the apartments on the ground floor are equipped with private garden seating, the residential units on the top floors will impress with their large, private terraces," the company reports. The plans also provide for “a cozy inner courtyard”, which offers space for “cozy get-togethers, lingering, relaxing and playing”.

The KIM quarter, launched in 2018 in the Oberwinterthur district , sees itself as “a lively and multi-layered quarter with commercial and residential buildings of various sizes”. The new district combines the advantages of urban structures with high recreational value at the same time. Green areas, playgrounds and car-free zones as well as attractive shopping opportunities in the area are named as strengths.

December 2021
Halter AG can realize the Attisholz-Areal project

The government council of the canton of Solothurn has approved the land use planning for the Attisholz area in Riedholz. The decision ensures the further development of the area in the next 25 years, according to a media release from the Schlierem-based construction company Halter AG . On the Halter project page , it says about the project that cellulose has been industrially produced on the site for 130 years. Since the end of 2016, Halter AG has been working with the municipality of Riedholz and the canton of Solothurn to redesign the area.

The usage planning that has now been approved was drawn up from 2018 to 2019 in a planning group of the municipality, the canton and Halter AG. After the preliminary examination, the participation procedure and the condition of the land use planning from 2020 to 2021, the municipality of Riedholz transferred the dossier to the canton of Solothurn in June 2021, according to the holder's notification. The decision of the government council now creates the planning law basis for a new zoning plan, as well as a zoning and development plan, in order to develop a living space for living, working and leisure out of the area.

It is important that "the population stands behind the project and that the effects on the community in social, economic and ecological terms are acceptable," said Sandra Morstein, Mayor of Riedholz. "That is why great importance was attached to informing and participating in the population as well as trusting and constructive cooperation with the canton and Halter AG in the planning and development of common objectives."

The results of a study by landscape architects on open space will be available in February. The planning of the infrastructure for public transport and community buildings such as schools and day-care centers is in preparation.

December 2021
Branch Collab – everything is there, everything is included

All the user has to do is bring their personal device – WiFi, printer, coffee bars and everything they need to work are already available in the Branch Collab. And here you not only work at your own table, but also in the work lounge and in creative zones, in lobbies, in big rooms and at the “work bar”. The opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs and exchange experiences over a casual coffee is a great advantage in creative work and networking.

Work as a community project
The new co-working area enables the exchange of ideas and opinions, increases productivity and enables more targeted work. More sustainable and often more unconventional results are achieved collaboratively. In addition, the Branch Collab provides meeting rooms with modern equipment, which allow presentations to be held with customers and employees in a professional environment.

Industrial environment
Branch Collab is an initiative of Halter AG, which also relocated its headquarters to Schlieren to JED last year. The architectural concept of JED combines sustainably converted industrial infrastructure with pioneering new office architecture and is designed entirely for knowledge transfer, creativity and innovation.

Flexible booking packages
Workplaces and meeting rooms can be rented flexibly and on an hourly or daily basis. Attractive packages offer individuals and smaller companies modern plug & work workplaces as well as meeting rooms, work lounges and creative rooms – all of this paired with varied gastronomy – from the Caffetino coffee bar with its own roastery to the Eve’s Kitchen restaurant.

October 2021
FHNW trains in geodata analysis

The FHNW University of Architecture, Building and Geomantics will be offering a certificate course in spatial data analytics at its location in Olten from January. This is intended to enable specialists from the fields of data science, transport, logistics, spatial planning as well as natural and environmental sciences to digitally plan the cities of the future and evaluate the data from infrastructures. The university is responding to a need in the construction and planning industry, according to its media release .

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Spatial Data Analytics is intended to impart the knowledge required to model, process and interpret geodata in a targeted manner in 16 course days and in cooperation with experts from the field. For this purpose, “a balanced mix of lectures, case studies, group work and practical exercises” is planned, according to the FHNW. In addition, time blocks are planned for self-study.

“The question of where spatially measurable events take place is no longer sufficient,” says Prof. Dr. Pia Bereuter quoted in the communication. “In the future, we also need to understand why these happen. This requires well-founded analysis processes that are integrated into the digitization strategy of companies or organizations. “This expertise represents the basis for decisions with spatial reference” in almost every industry “.

August 2021
Westhive is planning a new location in Zug

The Metall Zug Group wants to create "a new piece of the city for an industrial ecosystem" on the V-Zug site. Additional industrial companies, start-ups, technology-related service providers, training facilities and apartments are also to be located on the so-called Tech Cluster Zug.

The Zurich coworking provider Westhive also wants to be present on the area. According to a media release , he will open a new location there in late summer 2022. Members are to be offered flexible workplaces, conference rooms, a coffee bar, a team kitchen and a fitness area. Overall, the Zug location will cover an area of more than 2000 square meters.

"We are very pleased that we have found such a suitable location in Zug", Bruno Rambaldi, co-founder of Westhive, is quoted as saying. "And with Metall Zug we have an ideal partner for the implementation."

According to David Carnier, who is responsible for the Westhive project on the part of Tech Cluster Zug AG, Westhive's flexible workplaces fit well into the concept of the Tech Cluster Zug.

June 2021
Implenia is building an underground station in Stockholm

Implenia AG has been commissioned by the Stockholm region to expand Stockholm's blue metro line. The construction and real estate service provider is to build the new Sofia subway station with associated elevator shafts, two single-track tunnels for the subway and a parallel service tunnel, according to a media release . The order is worth around CHF 110 million.

The new Sofia subway station near Stigbergsparken is one of the deepest subway stations in the world with its location around 100 meters underground. Eight high-speed elevators will take commuters to the platforms and exits in 30 seconds. Construction work is scheduled to begin this summer and continue until the end of 2025.

For Implenia, the new order is a continuation of the London Viaduct tunnel, the construction of which the company was entrusted with by the Stockholm region in 2019. Work is currently underway and paving the way for the future main tunnels in Sofia. "It is an honor to take on another tunnel project of this magnitude – a complex, multidisciplinary project that fits perfectly with our expertise," Per Linden, President of the Implenia branch in Sweden, is quoted in the press release.

With the preparatory work on the London Viaduct, the tunneling experts could ensure that Sofia would be built safely and efficiently. Implenia is primarily responsible for the implementation work and the planning of the concrete work. The Stockholm client is responsible for the overall planning.

May 2021
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.

April 2021
Domat / Ems station area is being converted

The Rhaetian Railway (RhB ) wrote in a press release that the Domat / Ems station area is getting "a new face". According to her, the Graubünden railway company will renew the Domat / Ems station and make it accessible for the disabled. "We are building a modern train station that is adapted to the needs of our customers and to those of the community," RhB director Renato Fasciati is quoted in the announcement.

Specifically, the RhB wants to extend both platforms at the station and partially cover them. In addition, a pedestrian underpass is to be built and equipped with handicapped-accessible ramps and stairs. The municipality of Domat / Ems contributes two passenger lifts. In addition, the RhB plans to equip sidewalks and streets with a continuous separation at the three secured level crossings.

At the same time, the municipality of Domat / Ems is tackling extensive changes in the station area. The heart of the building plans is a new commercial and residential building directly on the platform. The four-storey building will have space for public use on the ground floor and living and office space on the other three floors, according to the announcement. In addition, a new space is planned on the south side of the station. The number of bicycle parking spaces available at the station will be increased to around 300. All construction work planned by the municipality and the railway company should be completed in summer 2023.

"Good transport links are central to the community of Domat / Ems – for the numerous commuters, but also as an important commercial and industrial location," said Mayor Erich Kohler (CVP) in the message. "The overall project creates a modern, functional train station area that optimally meets high requirements for user-friendliness and audience-oriented uses."

February 2021
Controversial quarries slow down cement production

Around 5 million tons of cement are used annually in construction and infrastructure projects in Switzerland. In 2019, 86 percent of demand was met by Swiss cement plants. The raw materials lime and marl, which are used in the cement industry, are available in Switzerland.

However, a report that the Federal Council has taken note of assumes that cement production in Switzerland is likely to decline in the coming years. The reason for this is resistance to the expansion or reopening of quarries. If the requested mining expansion projects for the raw materials lime and marl set out in the cantonal structure plans are not approved, Switzerland's supply of domestic cement will fall to 64 percent by 2024, according to the report.

The report therefore proposes that raw material deposits that are important for the production of cement should also be considered from a national supply point of view. Currently, the authority for the approval of dismantling projects lies with the municipalities and cantons. The aim is to create a national overview of the raw material deposits and to evaluate it from a “raw material geological point of view”. This would give authorities and raw material producers a basis when planning mining projects.

In its communication, the Federal Council also emphasizes that the Federal Office for the Environment ( FOEN ) is currently working with research and industry to find new solutions to replace the primary raw materials lime and marl with secondary raw materials. So far, however, this has only been possible to a very limited extent. However, technologies are also in the development phase that will replace cement in concrete or even lead to cement-free concrete.

February 2021
Ceneri Base Tunnel receives the green light

The New Railway-Alpen-Transversale ( NEAT ) is largely completed. The Federal Office of Transport ( FOT ) has issued the permit for the scheduled operation of the Ceneri base tunnel, it writes in a message . This means that the tunnel will be available for scheduled passenger and freight trains from the timetable change on December 13th.

The Ceneri Base Tunnel was inaugurated on September 4th. Since then, around 5,800 commercial passenger and freight trains have been run through the tunnel in a trial run.

The 15 kilometer long tunnel is the third of the three large base tunnels that were built as part of the NEAT. It also enables direct connections between Lugano and Locarno. These form a central element of the Ticino S-Bahn.

The Lötschberg Base Tunnel with a length of 35 kilometers was the first of the three large tunnels to go into operation in 2007, the Gotthard Base Tunnel with a length of 57 kilometers followed in 2016. The almost 20 kilometers long Simplon Tunnel has been in operation since 1906. Switzerland now has two flat rail routes through the Alps.

December 2020
Basel area wants to test Velohochbahn

The canton of Basel-Landschaft wants to expand its infrastructure for bicycles. Together with the Federal Roads Office ( FEDRO ), he is now starting the project of a bicycle high-rise, he writes in a message . The Veloweg is built as a separate building next to existing roads. The system is made of wood in a modular construction. It will also be equipped with photovoltaic modules.

For this purpose, FEDRO has commissioned a study for the routing in the Basel area. With this project, it wants to examine how a higher-level cycle network along existing motorways can be integrated into the cantonal cycle route networks.

The Basel government council wants to submit a corresponding proposal to the district administrator in the fourth quarter. If the cantonal parliament approves, the bicycle high-rise should be built between mid-2021 and mid-2022. It is to be put into operation before the opening of the Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival in Pratteln in 2022 .

September 2020