In 2025, the federal government and the cantons committed a total of 636.4 million Swiss francs to energy-efficiency measures for buildings. This boost comes not only from the existing building program but also from the new stimulus program, which primarily supports larger heating system

A renovated roof is more than just a new covering. It is a decision about energy, property, and the future value of a real estate asset. In the canton of Lucerne, this very issue has become a political flashpoint. No sooner had the solar mandate gone into effect than a motion was introduced calling

A campus is not a showcase. It is a hub for knowledge, research, and interaction. That is precisely why the new historic preservation designation for the first construction phase of the EPFL in Lausanne is noteworthy. It not only protects the concrete, the grid layout, and the spaces, but also

At the Lindenhof site in Basel, the transformation from an isolated corporate headquarters into a mixed-use urban block is drawing nearer. Planning permission has been submitted for two new high-rise buildings and a public park, alongside the refurbishment of the listed existing building dating

Buchs is raising the bar for new municipal construction and renovations. The new Building Standard 2025 is mandatory for the city’s own properties and also applies to site developments, special-use plans, land sales, and building rights transfers by the

Every day, 120,000 vehicles queue through one of Switzerland’s busiest tunnels. For decades, the Gubrist Tunnel near Zurich was a symbol of the failure of transport planning. Now, with the completion of a multi-billion construction project in sight, the picture is changing. What once seemed

The imputed rental value is being phased out. But in Zurich, this is just the beginning of the next conflict. At the heart of the matter are heat pumps, solar roofs, and insulated facades. The canton must decide whether to continue offering tax incentives for climate-friendly renovations or to

Niederweningen highlights a growing problem. Residential buildings dating from the 1980s are set to be demolished, even though experts often see significant potential for renovation in precisely these properties. The environmental cost is high, as, according to the ZHAW, new buildings only recoup

Although the approval of around 52,000 new homes marks a statistical turning point in Switzerland, this is barely noticeable on the rental market. Construction is taking place mainly outside the regions with the greatest shortages, whilst refurbishments are tying up capacity and asking rents

On 27 September 2026, Winterthur will vote on a proposal to allocate 35.13 million Swiss francs for new end-stand stands and an operations building at the Schützenwiese. The development is intended to modernise the outdated infrastructure by 2029, increase capacity and ensure that matches can

The refurbishment and extension of the Pretorium in Bellinzona are taking longer than planned. Instead of autumn 2026, the building – which will house judicial and police services – is now due to be handed over in spring 2027. The canton attributes the delay to appeals lodged during the

In the Tscharnergut neighbourhood of Bern and in other residential areas, heritage conservation and housing regeneration are at loggerheads. Whilst property owners and housing cooperatives are pushing for replacement buildings, objections are dragging proceedings out for years, thereby exacerbating

Arrive, transfer, leave. For decades, the Dietikon train station was a place for people to pass through quickly. Now, SBB and the city are joining forces to tackle a project that’s long been overdue. A sprawling transit hub is being transformed into an urban gateway to the city, featuring a new

Construction investment in Switzerland rose by 3.5 per cent in 2025. According to provisional figures, the bulk of the increase was attributable to additional construction activity. The public sector, in particular, increased its spending significantly, thereby boosting both building construction

In Geneva, a landlord failed in his attempt to have a rent—which had quadrupled following unauthorized renovations—recognized as a permissible luxury rent. The Federal Supreme Court upheld the order to repay 193,609 francs and pay a fine of 32,000

Dietikon is experiencing a remarkable construction boom. Three projects in the city center symbolize this new era: the historic Krone site, the Löwenzentrum, and the Florahof. All three are located in close proximity to one another, and all three are permanently changing the face of the

Biel is now managing a portfolio of approximately 180 municipal buildings with an insured value of 1.3 billion Swiss francs using portfolio data. This move increases pressure to invest, as maintenance is 10 to 15 years behind schedule and several major renovations are planned well into the

Switzerland once again reduced its CO₂ emissions in 2025. Emissions from fuels fell particularly sharply, by about 5 percent. This is a clear signal for the real estate sector, as more efficient buildings and an increase in renewable heating systems were, according to the federal government, the

Since 1969, a massive concrete cube has dominated the cityscape of Dietikon. Anyone walking past the Limmattal Education Center might at first glance see only postwar architecture. But the Canton of Zurich is spending 42 million francs to renovate this historic building and transform it into a

In the future, a building will be considered a historic monument only if it meets at least two of four strict criteria. On July 2, 2026, the Zurich Cantonal Council approved a revision of the Planning and Building Act for submission to the Cantonal Assembly, which will significantly simplify

The Zurich Cantonal Government is making sweeping changes to a delicate system. In the future, it will be easier to renovate protected buildings; conservatives are celebrating, while the historic preservation society is sounding the alarm. A new tension is emerging between historic heritage and

A crack in a steel component usually means either a costly replacement or continuing to use it at the risk of danger. Empa researchers are now pointing to a third option. With metallic 3D printing, damaged steel components can be repaired in a targeted manner without having to replace them

The USPI Geneva has accompanied its 2025 annual report with a clear call to action for policymakers and the administration. The association highlights 320,000 properties under management, 650 million Swiss francs in construction investment, and increasing pressure on refurbishment, new-build

The Canton of Geneva plans to renovate around 300 particularly energy-intensive public buildings by 2038. The programme is allocating 1.25 billion Swiss francs to those properties that account for the lion’s share of building-related emissions, thereby increasing the pressure to renovate public

Work on the refurbishment of the indoor swimming pool, energy centre and ancillary buildings is set to begin in summer 2026 on Schluefweg in Kloten. The public-sector project, costing around 133 million Swiss francs, will be carried out in phases and will see the site undergoing a complex

In Buchrain, the next stage in the implementation of this intergenerational project is drawing nearer. Following approval of the development plan at the end of November 2025 and cantonal authorisation in January 2026, the planning application for the first phase is now due to be put out for public

The Canton of Fribourg owns 661 buildings. Many of them are dilapidated, many are energy-inefficient, and without intervention, the situation will deteriorate drastically in just a few years. The Grand Council approved a framework credit of 150 million Swiss francs by a vote of 81 to 4 to address

Around 800 pupils attend the Kalktarren school complex in Schlieren, one of the largest school buildings in the canton of Zurich. The complex is now set to undergo its most far-reaching transformation since it opened in 1970. On 28 September 2025, voters gave the go-ahead with 74 per cent voting in

Swiss Prime Site is halting the Maaglive project and withdrawing its appeal before the Federal Supreme Court. On the Maag site in Zurich West, the focus is now shifting to the refurbishment of the halls at a cost of around 60 million Swiss francs, with the possibility of the University of Zurich

For companies, condominium ownership is not just a matter of location, but also a shared risk. With the Federal Council’s message of May 13, 2026, renovation funds, quorum requirements, and clear rules for new construction are coming even more into