
Bern Approves Renovation at Bärenplatz
The redevelopment of Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz in Bern has cleared its next hurdle. The Bern-Mittelland District Office has granted the building permit and rejected an objection. This brings the start of construction closer, with work set to begin no earlier than the fourth quarter of

Biel is reorganizing its construction push
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

Biel to Vote on Stricter Housing Regulations
In Biel, two municipal housing initiatives have been submitted with approximately 2,600 signatures. They call for a significant increase in the number of nonprofit and municipal housing units by 2055, as well as mandatory quotas for affordable housing on privately owned

Bern Re-Ranks Senior Housing in the Middle of the Pack
In Bern’s new Viererfeld/Mittelfeld neighborhood, the M31 development site—reserved for senior housing—is now set to be developed by the Serena Foundation. This change keeps the goal of affordable housing for seniors on track, but it also highlights how strongly planning regulations and

FDP Challenges Zoning Policy
One week after the “No” vote on the 10-million initiative, the FDP is shifting the housing policy debate to building land, objections, and land-use conversions. For planners, property owners, and municipalities, this once again raises the question of whether densification alone can still solve

SREF Makes Its Debut in Bern – SVIT Strengthens Institutional Portfolio and Asset Management
The Swiss Real Estate Forum (SREF) took place for the first time in Bern on June 11 and 12, 2026. By moving to BERNEXPO, the industry event brought itself closer to federal politics and set an example for dialogue between the real estate industry, politics, academia, and

Canton of Bern plans major construction in the Bernese Seeland
The Road Traffic and Navigation Office of the Canton of Berne has a space problem and a building substance problem. For years, one of the canton's most important administrative authorities has been working in buildings in need of renovation at three different locations. Now the canton is pulling

47 million for a new heart in the Bernese Oberland
A former military site, 60 hectares, characterized for decades by uniforms and armaments factories. Now cutting-edge research is to move in. The city of Thun is getting serious and is advancing CHF 16 million to ensure that the new Empa building does not fail due to lack of funding. What sounds

New production facility strengthens international industrial location
President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin officially inaugurated the new Toblerone production line at Mondelez Schweiz Production GmbH in Bern on March 10, 2026. The Chicago-based parent company invested CHF 65 million in this new global competence

Railroad modernization in the sensitive Alpine region
STRABAG is continuing the renewal of the Central Railway line in the Haslital. The modernization project is intended to ensure flood protection there. The location of the construction site, which runs through several nature reserves, is a particular challenge for logistics and

Modern logistics construction focuses on efficiency and sustainability
The Dietiker Pestalozzi Group has started the construction of its new logistics center in Pieterlen with a ground-breaking ceremony. Among other things, this is intended to secure the long-term growth of Transstahl AG, which belongs to

Campus in Biel/Bienne celebrates laying of foundation stone
Construction work on the Biel/Bienne campus began with the laying of the foundation stone on 6 May. the new education and research centre of the Bern University of Applied Sciences is due to be completed in 2028. The federal government, canton and a private partner are investing CHF 400 million in

Historical technology meets modern research
Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are participating in the construction of a water wheel in Steffisburg. The aim of the water wheel is to continue to supply the Mühlebach stream with water and protect the ecosystem from drying

Heat from a depth of 2000 meters planned
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics is planning an exploratory borehole for a geothermal site at the National Sports Center in Magglingen. The borehole is due to be drilled at the end of 2027. The aim is to gain insights into deep water resources for geothermal heat



Your opinion counts! – Creating living space together
Under the leadership of Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, representatives of the cantons, cities and municipalities as well as the construction and property industry and civil society have agreed on over 30 measures in the housing shortage action plan. The aim is to increase the supply of housing


District heating project in Bern utilises the River Aare as an energy source
Energie Wasser Bern (ewb) is examining the establishment of a heating network in the north-east of Bern. Ewb also wants to utilise the heat from the River Aare as an energy source. Water is to be drawn from the river at Engehalde for this purpose. An application to this effect has already been

Neue Regelungen für Kreislaufwirtschaft treten Anfang 2025 in Kraft
Enerdrape wurde für ihr geothermisches Paneel mit der ersten AMAG Sustainability Challenge ausgezeichnet. Die Lösung verwandelt unterirdische Räume in erneuerbare Wärmequellen und spart dabei Bohrungen. Der Preis umfasst 50’000 Franken und ein Jahr Nutzung eines VW

Prices for property in Bern remain on an upward trend
Rents and prices for flats and houses in the canton of Bern are currently around 3.3 per cent higher than in the previous year. This is due to population growth and low new construction activity. These are the findings of the Berner Kantonalbank's property

Future-oriented urban development in Bern
The visionary Wankdorfcity 3 project is taking shape in Bern, creating new residential and living space. The building permit granted lays the foundation for a lively neighbourhood that will provide around 500 flats and 3,000 jobs by 2029. The mix of living, working and leisure will revitalise the

EnBW acquires enersis to promote digital twins in the energy sector
Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (EnBW) has acquired enersis Suisse AG and enersis Europe GmbH in order to strengthen its expertise in the area of digitalized distribution grids and smart grids. Enersis will continue to operate as an independent






