


Implenia announces management change
Implenia is preparing for a significant change in leadership. CEO André Wyss will leave the company at the end of March 2025 to focus on new mandates. His successor will be Jens Vollmar, the current Head of the Buildings Division. There will also be changes in the management of the Civil

Starting signal for the “FORUM UZH”
With the start of construction of the "FORUM UZH", the University of Zurich is marking a milestone in the further development of Zurich as a university location. The innovative new building will provide urgently needed space for teaching and research from 2030 and expand the university

Sandro Principe takes over as Head of Business Clients at SMG Real Estate
SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has appointed Dr Sandro Principe as the new Director Business Customers for SMG Real Estate. Principe succeeds Marcel Meier, who has successfully built up the B2B business and will be focussing on his doctoral studies in the future.

Biofilms in the sink as breeding grounds for pathogens
A recent study by Flinders University in Australia shows that sinks in private households and hospitals harbour dangerous microbes that can lead to serious infections such as pneumonia and Legionnaires' disease. What is particularly alarming is that the diversity of bacteria in private households



First trains travel through the west tunnel of the Gotthard Base Tunnel again
The west tunnel of the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been successfully repaired and the first trains will be running again from 19 August 2024 as part of trial operations. The full reopening of the world's longest railway tunnel is planned for 2 September




Expansion of the range of services through strategic acquisition
Pforzheim-based ease GmbH has acquired the Munich-based subsidiary of Helvengo AG. The acquisition of the Zurich-based insurance company's German business is intended to complement ease's range of services. The two companies have already worked together in the



Expansion in the Caribbean market through the acquisition of a construction chemicals manufacturer
Sika has acquired the construction chemicals manufacturer Vinaldom in the Dominican Republic. This acquisition strengthens Sika's position in the fast-growing market and opens up new cross-selling opportunities through expanded production capacity and a wider product

New training course on construction organization launched
The University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) is introducing a four-day course on construction organization from 24 September. The course is aimed at construction professionals and offers practical exercises and theoretical principles to deepen specialist knowledge in

Canton Glarus defines settlement and extraction areas in the structure plan
The Department of Construction and Environment of the Canton of Glarus has anchored the settlement and extraction areas of the municipality of Glarus North in the cantonal structure plan. These stipulations follow the approval of the communal utilisation plan and provide planning and legal

The versatile world of wood
Plants use the sun's energy to produce sugar, which trees can convert into wood. Wood is an environmentally friendly building material that has been used by people for a long time. Today, the entire wood value chain provides around 80,000 jobs in Switzerland, which corresponds to approximately 2%

Largest charging park for electric cars with 18 new fast-charging stations
Energie 360° has put the largest charging park in the canton of Ticino into operation at the Serfontana shopping centre on the A2 near Chiasso. With 18 new fast-charging points offering an output of up to 400 kilowatts, electromobility is being further promoted in Ticino.

No complex thinking skills with ChatGPT & Co.
A new study led by TU Darmstadt shows the limits of AI models such as ChatGPT. Contrary to previous assumptions, these systems do not develop independent or complex thinking skills, but only follow simple instructions. The results shed new light on the actual capabilities and risks of artificial

A key to combating the housing shortage in the city of Zurich
In view of the acute housing shortage in the city of Zurich, the idea of adding storeys to existing buildings across the board is gaining in importance. A recently submitted initiative calls for building regulations to be amended to make it easier to add storeys in urban areas - with wood as the

Largest 3D-printed housing estate being built in Texas
The largest 3D-printed housing estate in the world is currently being built in Georgetown, Texas. With 100 houses, this innovative project is setting new standards in the construction industry. The use of state-of-the-art 3D printing technology not only promises efficiency and resilience, but also

Successful expansion of the “co-operate” research campus in Dübendorf
Empa and Eawag have modernised their research campus in Dübendorf with the completion of three new buildings. The extension, known as "co-operate", provides space for innovative research and strengthens collaboration between the institutes.

A cost-effective alternative to conventional power plants
The latest study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE shows that photovoltaic systems with battery storage now produce electricity more cheaply than conventional coal and gas-fired power plants. The cost forecasts for renewable energies up to 2045 are also very promising.

Public consultation on the Lucerne agglomeration programme
The cantonal government has released the fifth-generation Lucerne agglomeration programme for public consultation. From 3 August to 1 October 2024, experts, municipalities and interested parties can contribute their views. The programme includes extensive measures for sustainable settlement and



