New training centre to be built of wood

Chur/Churwalden GR, June 2023

The general planning team of atelier tsu and studiospazio won the competition for the Civil Defence Training Centre in Churwalden. Their project ZicZAC envisages a sustainable three-storey wooden building. During the tendering process, emphasis was placed on recyclability.

The general planner and architect team consisting of Chur-based atelier tsu GmbH and Zurich-based studiospazio/bersa inc. has won the open project competition of the Canton of Graubünden for the replacement of the Civil Defence Training Centre(ZAC) in Meiersboda on the municipal territory of Churwalden, the cantonal registry office informs in a statement. The winning project, ZicZAC, envisages a sustainable three-storey wooden building. ZicZAC was unanimously selected by the jury from a total of six proposals submitted.

“This project fulfils all the desired requirements to a very high degree and convinces with its holistic and future-oriented approach to sustainable building,” Cantonal Councillor Carmelia Maissen, jury chairwoman and head of the Cantonal Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Mobility, is quoted as saying in the statement. The jury was particularly impressed by the clear basic structure of the building, the natural building materials and simple construction principles, the low-tech building services concept and the high flexibility in the use of the premises. Already in the project tender, emphasis was placed on recyclability, optimised microclimate, solar power production and energy storage.

Once the project has been selected, the corresponding building bill is to be discussed by the Grand Council in April 2024. If approved, it will be up to the Graubünden electorate in September next year. Construction could begin in spring 2025.

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