
Sustainable heat supply planned in Bülach
Energie 360° and the town of Bülach want to establish an energy network from 2026. From autumn 2028, waste heat from the Furt cleaning plant will supply energy for heating and hot water. The energy company is currently examining the availability of other energy sources to build a district heating

Circular economy for electric car batteries
The canton of Solothurn is cooperating with the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB) in the field of industrial recycling of car batteries. The Swiss Battery Technology Centre Solothurn GmbH, a subsidiary of SIPBB, will be based in Biberist for this

Robot platform ensures safety and efficiency on construction sites
Construction sites are among the most dangerous working environments in Europe. With the development of the CONCERT modular robot platform, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is setting a milestone in construction automation. The reconfigurable solution can take on heavy, dangerous and

Test planning for urban space at Winterthur railway station
Winterthur's main railway station is about to undergo a comprehensive redesign. Up to 180,000 travellers a day are expected by 2050, which is why not only the station itself but also its surroundings need to be further developed. Test planning is now to clarify how public spaces, traffic routing

Rising prices and a tight rental market
The Zurich property market remains on course for growth, but while owners are benefiting, the situation for tenants continues to worsen. Residential property prices rose by 3.3% in 2024, while the shortage of rental flats intensified. Particularly noteworthy rents were increased not only for new

Housing situation of older people in Switzerland
Older people in Switzerland often live in central, spacious and affordable flats, but there is often a lack of accessibility and age-appropriate furnishings. The "Housing in old age" study carried out by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts on behalf of the Federal Office for Housing

Potential and challenges of new living concepts
The realisation of innovative forms of housing such as hall living or self-converted lofts offers new possibilities for the use of living space and promotes communal living. The study "Building and living communally", conducted on behalf of the Federal Office for Housing (BWO), sheds light on the

Basel invests in sustainable heating infrastructure
IWB and the canton of Basel-Stadt want to start building a new district heating pipeline in the Bachletten neighbourhood at the beginning of February. Therwilerstrasse and Paulusgasse are to be greened and unsealed. The redesign of the surface is still subject to

New member of the Board of Directors strengthens growth of sustainable property platform
Alexander von Erdély has joined the Board of Directors of Optiml. The industry expert, who focuses on sustainability and innovation, will support Optiml in scaling its artificial intelligence-based B2B platform for the decarbonisation of the real estate


Innovative measurement technology facilitates structural inspection of reinforced concrete
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have developed a method based on electrochemical measurements to detect corrosion in the steel of reinforced concrete. The spin-off Talpa is to bring the concept to market

The Ypsomed Innovation Award 2025 was presented
Yuon Control AG has won the Ypsomed Innovation Award 2025. The spin-off from Bern University of Applied Sciences develops technologies for building automation. Two second place prizes went to Santella from the University of Bern and Xemperia from the University of

Potentials and challenges of repurposing
The housing shortage in Switzerland continues to worsen, while office and industrial space is becoming increasingly vacant. The conversion of such buildings into residential space offers a sustainable solution for efficiently utilising existing structures and promoting internal densification.

Online tool for climate-neutral industrial processes
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed an interactive online tool to help companies select the optimum high-temperature heat pump for their industrial processes. The platform offers a technology map that links heat pump systems with the specific requirements of

Campus Platztor architectural competition launched
A modern university building for 3,000 students is to be built in St. Gallen by 2031. The architectural competition is currently in the decisive phase. 16 selected planning offices will be working on their designs until May 2025. The winning project will be chosen and presented to the public in the

Innovation competition for construction start-ups in the third round
Swissbau and the Basel Startup Academy are once again supporting young companies from the construction and property sector with the third Swissbau Startup Challenge. This time, the focus is on the circular economy. For the first time, the Circular Award for innovative approaches will be presented

AI offers companies opportunities in climate protection
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers companies tools for climate protection. This is shown in a white paper from swisscleantech. It is based on the experience of companies operating in Switzerland, such as Swisscom and Siemens. It also describes ways to increase the energy efficiency of data

New standard at JVA Bostadel
The Bostadel prison in Menzingen is about to be renovated and extended. This project is not only necessary in order to fulfil the structural and operational requirements, but is also intended to improve the quality of the prison conditions for older prisoners and those in long-term custody.

Digital solution makes building renovations easier for owners
The Zurich Homeowners' Association (HEV) is adding Scandens' digital renovation planning to its advisory services. Based on a digital twin, the Zurich-based start-up offers over 500 combinations for the energy-efficient modernisation of your own

Renewables hold a high share of electricity and heat
The expansion of renewables is progressing slowly. A study by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy shows that Bern, Geneva, Aarau and Zurich are leading the way. 65 energy suppliers supply more than 80 per cent renewable electricity. Renewables also supply 80 per cent heat. The majority of gas

Lighthouse Papieri Cham
Papieri in Cham is a beacon for a modern commercial and residential neighbourhood. A successful mix of historical substance and industrial heritage, architecturally high-quality new buildings and carefully designed, green outdoor spaces creates a unique neighbourhood atmosphere. The Papieri site,

Space for the future “An der Aa”
With the "An der Aa" project, a new urban quarter is being created on the former premises of Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB), combining housing, infrastructure and public open spaces. With a broadly supported democratic vote of 81.3%, this project will represent a defining chapter in Zug's urban

Merger in timber construction secures jobs and expertise
Blumer Lehmann takes over the timber construction division of the Hächler Group. Hächler's business will operate under a new name, while the workshops and the timber construction team will remain at the Neuenhof site. The merger is intended to strengthen the timber construction expertise of both

Capital increase for healthcare properties and senior-friendly living
The Swiss Life Investment Foundation is opening its Real Estate Switzerland Old Age and Health ESG investment group. Around CHF 200 million in capital is to be raised by mid-March. The foundation intends to use this to acquire additional properties and reduce its debt


Foldable and reusable formwork revolutionises concrete construction
Architecture doctoral student Lotte Scheder-Bieschin has produced a lightweight, foldable and reusable formwork for concrete vaults at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). This allows up to 60 per cent of concrete and up to 90 per cent of steel to be

St.Gallen freight station site underestimated development area
Rear station neighbourhoods are often regarded as unused spaces with unclear development potential. Yet they harbour valuable opportunities for urban transformation. In an interdisciplinary collaboration between ETH Zurich and the University of St.Gallen, students developed visionary concepts for

New measurement technology detects corrosion in reinforced concrete without intervention
Many reinforced concrete structures in Switzerland date from the 1960s to 1980s and are increasingly threatened by corrosion. The ETH start-up Talpa has developed an innovative method to identify damage in hard-to-reach areas at an early stage - without having to break open the concrete. The new
