From industrial heritage to innovation campus
Step by step, the traditional industrial site is being transformed into a future-oriented location for work, technology and innovation. The focus is clearly on productive uses and on the idea of sustainably strengthening Töss with a strong, open economic cluster.
Where textile machines and industrial production used to set the pace, a new focus for technology, trade and entrepreneurial development is now being created. The approximately 75,000 square meter site is not being conceived as an isolated business park, but as a networked innovation location with a direct link to the Töss district. Existing buildings, paths and spaces form the backbone of the transformation.
Historical substance remains where it creates character and identity. At the same time, structures will be opened up, paths made more permeable and new places for encounters, collaboration and exchange created. The Vitus site will thus become a visible driver of Winterthur’s economic development.
Mission statement and site strategy
The guiding principle is both simple and ambitious. A tech and innovation cluster that brings together companies, start-ups, education and research in one place. The focus is on work, not living. Office and commercial space is planned for technology-oriented companies, research-related businesses, service providers and creative players. Co-working facilities, flexible spaces and space for young companies will also be added.
At the same time, the site development focuses on atmosphere. Urban meeting zones, restaurants, cultural offerings and publicly accessible outdoor spaces are intended to ensure that the area also comes alive outside of traditional office hours. The planned Vitus Promenade connects the site with the Töss river and creates an identity-forming open space axis that enables movement, recreation and interaction.
Development in stages
The transformation is deliberately taking place in several stages. In the first phase, existing buildings will be activated, renovated or upgraded through targeted conversions. Interim uses, co-working, events and cultural formats will ensure that the area gains appeal even during the planning phase. The first companies from the fields of technology, sustainability and future mobility are already using the Vitus site as a place to work and develop.
At the same time, structural foundations are being laid for the next steps, such as improved access, sharper utilization concepts, mobility and sustainability approaches. Individual construction projects, such as the new LANDI site, fit into this picture and strengthen the commercial character of the area. In a later stage, the eastern part of the site in particular will be redeveloped in greater depth. Additional, contemporary space for production, laboratories, offices and services will be created here – tailored to market needs and demand.
Prospects for Töss and Winterthur
The Vitus site will give Winterthur-Töss a strong economic anchor point. The site offers potential for several thousand jobs and thus strengthens the district’s role as a productive yet urban location. Open spaces, permeable paths and cooperation with local players should prevent the creation of an isolated commercial area.