New lease of life for an old building

If aging properties are to be preserved for future generations, they need a fitness cure. Implenia's modernization team specializes in sustainably preparing buildings for a new life cycle while preserving their value, as the example of the 1912 Brannhof department store on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse shows.

Our cities with their historic buildings are witnesses to our history and shape our identity. Aging buildings, however, are neither sustainable nor do they meet modern requirements. That's why Implenia gives aging properties a new lease of life.

The Brannhof on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, for example, was built in 1912 as an architecturally pioneering department store. With its revitalization by the end of 2023, it will be sustainably refurbished and, in addition to a better carbon footprint, will have a new utilization concept: around 4,600 m2 of flexibly usable retail space will be created on three levels, with 5,600 m2 of modern workplaces starting on the second floor.

The Brannhof

With the redevelopment of Swiss Life Brannhof in Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse comes a new and attractive mixed-use concept. Thus, the historic pioneering spirit on the renowned promenade and shopping street will be given a new lease of life. A sustainable, intelligent energy concept will be used.

Johannes Hasenbank, who is leading the project for Implenia's Modernization team, explains: "At the Brannhof, we are updating the building services to make the building fit for a new usage concept. In the process, we have to comply with numerous requirements imposed by the authorities responsible for the preservation of historical monuments. For example, on the historic exterior windows, which were refurbished by hand and fitted with additional triple glazing to meet today's standards."

The team went to work with the same care to preserve other historical treasures for posterity. For example, the stained glass in the hall, which dates back to 1928, was also refurbished and restored by hand, and in the historic stairwells, the existing panels were given a modern addition by an artist through an "Kunst am Bau" project.

With listed buildings and construction sites in the middle of the city center, modernization requires not only technical know-how but also a great deal of intuition. To achieve this, the team works closely with the owners, the architect and the authorities involved.

Christoph Kling, who is in charge of the project on behalf of the client Swiss Life Immobilien AG, explains: "We are here in a very central location in the city of Zurich. With this imposing project in terms of urban development, which is also significant for the city, it is particularly important that we also always keep stakeholders such as the authorities or decision-makers at Swiss Life well informed."

Modernization unveils potential

The future belongs to densification in building and to a commitment to nature, resources and our society. The interplay of consulting, planning and execution competencies ensures economic, ecological and constructional advantages for customer and project.

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As is so often the case, the biggest challenges for the client are costs and deadlines. Christoph Kling is satisfied with what has been achieved: "In collaboration with Implenia, we sharpened the goals in terms of schedules and cost limits, and we achieved them in a spirit of partnership."

Dwindling land reserves and the desire to preserve historic buildings are making modernization an important area of the construction industry, Johannes Hasenbank is convinced: ""After the Münzhof, the Brannhof is already the second historic building on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse that we are making fit for a new life cycle. By adapting existing properties to modern needs, we sustainably preserve them for the next generation."