Construction work starts on Forum UZH

The UZH’s university district in Zurich is expanding: construction work for the Forum UZH education and research center has started on the Wässerwies site. The center is set to meet requirements for modern teaching and learning techniques. According to a press release issued by the university, Forum UZH will create “urgently needed space for teaching and research in the city of Zurich” and will help the university to maintain its position in the competitive academic sphere.

“Forum UZH is more than a building,” says François Chapuis, Vice President Real Estate and Facility Management at UZH. “It connects people and space, science and society, provides inspiration for the unique university district in the heart of Zurich, and represents the continuous growth of the university for future generations.”

Work began with the building site being fenced off and set up on August 20, 2024. Following a number of dismantling projects, the excavation process will start in November 2024 and structural work will commence in November 2025. Facade construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2028, and the intention is for the new building to be ready for occupation from mid-2030.

The Forum UZH will also house a publicly accessible cafeteria and canteen, library, sports facilities and commercial premises for third-party tenants. The plan is to integrate its surroundings into the urban architecture of the university district. According to the press release, a large square planted with trees will help minimize the urban heat island effect in summer. An online event on September 18 will provide local residents with information about the construction project. The UZH will publish a link to this event on its webpage dedicated to its building activities. ce/mm