Zurich: redevelopment project on barracks site will be significantly more expensive
The renovation of the five listed arsenals on the Zurich barracks site will be much more expensive than expected: The city is expecting to spend around CHF 195 million. The city council is requesting an additional credit of CHF 13.6 million for further planning.
Zurich City Council has asked the municipal council for an additional credit of CHF 13.6 million for the further development of the arsenals on the barracks site. This increases the project planning credit - which originally dates back to 2016 - from CHF 6.4 million to a total of CHF 20.0 million. The additional credit covers the development of the construction project, the building permit procedure and the preparations for execution, including a reserve.
Ailing building fabric drives up costs
The additional expense was triggered by the poor condition of the historic buildings. An in-depth examination of the building fabric revealed that interventions in the supporting structure - parts of which date back to the 1870s -, the modernization of the energy and building technology and the implementation of fire protection requirements would be significantly more costly than originally assumed. In addition, the original project planning credit did not include any interior fittings; in future, areas for municipal needs and cultural uses are also to be expanded.
Costs of around CHF 195 million (including credit reserves) are now expected for the entire renovation, the basic extension and the municipal extensions to the five arsenals. Added to this is CHF 7.2 million for the restoration of the Zeughaushof. This is a fourfold increase compared to the 2016 building lease agreement, which was still around CHF 55 million. The Canton of Zurich is contributing a maximum of CHF 30 million to the repair costs due to the backlog of maintenance work - a contribution that was already stipulated in the building lease agreement at the time.
Utilization concept in place
A utilization concept is now available, which was developed in a participatory process with representatives from trade, administration and the neighbourhood. In addition to the existing outpatient clinic and the contact and contact point (K&A), the arsenals are to house a cultural center with a café/bar, small craft and commercial businesses as well as leisure and recreational facilities in the future. The historic armory - a listed building of national importance - is to be opened to the public and renovated in close cooperation with the conservation authorities.
According to current information on the project website, future rents will average less than CHF 200 per square meter per year (basic rent). The site is not intended to be profit-oriented, but to cover costs.
Referendum planned for 2028
Voters are expected to vote on the construction loan in 2028. If approved, construction could begin in 2029; the armory is scheduled to be occupied from 2034 at the earliest.
Back in March, we reported on the competition to design the open spaces on the 65,000 square meter barracks site, which was won by Krebs und Herde Landschaftsarchitekten together with Oeplan (IB reported) (aw)
