Swiss Prime Site: Zurich’s most spectacular construction project gets rolling

When a 6,200-ton-heavy building embarks on a journey, it’s not an event that happens every day. But such an extraordinary move is in fact scheduled to take place in March 2012. The 122-year-old brick structure – which once served as the executive office building of the former tool and machinery factory Oerlikon (MFO) – will be relocated roughly 60 metres to the west, in order to pave the way for the Swiss federal railways (SBB) to expand the tracks at the Oerlikon railway station. To mark the occasion of the forthcoming relocation, Swiss Prime Site, the future owner of the building and site, invited to an information and symbolic “get rolling” event.

Peter Lehmann, Chief Investment Officer at Swiss Prime Site AG, explained: "We are pleased that a favourable solution could be found for all interested parties, and that the MFO building will remain preserved for the local population." The definitive rescue of the building was accomplished through an agreement reached in February 2011 between the city of Zurich, SBB, ABB and Swiss Prime Site.

André Odermatt, Zurich City Council member and Head of the Department of Planning and Building Inspection, was delighted that the last remaining building from Oerlikon’s past industrial age will be left standing: "The MFO building is a historic jewel that will add additional value to the new Oerlikon of the future.” Mr. Odermatt further declared that urban development also means preserving part of the city’s history as well.

Beat Bürgin, the SBB Project Leader, presented the Oerlikon railway station of the future and addressed the significance of the planned expansion project: "The Zurich cross-city link is a construction project from which all of Switzerland and especially Oerlikon will benefit." Jasmin Staiblin, President and Country Manager, ABB Switzerland – which currently still owns the MFO building – stated: "I am pleased that ABB Switzerland could play a role in the preservation of the MFO building, as a symbol of entrepreneurship and pioneering spirit."

And finally, René Schütz, civil engineer from the designated construction firm Henauer Gugler AG, highlighted the technical and logistical challenges of the project. Relocation of the 6,200-ton-heavy freight will be carried out using transport rails, comprising steel rollers mounted in between two steel girders. The building’s cross-support fixture consists of 35 concrete beams, each 12 metres in length. The actual relocation process will last roughly 12 to 20 hours, according to Mr. Schütz.

Swiss Prime Site is investing roughly CHF 11 million for the relocation and, as such, preservation of the building. The real estate investment company’s portfolio also includes the neighbouring office building Cityport, on the site of which part of the MFO building will be situated.

Contact
Peter Lehmann, CIO Tel. +41 (0)62 213 06 06, peter.lehmann@swiss-prime-site.ch

Peter Wullschleger, CFO Tel. +41 (0)62 213 06 06, peter.wullschleger@swiss-prime-site.ch

Markus Graf, CEO Tel. +41 (0)62 213 06 06, markus.graf@swiss-prime-site.ch