Better late than never
The start of construction on the new Brown-Boveri-Platz will be delayed to summer 2023. The opening is planned for autumn 2024.
Actually, Brown-Boveri-Platz should have been rebuilt now and opened in summer 2022. But private construction work on the multi-storey car park led to delays: “The reasons are the later start of construction of the multi-storey car park and extensive relocation of the works”, René Zolliker from Baden's construction planning department told Immo! Nvest. Construction is now scheduled to start in summer 2023. About a year later, in autumn 2024, Brown-Boveri-Platz is to be opened. The redesigned square fulfills two basic functions: Firstly, the square is a place of passage and residence for passers-by, employees, customers and residents for around 300 days a year. Second, public events take place on the square for around 50 days. «The present project meets both requirements. The two-row wreath of trees creates the atmosphere that should characterize the new town square, and the inner open space of 40 x 50 m creates the necessary space for events with up to 2000 people, ”says Zolliker. Basically, the place is free from motorized traffic. Exceptions are the deliveries of goods for the ABB shipping company and the transformer center as well as the journeys of emergency vehicles by the rescue services.
Use with benchmarks
But how do you skillfully revitalize a space above a garage these days? The basic paper on the use of space with several benchmarks was already drawn up for the competition in a broad-based process: During the day, access to industry, trade, education, culture and leisure activities should be guaranteed. In the afternoon, the square will serve as a forecourt to the transformer halls, cinemas and the hotel, as well as an outdoor space for the congress center. In the project team led by the planning and construction department, in addition to the commissioned planner, the municipal departments civil engineering, works yard, urban ecology, location marketing, development planning, culture and the city police were represented. ABB Immobilien AG, Regionalwerke AG Baden and the planning team Hochhaus Ost / Parkhaus Brown-Boveri-Platz were also involved in the planning process. The biggest hurdle was the building credit approval by the residents' council. But now it should finally start.