
Flying robots as construction machines of the future
The construction industry is opening up new dimensions with autonomous flying robots. In future, drones could process building materials in hard-to-reach areas with precision, flexibility and scalability. An innovation with great potential for disaster prevention, repairs and the urban development

Prof Nora Dainton takes over as Head of the FHNW Institute of Digital Construction
Since April 2025, Prof. Nora Dainton has been acting head of the Institute for Digital Construction at the FHNW School of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geomatics. With her experience in research, teaching, and digitalization, she strengthens the university's integrated approach and continues

Real estate monitoring 2025
Despite increasing construction activity, the housing shortage in Switzerland remains. Rising prices, bottlenecks in the rental segment and a clear focus on replacements and conversions will characterise the market in 2025. New impetus will come from lower interest rates, stable demand and building

Resource-efficient building with wood
A research team from Empa and ETH Zurich is developing an innovative method for producing wood-based panels inspired by traditional shingle production. By using split wood and artificial intelligence, even low-grade hardwood becomes a sustainable building material with future

New plant strengthens construction chemicals production in Central Asia
Sika has opened a new plant for mortar materials in East Kazakhstan. It is the fourth production site in the resource-rich country. The construction chemicals specialist from Baar will also be involved in major projects in the booming construction industry

What construction sites can learn from space missions
Whether on earth or in space, anyone working in extreme environments must be able to rely on training, equipment and teamwork. An analog astronaut impressively demonstrates how findings from space travel can also save lives on construction sites and what potential they hold for the construction

Minergie certificate brings measurable yield advantages
A new study by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts shows that Minergie-certified buildings offer not only ecological but also economic added value. Investors and landlords benefit from higher initial rents, while tenants benefit from lower ancillary costs and greater living

Potential for residential construction and internal development
Urban and spatial development faces the challenge of creating new living space without taking up valuable land outside existing settlement areas. An analysis shows that residential construction in existing buildings plays a central role in this development, albeit with greater challenges than new

Apply now: Who will win the Real Estate Award 2025?
Projects can still be submitted for the prestigious Real Estate Award until April 30, 2025. We are looking for bold ideas, forward-looking solutions and people who are rethinking the world of real estate, construction and finance. The awards will be presented on October 2, 2025 - perhaps to

Milestone for modern clay construction
For the first time, the German Institute for Building Technology has issued a general type approval for load-bearing clay block masonry using the thin-bed method. The GIMA vertically perforated clay brick may therefore be used for load-bearing walls up to building class 4. In combination with the

Daniel Leupi on Zurich’s housing policy
Zurich is growing and with this growth comes an increasing demand for affordable housing. Chief Financial Officer Daniel Leupi talks about the progress made in the city's housing policy, the pressure on the real estate market and the instruments with which the city of Zurich aims to maintain the


Construction group focuses on growth through sustainable solutions
Holcim wants to focus on scaling up circular construction in Europe. In Latin America, industrialization trends and the demand for mega construction projects are set to drive the building materials group's growth. Holcim makes this clear in its NextGen Growth 2030


New major orders strengthen infrastructure projects in the DACH region
Implenia has been awarded contracts worth a total of CHF 150 million in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Among other things, the construction and real estate company is to build another data center in Lupfig AG and the new Clinic 2 building at Basel University

Securing the future through responsible management
Anyone who owns property bears responsibility. Not only for the preservation of value, but also for the sustainable use of resources and structures. The Real Estate Symposium 2025 organised by the Swiss Association of the Property Industry (SVIT) impressively demonstrated how strategic management


Canton of Zurich calls on Federal Council to act
The housing shortage is worsening, especially in urban centres such as the canton of Zurich. Complex authorisation procedures, delays due to objections and new legal hurdles such as the ISOS inventory are blocking urgently needed residential construction projects. The Zurich cantonal government is

Building materials without CO₂ – the change in the industry has begun
The construction sector is facing a historic turning point. While traditional materials such as cement and steel cause enormous emissions, low-carbon and carbon-free alternatives are opening up new avenues for climate-friendly construction. Start-ups, technologies and forward-looking construction

Building between town and country
The Swiss construction industry is at a turning point. Rural land, urban densification, a shortage of skilled labour and complex construction processes. Doris Kälin and Gian Nauli, two prominent voices from the cantons of Schwyz and Thurgau, provide insights into the current situation, future


Photo analysis to efficiently record the condition of infrastructures
Straintest has won two major customers for pilot projects: SBB and, most recently, the Swiss Federal Armaments Office armasuisse. The start-up, which is only seven months old, already records and measures the finest hairline cracks on façades or infrastructure buildings using photos and creates

Roman Mayer takes over as Head of the Federal Office for Spatial Development
With the appointment of Roman Mayer as the new Director of the Federal Office for Spatial Development, the Federal Council has chosen an experienced leader with legal expertise, strategic planning skills and extensive administrative experience. The move signals a clear strengthening of integrated

New trade fair in Lucerne
With the new Terra Solid trade fair, a central industry meeting point for foundation engineering, civil engineering and natural hazard management is being created in Lucerne. From 24 to 26 February 2026, planners, developers, authorities and entrepreneurs will meet at Messe Luzern to discover

More transparency, more clarity in tenancy law
By amending the Ordinance on the Rent and Lease of Residential and Commercial Premises, the Federal Council is creating more transparency for new tenancies. From October 2025, it will be mandatory to state the reference interest rate and inflation rate on the initial rent form. This step will have