As Local Architects Burckhardt is undertaking a general refurbishment of Walter Niehus’ iconic office building on the shores of Lake Zurich. The building at Bellerivestrasse 36, which dates from 1974, is being modernized on behalf of Allreal, according to a design by the Danish office C.F. Møller to create a sustainable building that blends in with the surrounding park. After around 14 months of construction, the topping out ceremony was celebrated.

The project will transform the technically outdated office block into a contemporary, representative and forward-looking office building with a restaurant. Its most striking feature: The façade is fitted with overhanging solar panels that both produce electricity and protect against direct sunlight. The horizontal panels are clad in tinted glass that harmonizes with the metal cladding of the façade. This gives the building a new horizontal, light character that blends elegantly into the existing parkland and affords users and passers-by a clear view into the interior of the new office building.

In the center of the building, a new atrium is being created that connects the various office spaces via a spiral staircase. It supports collaborative exchange and the transfer of knowledge, while making it possible to exploit synergies.

The project is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2023.