The former SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) building at Freiburgstrasse 130 in Bern already has plenty of stories under its belt, but none as exciting as the development it is currently undergoing. What was once a monotonous office block is now being transformed into a modern, multifaceted hub. The building, which consists of three wings – north, east and west – is currently being refurbished from the ground up, with the impressive new design set to be unveiled as early as next summer.

The goal is clear: to give the building a complete makeover so that it meets both modern-day standards and the future requirements of its tenants. The building is being transformed from a single-tenant environment to a multi-tenant complex. Thanks to our integrated business model – which combines Real Estate, Development and Realisation – we have all the expertise we need under one roof, enabling us to complete this project quickly, to a very high level of quality and in a cost-efficient way.

All standard floors will be fitted with new technical systems and benefit from a fresh interior design. At first glance, everything on the outside seems to be the same as before, though the atrium has been fitted with new façade glazing for fire safety reasons.

Old becomes new: “As part of the renovations, we are trying to keep as much of the existing structures as we can and to recycle. For example, the toilet bowls and radiators have all been preserved, as have the fire points that house the fire hoses and extinguishers – these only have to be serviced every three years”, explains Hakim Bradi, the site manager in Bern.
 

Everyday challenges

According to Bradi, the planning aspect is the biggest challenge his teams are facing. “Due to security reasons, SDC, which has been the only tenant up to now, wasn’t able to provide access to the building for the team from Allreal before they moved out. That meant we had to rely on old architectural plans – and they didn’t always reflect the reality inside.” There are pipes on the plans that no longer exist and vice versa. This amounts to a Herculean task for the cost planning team. Almost every day, the building site yields new discoveries and unexpected obstacles. “But we’re not becoming discouraged by it. Our people are working tirelessly to meet every challenge and prepare the building so it is perfect for the new tenants”, promises Bradi.

A full makeover means more than simply upgrading the electrics and pipes so they pass muster. We are also installing shear walls in the event of earthquakes. The partition walls that are being put up for the future tenants are made of wood, creating a lively and varied interior. The basement will be home to a cosy cafeteria, while the exteriors retain their distinctive green natural stone façades.

The dimensions

The building is impressive in size: five storeys in the north wing, seven in the west wing and four in the east wing. The plant room with all the technical systems occupies the seventh floor of the west wing. The first basement level contains an underground car park with 45 spaces and an area for bicycles. BLS is set to become a key tenant and will take up four storeys of the east and west wings for its company headquarters. The two top floors of the west wing (five and six) remain available as of the present time.

Once the renovations are complete, the building, which was originally built in 1999, will meet current standards and provide attractive business space for future tenants. The new solar installation on the roof and modern technologies will ensure that any new tenants can advertise themselves as a top place to work. It is a project that shows how old structures can be retooled to develop something new and exciting.