Kriens: Winning project for new WAS building decided
The social insurance center WAS Wirtschaft Arbeit Soziales is constructing a new building on the Eichhof West site in Kriens. A design by the Gigon Guyer office from Zurich is to be realized.
According to the Lucerne Social Insurance Center WAS, the Stadtbaustein project by the Zurich-based architect team Annette Gigon/Mike Guyer emerged as the winner of the project competition. The overall architectural concept, with which the needs of customers and employees will be optimally integrated in the future, was convincing, it says. Particularly noteworthy is the innovative consideration of the topics of sustainability and energy, as well as the optimal integration of the new building into the environment.
According to the announcement, the seller of the property is the Zurich pension fund BVK. It intends to create jobs, around 270 rental apartments and a wide range of services on the rest of the site. However, WAS's building will be planned and constructed independently of BVK's, and the access roads, underground parking and outdoor space will be realized in partnership.
In the new building in Kriens, the previous four locations of WAS Wirtschaft Arbeit Soziales will be merged. In WAS, the compensation office Lucerne, the IV Lucerne and the former cantonal office of economy and work WIRA were organizationally merged in 2019. The spatial merger now planned is intended to exploit synergies and increase efficiency and customer proximity. WAS expects that this will save at least CHF 4.8 million in administrative costs annually from 2025. The cost of the new building is estimated at around 120 million - including the purchase of land for 18 million.
The planning application is to be submitted in April 2021, with construction starting in 2022. The move to the new site is planned for mid-2024. (ah)
