Zurich: Sihlpost is ready for occupancy
After around two years of renovation, the first new tenants of Sihlpost will move into the new premises this month. SBB invested around CHF 45 million in the modernization of the building with 12,000 square meters of floor space. Max Dudler Architekten are responsible for the architecture.
On November 12, 2015, Jack Wolfskin will open a new store with a passage to the Transa flagship store in the Europaallee Passage. At the beginning of December 2015, Rudi Bindella will open "più" on the Lagerstrasse side with a restaurant and takeaway as well as indoor and outdoor seating. On December 7, 2015, the Sihlpost post office will move from its temporary location at Europaallee 11 back to its former site with a generously designed counter hall on the first floor on Kasernenstrasse.
In March 2016, Rolf Hiltl will follow with a vegetarian restaurant at Europaplatz. In spring 2016, the KVZ Business School will also move into its 4,500 sqm premises on the 1st and 2nd floors. Google has leased the 3rd to 5th floors of the Sihlpost.
Totally renovated inside, refreshed outside
Within the scope of the reconstruction, which started in December 2013, the interiors were completely renovated, the two staircases were rebuilt and the building services were completely renewed. Furthermore, the exterior facade with window grilles and mosaic on the first floor has also been repaired. Behind the restored window fronts, a new sound- and heat-insulating interior façade with large windows was also installed. In this way, the Minergie standard was achieved and noise protection improved. The landmark of the Sihlpost remains the clock tower, but now in its original, dark color scheme, which shows off the "POST" lettering even better.
Since more people will be going in and out of the Sihlpost building in the future, access inside will be via two passenger elevators per stairwell at the rear of the stairs. From the outside, the building is accessed by new portals made of exposed concrete on Kasernenstrasse and separate side entrances for the restaurants. In addition, there is direct access to the KVZ Business School via the newly named Sihlpostgasse between Sihlpost and the Zurich University of Teacher Education.
The Sihlpost, a work of the architects Adolf and Heinrich Bräm from 1928-30, was built on behalf of the SBB and was one of the most modern postal buildings in the world at the time. Today it is a listed building. Characteristic for the building are the continuous parapet and cornice bands with the special fenestration (about 800 windows) and the hipped roof. In addition, there are mosaics on the facade on the first floor and the typical window grilles. Also worthy of protection is the reinforced concrete structure with mushroom ceiling system by engineer Robert Maillart inside the building. (ah)
