Planning for Zurich's major PJZ project completed
The lengthy planning phase for the Zurich Police and Justice Center (PJZ) has been completed. The new building on the site of the old SBB Güterbahnhof freight station in district 4 will offer a total of 55,000 square meters of space on five floors. The cost is CHF 570 million. The canton will now put the project out to tender and look for a general contractor. Construction is scheduled to start at the end of 2016, with the PJZ ready for occupation in 2020 according to plan.
Fifty-seven percent of the space will be occupied by the cantonal police, 15 percent is earmarked for the police and judicial prison, and 11 percent for the public prosecutor's offices. The rest is distributed among other departments, including the police school, for example. However, not all departments can be accommodated in the PJZ; for example, the management of the cantonal police will remain in the police barracks.
In 2003, the people of Zurich voted for the first time on merging the police and judiciary at a single location; at that time, a loan of CHF 490 million was approved. In the detailed planning phase, however, the project became more expensive at 700 million, which is why the PJZ was downsized at the behest of the cantonal council. The people then again voted in favor of the project. (ah)
