Bern: Migros Aare builds new building at Breitenrainplatz

The aim of the development project in Bern's Spitalacker neighborhood is to replace the old and too small Migros store with a new and larger one and "at the same time to keep Breitenrainplatz attractive and lively as the center of the neighborhood," as the cooperative writes. The main access to Migros will in future be at the corner of Moserstrasse and Breitenrainplatz. From there, escalators, stairs and elevators will lead to the basement, where the supermarket will offer 1,700 square meters of retail space. The Migros restaurant will be located on the first floor on the Breitenrainstrasse side. Space of around 500 sqm is planned for services and sales on the first floor. According to Migros Aaare, this space offer is primarily aimed at smaller stores from the neighborhood.

In addition, 50 rental apartments will be built in the new development. Around 40 percent of the apartments will have 4.5 rooms or more. There will be open access to the courtyard and apartments from each side of the street. Two medical practices and a daycare center are planned for the upper floors. Near the main entrance to Migros, 40 covered bicycle parking spaces are planned, with another 50 on the Allmendstrasse side. For the apartments, 170 bicycle parking spaces are included in the basement. For Migros customers who shop by car, 58 parking spaces will be available in the basement, and 43 parking spaces are planned for the apartments.

Plans for the project emerged from a competitive process in 2013. The foundation stone was laid on August 17, 2017, and the shell of the building is scheduled for completion by May 2018. The opening of the new Migros supermarket is targeted for spring 2019. It should be possible to move into the rental apartments in autumn 2019 at the earliest. Kontur Projektmanagement AG is supporting the Migros Aare Cooperative as the owner's trustee and was also responsible for monitoring the tender process for the total contractor.