Aarau: Four high-rise buildings on Torfeld South

In May 2017, it was already clear that the construction project legally approved in 2016 - a new soccer stadium with commercial shell use on the "Torfeld Süd" - could not be realized economically. The reasons given by HRS, Stadion Aarau and the city of Aarau were the difficult situation in the retail trade and increased construction costs.

The project managers therefore presented a "Plan B" at the time, which has since been further concretizedThe new indicative project consists of the "lowered" previous football stadium with 10,000 spectator seats and four high-rise buildings of different heights with residential and commercial use around the stadium. The football stadium on the "Torfeld Süd" can thus be built at the then agreed price of CHF 36 million, as the four high-rise buildings provide the necessary cross-financing, informs HRS.

Construction work for the new stadium is scheduled to begin in May 2018. The remediation of contaminated sites as well as the demolition and preparatory work can be carried out on the basis of the previous building permit. However, since the stadium has been changed compared to the former project planning, a building application for a project adjustment is necessary. According to HRS, this involves, for example, lowering the building, changing the access roads and slightly rotating the structure. In addition, a partial revision of the building and use regulations and the design plan for the high-rise buildings must be approved so that the building permits for the high-rise buildings can be issued.

If everything goes according to plan, the groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium can be celebrated in summer 2019. The stadium will then be ready for play in the 21021/2022 season. However, according to the specifications of the Swiss Football League, construction of a new stadium must begin by 2021 at the latest.