Lucerne: Competition for EWL site decided
The Rotpol project by the Halter/Eberli Sarnen consortium has won the competition for the superstructure on the EWL site in Lucerne.
The city of Lucerne, ABL Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Luzern and EWL want to realize a new security and service center including apartments on the approximately 20,000 sqm EWL site. A mixed and ecological quarter for living, work and leisure is to be created. The investment sum is estimated at around CHF 200 million without tenant improvements.
ABL plans to build a total of 72 non-profit 2.5- to 5.5-room apartments, complementing the neighboring Cooperation Industriestrasse project. In addition, a care center with 81 rooms is being built by Viva Luzern.
EWL and the municipal service departments already located on the site move into new premises. In addition, the fire department of the city of Lucerne, the Pilatus civil defense organization, the city gardening department and bases for the road inspectorate will be located on the EWL site in the future. Other possible users include the rescue service of the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and control centers for the police, ambulance services and Lucerne transport companies.
Red house is to become a meeting place
The Rotpol project by Halter und Eberli Sarnen, which won the overall performance study, envisages preserving the Red House on the EWL site and creating a neighborhood square around the building at the heart of the site. The Red House is to be restored and become the meeting point of the development.
The superstructure on the EWL site is also intended to be an ecological showcase project. Through a mix of lake water, solar energy and waste heat utilization, the energy demand is to be completely covered by renewable energy sources. The development is aiming for the certificate for "2000-watt sites".
The design plan, the preliminary project and the construction project are now being drawn up. In 2021, the citizens of Lucerne will vote on the municipal financing of the project. The project company EWL Areal AG expects the building permit to be issued in 2021. Construction of the first stage is scheduled to begin in 2022, with construction of the second stage expected to start in 2024. The apartments, care apartments and offices should be ready for occupancy in 2026. (ah)
