Bern: Building permit for "Wankdorfcity 3"
The planning application was only submitted in March. Without any objections, the realization phase for the Immofonds' large-scale project with a good 500 apartments and 50,000 square meters of office and service space has already begun.
The 34,000 square meter Wankdorfcity 3 site is located in the north of Bern, between the freeway and the railroad tracks. Over the next few years, a new district with space for living, working and leisure will be built on the current commercial site, promising to set "new standards in urban coexistence". The investor is the listed real estate fund. According to the fund management, the building permit for this major project has now been granted after several years of development and planning. The new service and commercial building, into which the majority of existing tenants will move, is already under construction. As soon as this building is completed and occupied, construction work on the entire project will start in summer 2025. At the same time, the historic Shedhalle, the future heart of Wankdorfcity 3, will be renovated and will be home to restaurants, culture and small businesses.
Immofonds praises cooperation with city
According to Gabriela Theus, the planning application was only submitted at the end of March 2024. "It was only possible to successfully complete the approval process for such a large-scale project without objections and in such a short and record-breaking time in Switzerland thanks to the close cooperation and efficient and competent processing by the City of Bern's building inspectorate."
A "city terrace" as a "second first floor"
One of the special features of Wankdorfcity 3 is the aspiration to create meeting places on different levels with some exceptional open and outdoor spaces. Spacious roof terraces and communal areas in the buildings and on the roofs are part of the concept. A "city terrace" is to create a second first floor and a connection between different residential buildings at a height of 30 meters. The developers are also planning numerous types of apartments in different price segments: A good 60 % are small apartments ,including tiny houses with one to two rooms, 40 % large family apartments, townhouses and maisonettes and cluster apartments. The lower floors of the buildings are home to restaurants, cultural and healthcare facilities, shopping facilities, co-working spaces, a daycare center and other public uses.
With the building permit now in place, the project is entering the realization phase. The approximately 500 apartments and more than 50,000 square meters of space for services, commerce, offices and public uses will be built in stages by HRS Real Estate AG and will be ready for occupation from 2027 until the end of 2029. (aw)
