Zurich: Jelmoli department store closes its doors

The Jelmoli department store is history. On March 1, the doors of the Zurich institution on Bahnhofstrasse closed as planned. According to Swiss Prime Site, the owner of the property, work on the conversion is due to start in mid-April. Marketing of the office space has already begun. There will be 13,000 square meters of office space on three floors, and the future office tenants are to become part of a "tenant community" for which SPS is designing benefits and offers under the "Destination Jelmoli" brand. The invitation to tender for the catering concept has been announced for the second quarter.

The refurbishment of the listed ensemble is being carried out according to plans by Ilmer Thies Architekten. The lower three floors will be prepared for the new tenant Manor and the Manora restaurant on the second floor will be converted. The floors above will be converted for office use with two new inner courtyards, which will revert to an earlier layout. These offices will have their own entrance with a spacious lobby. The redesigned Holmes Place fitness club and spa will be built on the fifth floor.

The conversion of the former department store places particular emphasis on the use of the roof terrace. Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten won the competition for the corresponding concept, which was carried out together with the city of Zurich's monument preservation authorities. Two outdoor dining areas and meeting zones for various events are planned. The concept includes 4,000 square meters of usable space and lush planting. SPS promises a "new crowd-puller in the middle of the city of Zurich - for the local population and for tourists". (aw)