Zurich City university district

ETH Zurich is working with University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich, and the canton and city of Zurich to develop the Zurich City university district (HGZZ). The vision is of a modern and open university and hospital district to support the sciences, health care, and the general public.

The external page university district that is home to the joint University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH Zurich research and health cluster is located in the centre of Zurich. The close proximity of the three institutions offers unique opportunities for close collaboration across teaching, research and medical care.

This promotes innovation and facilitates the rapid transfer of research findings to hospitals. One of the drivers behind the development of this site is the desire to exploit this potential.

“The central city location is ideal for ETH Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, and the University of Zurich, and the proximity to the other institutions is a key success factor.”

Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure, ETH Zurich

Cooperation and a lively neighbourhood

The aim of the further spatial development is to secure teaching, research and medical care in the university district, to strengthen it further, to increase the urban quality and to create a lively university quarter.

Zurich City university district

With the GLC ETH Zurich has created a modern development and laboratory building in the centre for research at the interface between public health science and technology. (Photo: ETH Zurich / Alessandro Della Bella) The future Zurich City University District with the new University Hospital and the new UZH Forum of the University of Zurich. (Image: HGZZ) The UZH Forum by Herzog & de Meuron is set back, creating a central square. (Visualisation: Herzog & de Meuron) The two buildings of Christ & Gantenbein's University Hospital will in future form an ensemble with the Gloriapark. (Visualisation: Christ & Gantenbein / Atelier Brunecky) The future Zurich City university district: On Rämistrasse, an urban space with a quality of stay is being created. (Visualisation: Atelier Brunecky). The close proximity of University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich provides unique opportunities. (Visualisation: Canton of Zurich Building Department) The main uses of these spaces were defined during the collaborative planning process. (Visualisation: Canton of Zurich Building Department) ETH Zurich’s real estate in the city centre: Most of these are federal property. Others are rented. (Visualisation: ETH Zurich)

Detailed studies and urban space concept for the HGZZ

In addition to the master plan, the Canton and City of Zurich have worked with the University, University Hospital and ETH on two detailed urban planning studies.
Four areas were explored for the planning: Open/green spaces, traffic/mobility (incl. overall traffic concept), energy supply and environmental impact.
An urban space concept for the spaces between the buildings (streets and open spaces) was developed as a study assignment. The urban space concept by ARGE Studio Vulcan & KCAP Architects & Planners enhances the university area.
This concept is the core of the external page white paper, which serves as a guiding principle for the development of the university area and quality assurance.
The urban space principles were taken into account in the designs for the new buildings for the external page Forum UZH and external page USZ Campus MITTE1.

The planned development of the university district over the next ten years (Video: Baudirektion Kanton Zürich)

Further information

Contact

Real Estate Management department

Website

ETH Zurich
Binzmühlestrasse 130
OCT
8092 Zurich
Switzerland