Campus

Future-oriented environments for teaching and research

ETH Zurich develops inspiring and future-oriented environments for teaching and research. It combines a sustainable campus with state-of-the-art technology platforms, creating the ideal conditions for students and tutors to develop innovative ideas and engage in globally relevant research. Its sustainable campus development is the product of its deep awareness of its environmental responsibility. Accordingly, ETH Zurich sets itself ambitious sustainability goals, including the achievement of its greenhouse gas emissions targets and the promotion of sustainable mobility options for ETH members. Inclusion is a top priority at ETH Zurich: the university wants to remove barriers and welcome people from different backgrounds and abilities, allowing them to develop their full potential.

ETH rents out office and laboratory space across different locations to its spin-offs. It sets aside one thousand nine hundred and ninety-one square metres (a twenty-six percent increase over two thousand and twenty-two) to support them during their initial growth phase. The Link goes to the Value Creation Model. — This Infrastructure Output infographic is just one of the many facts and figures presented in ETH Zurich’s Value Creation Model.

Students with bicycles on the Polyterrasse. Link to the smart moves page. — The “smart moves” awareness campaign is part of ETH Zurich’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030. It keeps ETH members up to date on sustainable mobility options and motivates them to become more energy efficient. (image: ETH Zurich / Nicolas Duc)

ETH Zurich committed to sustainable construction

ETH Zurich consistently tailors its real estate portfolio to the demands of teaching, research and knowledge transfer, as well as the necessary support services. Innovative project methods and cost-conscious project management help to push down costs, allowing more resources to be allocated to academic work.

Enlarged view: The new BSS laboratory and research building in Basel. Photo is from a bird’s eye view. — With a total floor area of 39,000 m2 across eight storeys, the new BSS laboratory and research building in Basel has enough space for around 350 staff and up to 250 Master’s students. (image: ETH Zurich / Alessandro Della Bella)

Move to the new BSS and GLC buildings under way

Last year ETH professors, researchers and staff were able to move into two new buildings. The BSS laboratory and research building in Basel is the new home of the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE). The integration into the Schällemätteli campus provides optimal conditions for collaboration with local research partners as well as with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In Zurich, the new GLC building on the Gloriarank site offers space for the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) and the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (D-ITET), creating a modern development and laboratory building that brings together teaching, research and translation in the fields of health, medicine and medical technology.

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ETH as tenant and partner

The development of new premises is driven by the steady rise in staff and student numbers. ETH plans to gradually expand its own portfolio of properties in keeping with the special building regulations for the Hönggerberg campus. It rents some premises in order to satisfy the acute demand for space. This strategy allows flexible management and the effective use of resources.

Enlarged view: Visualisation of the new Innovation Park Zurich — ETH aims to strengthen the standing of Innovation Park Zurich in Dübendorf as a hub for knowledge transfer to industry. The visualisation shows the interior of Hall 2 after refitting. (visualisation: KCAP)

ETH expands its presence at Innovation Park Zurich

ETH Zurich has rented more space at Innovation Park Zurich (IPZ) in Dübendorf under a 20-year agreement. In Hall 2 the main focus is on fixed-term cooperation projects between industry and spin-offs or research groups. In future, Hall 3 will be available for student teams to carry out their own projects and take part in international competitions, for example. By choosing the IPZ site, ETH aims to strengthen collaboration between science and industry in the Greater Zurich Area.

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Enlarged view: Building under construction. — The future SSA building is currently being refurbished, with ETH scheduled to move into the building in January 2025. (image: ETH Zurich)

New medical research site in Schlieren

ETH Zurich is boosting its medical research by establishing a new site in Schlieren and leasing a new laboratory building (SSA) right next to the Bio-Technopark. This proximity will promote networking among the various research and industrial entities at the site while fostering existing collaborations, resulting in an optimal research environment. With a main usable area of around 7,000m², the SSA offers space for around eight to ten professorships and/or research groups in the life sciences field.

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Sustainability

“Our successes to date provide a good basis for making the culinary choices at ETH even more sustainable in future, with the help of suitably targeted measures.”

Isabelle Castagna, sustainability manager at ETH Sustainability

For the past ten years, ETH Zurich has been working with catering companies SV Group and Compass Group to provide more sustainable meals in its campus restaurants. They have been successful in their core mandate of steadily reducing CO2 emissions in the shopping basket. A research- and data-based approach, in combination with goals determined by a holistic approach to sustainability, helps develop meals using food from transparent supply chains. The choices offered are also healthier and more affordable.

Sustainable Gastronomy project

Diversity

“Let’s create a university that is accessible to as many people as possible, based on the ‘Design for all’ principle!”

Romila Storjohann, head of the Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich project

Enlarged view: Phases of implementation of the Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich project — ETH Zurich is committed to being barrier-free: over the course of the next few years, people with disabilities or special needs should benefit from greatly improved access to ETH buildings and services. The proposed measures will be implemented in 14 subprojects under three categories: “Construction, building usage and architecture” (green bar), “Organisation and culture” (purple bar) and “Technology, communication and teaching” (blue bar). (image: ETH Zurich / null-oder-eins)

Back in 2014, Switzerland ratified the external page UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Nevertheless, people with disabilities continue to face obstacles on a daily basis, whether accessing buildings, information or events. In April/May 2023 ETH Zurich organised a number of events to highlight and raise awareness of the situation and share information as part of its “Design for all” campaign.

“Design for all” campaign

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_{The Annual Report is produced in German and translated into English. Only the German version is binding.
© ETH Zurich, April 2024}