SWITZERLAND. Unique (Zürich Airport AG) today announced the launch of one of the world’s most ambitious airport real estate* projects.
A high-quality building development for services called “˜The Circle at Zürich Airport’, featuring a utilisable area of around 200,000sq m, is planned within walking distance of the terminal.
An investment of around SFR1 billion (US$860 million) is planned for the project over the next few years.
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The inner circle: The project will create “a unique destination for the region of Zürich, Switzerland and the Alpine area” |
Zürich Airport Chief Commercial Officer Marketing & Real Estate Peter Eriksson told The Moodie Report that the project is the result of two years’ research, noting: “The Circle will deliver a fresh interpretation of “˜Swissness’, becoming a premium address, which will create a unique destination for the region of Zürich, Switzerland and the Alpine area”.
The concept name refers to the circle formed by the circular road running around the hill and to the area’s premium utilisation. The large green space on the Butzenbüel itself will be retained and contributes further to the attractiveness of the development.
Unique said that over the next few years it will be developing a real estate project at the foot of the Butzenbüel hill. The airport operator owns land reserves there with a developable, crescent-shaped area of 37,000sq m and a utilisable area of around 200,000sq m in compliance with zoning requirements.
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The image offers an excellent perspective of the project’s scale and ambition |
Over the past two years the Swiss airport company has drawn up detailed studies on the positioning and range of various development uses and carried out extensive test planning. A three-stage public architecture bid will be launched on 27 February and the winner will be announced in February 2010. Marketing to potential key renters also begins this month.
Unique will plan, coordinate and allocate all the development and implementation tasks. Construction is scheduled to begin around 2012.
USE WITH SEVEN MODULES
The planned utilisation consists of seven modules, the first five of which coin the image of “˜The Circle at Zürich Airport’ as a destination and are closely linked:
– Health & Beauty
A range of innovative services relating to health and beauty, which are also primarily designed for international customers
– Education & Knowledge
A platform of advanced training opportunities for institutions in Switzerland and abroad, think tanks and research functions)
– Culture & Events
A settlement of companies relating to culture, in conjunction with events venues accommodating up to 1,500 people)
– Brands & Dialogue
– A showrooms, test labs and exclusive presentation and marketing environments for companies from the consumer goods and services sector)
– Special Services
Special services for unusual collectors, art or sport
– Hotels & Long-stay
Offices & Headquarters
Unique said that, in collaboration with the town of Kloten and the Canton of Zürich, it intends to connect the development as closely as possible to the surrounding area of the town of Kloten.
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NOT ANOTHER SHOPPING CENTRE
The company said its goal is “explicitly not to build an additional shopping centre, but rather to consistently establish Zürich Airport as a premium address for internationally ground-breaking service quality”.
It commented: “Located at the intersection of international and regional transport networks, it will be a platform for discerning customers from all over the world and extraordinary service providers from interesting growth areas in an attractive atmosphere of pure “˜Swissness’.
The networking of the various modules and the connection to the existing airport infrastructures are consequently important.
INNOVATIONS IN “˜AIRPORT CITIES’
Unique said: “The Circle at Zurich Airport aims to prove that innovations in the field of so-called “˜airport cities’ are possible, as are uncompromising quality and top-level excellence outside inner cities.”
*PUBLISHER’S NOTE: In line with its mission of being the world’s leading information provider on all airport non-aeronautical revenues, The Moodie Report today added a new section to its information menu, called Airport Property (on the dropdown menu under “˜Other Revenues’ on our home page and all other pages).
Any airport company with property or real estate news, pictures and tender information should send it to Martin@TheMoodieReport.com.
ABOUT UNIQUE (FLUGHAFEN ZÜRICH AG)
Unique is a diversified company that operates Zürich Airport on behalf of the federal government. In 2007, the company, which receives no subsidisation, employed a staff of approximately 1,400 with whom it generated a total revenue of SFR802.9 million and reported a profit of SFR130.7 million Swiss francs.
While the majority of the share capital is in private hands, 33.3% is held by the Canton of Zürich and 5% by the City of Zürich.
Zürich Airport is Switzerland’s busiest gateway. In 2008, a total of 22.1 million passengers departed from, arrived at or transferred the airport.
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