July 2024 Edition

Renovations complete in Lausanne and Niederlenz

UBS AST Real Estate Switzerland

Immo Update 15 Jul 2024 3 min read

By Real Estate Switzerland team

UBS AST Real Estate Switzerland has recently completed energy-efficiency renovations and an attic conversion in a historic business property in Lausanne. A residential property with 64 units in Niederlenz (AG) has also been fully renovated and equipped with a PV system.

Energy optimization and attic conversion on historic business properties in Lausanne

Renovation work on the "Chateau de Rosemont" and "Villa Bengali" buildings from the 1900s was successfully completed at the beginning of May 2024. The listed properties are located around five minutes' walk southeast of Lausanne railway station in a diverse residential and working district.

Sustainability aspects of the renovation

The mainstay of the project involved replacing the old heating system with an air-to-water heat pump and renovating the roof and facade to improve the building's energy efficiency. The parking spaces were also equipped with electric charging points.

Space optimization within the property

Energy-efficiency renovations and attic conversion on the historic property at Avenue Tissot Tissot 2, 2 bis in Lausanne (VD)

The building was simultaneously extended to incorporate more rental space by expanding the parts of the attic that were previously used as an archive. The conservation protected doors of the property were preserved and upgraded to improve fire protection. In the course of the alterations, which have now been completed, the facade and its stone cornice were renewed and the balconies with their historic balustrades were faithfully replaced. Most of the interiors still have their original parquet flooring and high stucco ceilings. The security concept has been overhauled to meet today's higher safety requirements.

Full-scale renovation of a residential property in Niederlenz

Extensive renovation work on the "Hammerweg" residential property in Niederlenz (AG) was completed at the beginning of April 2024. The building on the southern outskirts of Niederlenz was constructed in 1996 and has 64 living units with 1.5 to 4.5 rooms each. The key factor that prompted the renovation work was the property's tired facade, which has now been replaced with a durable modern facade made of perforated corrugated iron. The decision was made to consolidate multiple restoration projects as well as refresh the facade in order to ensure the long-term market appeal of the residential building, with a focus on improving the building's energy efficiency and social living standards.

PV system for private consumption

The windows have been replaced and the flat roof renewed to equip it with a 470 m² PV system with peak generation of 121 kilowatts. In the future, electricity will be produced on-site and made available to tenants for private consumption. The heating system has been prepared so that it can be connected to district heating at a later date.

Improved living space for tenants

In line with UBS AST-IS's social sustainability objectives, the full-scale renovation has increased living standards for tenants. The old kitchens have been replaced with new ones and storage space issues have been significantly improved by opening up into the living area, providing a contemporary solution to today's living needs. Refurbishment of the bathrooms included bringing more natural light into the wet rooms, installing barrier-free showers and fitting water-saving taps. The stairwells and elevator system have also been modernized. Since the renovations were completed with tenants in situ, the work was carried out in close consultation with them.

Key Take-aways:

Renovations on two properties have strategically optimized the UBS AST Real Estate Switzerland portfolio in line with sustainability objectives.
The attractiveness of the buildings has been increased and the long-term living standards of tenants guaranteed.
Rental area expanded by extending into the attic.

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