Next year, building technology will become a core element of the new operating company, Smart Infrastructure, and its global HQ will be in Zug

Siemens AG has inaugurated its new smart campus in the Swiss city of Zug. It is one of the first new building projects to use building information modelling (BIM) in its design and construction and is described as a “reference project” that illustrates the opportunities of digitalisation in building technology.

The Siemens Zug campus is the international headquarters of the Siemens Building Technologies (BT) Division. In 2019, building technology will become a core element of the new operating company, Smart Infrastructure (SI) and its global headquarters will also be in Zug. The seven-storey building features a new office building with 1,000 work spaces and a newly constructed production building.

Sustainability and energy efficiency

The campus complex is equipped with building automation, security and fire safety technology from Siemens BT. Particular emphasis was placed on sustainability and energy efficiency of the buildings. The office building meets the highest requirements of the LEED standard, earning it a Platinum certification; the production building meets the criteria for LEED Gold certification.

An integrated building automation system with energy optimisation based on the Desigo CC integrated building management platform controls the energy consumption and all the disciplines in the buildings.

Energy-efficient heat pumps use water from Lake Zug as a heat source and for direct cooling. The campus buildings do not need fossil fuels to generate energy. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are equipped with heat and cold recovery systems. Even the compressed air systems in production have an energy recovery system for water heating.

The buildings have green roofs, and the office building uses approximately 1,500 m³ of rainwater. A photovoltaic system on the roof of the production building will go into operation in the spring of 2019.

“A smart building is flexible, it learns from previous interactions and it continually adapts to the needs of building users, thus actively contributing to their success”

Matthias Rebellius, CEO of Siemens Building Technologies, called the campus a reference project that illustrates the opportunities of digitalisation in building technology, energy efficiency and future-oriented working. “A smart building is flexible, it learns from previous interactions and it continually adapts to the needs of building users, thus actively contributing to their success.”

Smart building company

Zug has been home to Siemens Building Technologies since 1998, when Siemens took over the industrial activities of Elektrowatt AG. “With our investments in research and development, we are using the opportunities of digitalisation to steadily evolve into a smart building company,” explained Rebellius.

“We offer a full range of building technologies for fire detection, security and automation solutions to optimise sustainability, total cost of ownership and the user experience in buildings. Smart buildings are based on comprehensive analytics and use of digital building data.”

Construction of the office and production buildings began in May 2016 and was completed in July 2018. The digital twin – a 3D model of the building, enhanced with technical information relevant for later operations – is the foundation for efficient, cost-optimized and forward-looking building management.

The campus also includes an existing office and production building, scheduled for modernisation in 2021. Beginning in late 2022 it will house the approximately 450 employees of BT research and development. The city of Zug is taking over the former Siemens office building.

Read the article here: Siemens opens smart campus in Zug