Are there guidelines or incentives for high-quality Baukultur?

Schindler Aufzüge AG has been based in Ebikon since 1957. The owner of the industrial company, which was founded in 1874, moved its headquarters here when it outgrew the space available in the city of Lucerne. The industrial complex, now a listed historical monument, was the result of a competition in the 1950s involving twelve architectural firms. The production halls, all still in use today, were built on a greenfield site, with a long administration building on one side and the free-standing test tower on the other. Over the decades that followed, the campus was gradually expanded and modernised.

Does the place adapt while at the same time preserving its built heritage?

Schindler still uses the buildings from the 1950s. In the production halls with their distinctive sawtooth roofs, elevators are repaired, specially manufactured components are fabricated, and apprentices are trained. The long, four-storey block houses the Swiss corporate headquarters. Between 1996 and 2000, the buildings of the first construction phase were renovated, and between 2017 and 2020, the administration building with the global management headquarters at the south-west end of the campus was upgraded and supplemented by a new building with exhibition space, a staff restaurant and an auditorium.

Does the place promote biodiversity?

The most recent change to the campus involves the outdoor space. Where cars were parked until recently, there is now a green expanse of parkland between the buildings. The company planted 171 trees and 124 shrubs – all native species. Now 41 per cent of the site is near-natural, thus promoting biodiversity while providing new opportunities for employees to spend time outdoors. The foundation Natur & Wirtschaft (Nature & Economy) honoured the transformation of the outdoor space in 2022.

Is the place affordable thanks to economy of design, construction and operation?

The company has maintained its headquarters in Ebikon for over 60 years. The site is constantly being adapted to changing needs. Since 2019, all the electricity used on the company’s premises has been carbon neutral. Schindler produces around 45 per cent of its electricity with photovoltaic panels on a number of its buildings – mainly with the solar collector system on the façades of the car park. The remaining electricity demand is covered by hydroelectric power. The renovated administration building and the new building are both certified with the international LEED sustainability label.

Does the place bring different people together?

Approximately 2,000 people work on the campus. This includes some 320 apprentices in 12 skilled trades. Together with the cantonal disability insurance office, Schindler offers around 10 inclusionary job opportunities and a further 15 jobs with the Brändi Foundation in Krienz. As the global headquarters is also located in Ebikon, the employees come from many different countries.

Are the built heritage and regional specificities preserved and harnessed?

Since the competition for the initial construction, the campus has been carefully developed and the existing buildings have benefited from careful stewardship. It is impressive that Schindler still produces some of its lifts and accessories in the historic factory halls, which still exude the smell of metal. The industrial history is not only visible but can also be smelled.

Is the use compatible with ecological principles?

Where paved parking once reigned, biodiversity is promoted through near-natural design and the use of native species. This is coupled with adaptation to climate change and the sponge city concepts, with its principles of retention, slow evaporation and groundwater recharge. The grounds now serve as a recreational area for employees and visitors alike. And they also visually enhance the company’s headquarters.

Does the place have an atmospheric impact on the beholder?

Ebikon is neither Lucerne nor Zurich. Such a rural location is rather unusual for a global industrial group like Schindler, but it is typically Swiss. The sprawling 200,000-square-metre site, with its historic and contemporary buildings and near-natural green spaces, forms a harmonious ensemble – but also one of contrasts.