The urban space around the main building is to become greener
R?mistrasse and the public space around the main building of ETH Zurich will be redesigned starting in 2028. Pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation will be significantly improved, and more trees will be planted. In addition, ETH will get a stop named after it.
The redevelopment of the R?mi- and Gloriastrasse area will further develop the external page Zurich University Center (HGZZ, in German) and make it almost unrecognizable in a few years. The city of Zurich is redesigning streets and open spaces for this purpose: specifically, the open spaces in the hospital area, as well as R?mistrasse — between Zürichbergstrasse and Sonneggstrasse — and Gloriastrasse — between R?mi- and Sternwartstrasse. The redesign will take place from 2028 to 2030, coordinated with other construction projects in the HGZZ (external page Forum University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich: external page 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Mitte1|2, SBB diameter line; all Links in German).
Key points of the project
- The traffic situation in front of ETH's main building (HG) is changing. Preference is being given to environmentally friendly transport.
- There will also be more green space. A new recreational area is also being created near the University Hospital Zurich (USZ).
“Our goal is to create a high-quality urban space and increase the proportion of green space,” explains Marcel Lippuner, the project manager responsible at the City of Zurich's Civil Engineering Office, external page in the latest HGZZ newsletter (in German).
“We expect an increase in passenger traffic and are planning a redesign that prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.”Marcel Lippuner
New traffic situation: crossing possible everywhere
Perhaps the most unusual change in traffic concerns pedestrian traffic, as Lippuner explains to “Intern aktuell”: “We are doing away with pedestrian crossings throughout the entire project perimeter and also at the stops. In return, the road may be crossed at any point.” He adds: “This will make it legal for pedestrians to cross next to pedestrian crossings, which is already common practice today.”
In return, pedestrians will benefit from wider sidewalks in front of the HG and continuous central islands along the tram tracks. The zebra crossings will be removed without replacement.
Pedestrians will be able to cross the streets at any point, from the current ETH/University Hospital stop to the R?mi-/Gloriastrasse intersection and from there on to the new main entrance of the future University Hospital. Its main entrance will no longer be on R?mi-Strasse, but on Gloriastrasse, with a new tram stop also called University Hospital.
To ensure the safety of pedestrians, a 30 km/h speed limit will be introduced throughout the area. The safety of such crossings has already been criticized in a project in Zurich-Wipkingen. However, according to the city, the wide crossings have proven successful there.
Bicycles and public transport upgraded
Cyclists will also benefit: they will have continuous bike lanes. The bike path from Freie Strasse to R?mistrasse, which currently runs through the USZ parking lot along with parking lot traffic, will be converted into a dedicated bike path. In addition, 90 new bike parking spaces will be created in the adjacent streets.
On R?mistrasse, the tram will continue to run on its own track and all stops in the area will be made barrier-free. The stop in front of the main building is expected to be called ETH Zentrum (unfortunately, no visualization is available). At the intersection of R?mi-/Gloriastrasse, the new, barrier-free tram stop Universit?t Zentrum will be built. In return, the Kantonsschule tram stop will be removed.
Recreational facilities: parking lot and new dining options
Now for the highlight: a recreational area will be created at the USZ. Gloriapark will be opened up towards R?mi- and Gloriastrasse. The USZ parking lot there – the so-called parking lot between Gloriapark and the R?mi-/Gloriastrasse intersection – will be removed and converted into a recreational area.
“We are redesigning this area into an attractive place to spend time and meet people, which will also benefit ETH members,” says Lippuner. This includes dense tree cover, meadows, and a network of paths. The bowl will thus form a green transition between the street and the park. New trees will be planted for this purpose.
The so-called reservoir project in this recreational area is likely to be of particular interest to ETH members. Within the park shell, a disused drinking water reservoir will be converted into a new public restaurant with a bistro and bar, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. A garden with an ecologically valuable area for animals and plants will be created on the roof of the reservoir.
The aforementioned parking spaces will be replaced by the underground car park in the planned USZ new building 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Mitte1|2.
More trees than before
Due to the extensive redesign, 100 trees will inevitably have to be felled – but these will not only be completely replaced, 84 additional trees will also be planted. The trees will be planted in the park, on the sidewalks, and on the traffic islands of R?mi- and Gloriastrasse, significantly shaping the new street space and, thanks to their arrangement, providing more shade and reducing heat.
The impact that such an upgrade of the surroundings of buildings or urban spaces can have is evident on a small scale at ETH Zurich's observatory, very close to the HG, where the outdoor space was also redesigned by 2021. The improved outdoor design with greenery and benches makes the observatory's outdoor area a popular place for members of the various HGZZ institutions, especially at lunchtime.
ETH Zurich involved in upgrading
The total cost of the project amounts to around CHF 94 million. The largest part of this, CHF 48 million, is accounted for by road construction and the redesign of open spaces. Around CHF 20 million is estimated for track construction and CHF 14 million for the renovation of utility lines.
The canton of Zurich and the three institutions involved – Zurich University Hospital, the University of Zurich, and ETH Zurich – are contributing CHF 21 million to the project costs on the basis of an implementation agreement for the HGZZ, with ETH contributing CHF 1.8 million. The electorate is expected to vote on the CHF 62.9 million loan for the project's implementation in 2026.
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