Zurich City university district
ETH Zurich is working with University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich, and the canton and city of Zurich to develop the Zurich City university district (HGZZ). The vision is of a modern and open university and hospital district to support the sciences, health care, and the general public.
The university district that is home to the joint University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH Zurich research and health cluster is located in the centre of Zurich. The close proximity of the three institutions offers unique opportunities for close collaboration across teaching, research and medical care.
This promotes innovation and facilitates the rapid transfer of research findings to hospitals. One of the drivers behind the development of this site is the desire to exploit this potential.
Cooperation and a lively neighbourhood
The aim of the further spatial development is to secure teaching, research and medical care in the university district, to strengthen it further, to increase the urban quality and to create a lively university quarter.
“The central city location is ideal for ETH Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, and the University of Zurich, and the proximity to the other institutions is a key success factor.”Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure
Zurich City university district
ETH Zurich’s focus in the university district
In 2023, ETH Zurich opened the new GLC teaching and research building for the health sciences on Gloriasstrasse. The building is a prime example of how ETH Zurich is boosting medical technology research with a new building, thereby promoting cooperation with the University of Zurich, the university hospitals, and industry in the city centre.
Renovating properties
In the last few years and over the next few years, ETH Zurich had focussed or will focus on renovating properties in the centre of Zurich. For example, the machine laboratory and, from summer 2021, the forecourt of the main building and the parking hall below it.
ETH Zurich decided to suspend its plans for major extension and renovation of the canteen and multi-?purpose building, including the Polyterrasse. Essential technical refurbishments will, however, be completed in the next phase. Read more here.
Re-using buildings as living space
Another focal area for ETH Zurich is the vacating of residential buildings in the university area. ETH Zurich has vacated numerous rental properties since 2005, clearing the way for them to be used again as residential spaces. A contract with the city of Zurich outlines the phased vacating of residential buildings up until 2025.
Planning topics
- In addition to the master plan, the canton and city of Zurich have collaborated with the University of Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, and ETH Zurich to conduct two external pagedetailed studies on urban development.call_made
- external pageFour areascall_made were explored in detail to form a basis for the subsequent planning activities: open spaces and green spaces, traffic and mobility (including an Downloadoveraching transport strategyvertical_align_bottom), energy supply, and environmental impacts.
- The external pageurban space conceptcall_made was developed within the framework of an interdisciplinary study. The concept examines interstitial spaces (streets and open spaces) between the buildings. The concept developed by ARGE Studio Vulcan & KCAP Architects & Planners improves the quality of the entire university campus.
- The urban space concept also lies at the heart of the external pagewhite papercall_made. This paper provides guidelines for the further development of the university district and is an important tool for long-term quality assurance.
- These urban space principles were also taken into account in the designs of the new buildings by Herzog & de Meuron (external pageForum UZHcall_made) and Christ & Gantenbein (external pageUSZ 英皇娱乐 MITTE1call_made).
ETH in the centre of Zurich since 1855
ETH Zurich was founded in 1855. At that time it was known as a polytechnic (or university of technology). Its main building has stood on the edge of a slope above Zurich’s old town since 1864.
Since the beginning of its eventful history, ETH Zurich has been a national educational and research institution that boasts an international reputation, attracting researchers and talented individuals from all over the world and playing a key role in the development of forward-looking national infrastructures.
Buildings in the centre
In addition to the main building, which has been rebuilt several times, the School of Agriculture and Forestry (1872–1874), the Chemistry Building (1884–1886), and the Machinery Laboratory (1897–1900, later extended) are evidence of the interplay between science and urban development that has been present right from the early days. In 2014, the LEE building became the first ETH Zurich building to open in the city centre in the 21st century.
More space required
The rise in technology and increasing digitalisation over the course of the 20th century, combined with the overall increase in the number of students and professors (see historical development, in German), have changed and increased the space required for teaching, research, and knowledge transfer.
A second campus
Accordingly, in 1955, at around the time of ETH Zurich’s 100th anniversary celebrations, the first discussions surrounding the establishment of an ETH Zurich outpost at H?nggerberg began. Today, ETH Zurich runs a campus on the H?nggerberg and a campus in the city centre.
In the centre of Zurich – from 1855 until today
Around 1918: ETH Zurich constructed a distinctive dome atop its main building. Workers posed alongside the slewing crane. (Image credit: ETH Library, image archive) 1905: The first machine laboratory with its tall chimney. Certain ETH Zurich buildings had tower structures at this time. (Photograph: ETH Library) Around 1935: The ‘new’ machine laboratory was built on Claussiusstrasse in the Oberstrass quarter. (Photograph: Architectural archives) Around 1934: the machine lab (ML) at the corner of Sonneggstrasse and Universit?tsstrasse. (Photograph: ETH Library)
Around 1934: The Eidgen?ssische Sternwarte observatory with the Fluntern quarter in the background. (Photograph: ETH Library, image archive) 1953: View from the dome of the main building across the various agriculture and forestry buildings, the botany building, and the observatory. (Photograph: ETH Library) 1972: Cars still drive aboveground past ETH, but the current Polyterrasse with its underpass is under construction. (Photograph: ETH Library / Kurt Schollenberger). 1974: The university district is being developed. The new Polyterrasse is built. (Photograph: ETH Library / Jules Vogt) 1973: The new Machine Laboratory on Tannenstrasse opposite the main building is opened. (Photograph: ETH Library) 2005: ETH Zurich celebrates its 150-year anniversary with the slogan “Welcome tomorrow”. (Photograph: ETH Zurich) 2007: The Environmental Sciences celebrate their 20-year anniversary in the green atrium at Universit?tsstrasse. (Photograph: D-USYS)
2009: The atrium at the Department of Earth Sciences is fitted out with an exhibition space for the museum fokusTerra. (Photograph: ETH Zurich) 2014: ETH Zurich opens a new building in Zurich’s central university district: the LEE building. (Photograph: ETH Zurich)
History-related links (in German)
chevron_right ETHistory. Orte. Wo fand die ETH statt?Articles in English
- chevron_right History of ETH Zurich: Leading the way since 1855
- chevron_right A temple to science (ETH-News, 27.06.2014)
- chevron_right Berthold sets the course for the medicine of tomorrow (ETH-News, 08.09.2014)
- chevron_right The future of the university district: research and neighbourhood (ETH-News, 15.09.2014)
- chevron_right New LEE building opens at ETH (Press release, 13.10.2014)
- chevron_right How students envisage the Zurich campus (ETH-News, 12.12.2015)
- chevron_right An opportunity for the university district and ETH Zurich (ETH-News, 04.11.2016)
- chevron_right Open space for university district (ETH-News, 31.10.2017)
- chevron_right Outlook for the Zurich City University District (ETH News, 08.01.2019)
- chevron_right Development of the university district from the Polyterrasse to the Gloriapark (ETH-News, 01.12.2020)
- chevron_right ETH Zurich suspends plans to renovate the Polyterrasse (ETH News, 26.01.2021)