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SwissRenov - Circularity and resource conservation in the rehabilitation of buildings in Switzerland: an opportunity for brownfield sites

Business, Management and Services Engineering and Architecture

The Innosuisse Flagship SwissRenov aims to encourage the renovation and rehabilitation of buildings, particularly brownfield sites, in order to meet the challenges facing the Swiss construction sector as a result of the increasing scarcity of land resources, the goal of carbon neutrality and the constant evolution of regulatory constraints.

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The Innosuisse Flagship ‘Circularity and resource conservation in the rehabilitation of buildings in Switzerland, an opportunity for brownfields’ (SwissRenov) brings together two schools from HES-SO Business, Management & Services Faculty  (HEG Arc as leading house, and HEIG-VD), three schools of the Engineering and Architecture Faculty (HEIA-FR, HEPIA and HE Arc Ingénierie), two other universities of applied sciences (BFH and FHNW) and the Universities of Basel and Neuchâtel, as well as 21 public and private partners.

The approach involves the integration of available resources from demolition and deconstruction, as well as other local resources and key skills. Scenarios will promote the reuse, adequate storage and appropriate transformation of these resources (sustainability and circularity). Collaboration with specialist companies will optimize the use of local resources and promote sustainable reuse and recycling practices. An iterative process will guide decisions on the design and implementation of renovation scenarios, maximizing economic and environmental benefits.

The aim is to create a replicable model for circular transformation of the construction value chain, focusing on brownfield sites as a key source of resources. The model will be developed in the canton of Jura region, which has well-documented brownfield sites, and will serve as a demonstrator for nationwide dissemination. This comprehensive approach will enable informed decision-making, promoting resource recovery and sustainable construction in Switzerland.