PostFinance New 13-storey head office in the north of Berne

PostFinance has been one of the biggest employment providers in Switzerland for years. Since 2000, the number of full-time positions has risen from 1,690 to almost 3,000. The growth of the workforce has also impacted on the amount of available space. As a result, PostFinance will be relocating to its new 13-storey head office on Mingerstrasse in the north of Berne in 2013. The new premises is located close to the PostFinance Arena, SC Berne's ice hockey stadium.

Project competition involving 14 architectural practices

In the first half of 2009, HRS Real Estate AG ran a competition in accordance with SIA 142. A total of 14 architectural firms took part; seven from Berne, and the rest from Zurich, Basel and western Switzerland. A 15-strong judging panel comprising local community jurors, technical jurors and a team of experts was on hand to evaluate the various submissions. These were evaluated in terms of sustainable development, with a focus on ecology, economy and society. Further specifications for the architects included the creation of at least 1,000 new jobs and the visual alignment of the new premises with the PostFinance Arena (SC Berne's ice hockey stadium). Following several rounds of evaluations, the panel decided that Swiss Post - as the awarding authority - would commission the authors of the project submitted by "Büro B Architekten und Planer AG and Overhage & Roggo Architekten" with the development and realization of the design. Büro B was the mastermind behind the faculty building Pérolles II at the University of Fribourg, the Feusi education building in Berne-Wankdorf and has also been awarded the contract for the Market Hall technical college in Brugg-Windisch, north-west Switzerland.

PostFinance – part of Berne

PostFinance and Berne are closely connected. The head office of PostFinance was located on Engehaldenstrasse until 2004 when operations moved to Berne's Nordring. Over 1,000 of the 1,300 new jobs created since 2000 are in the city of Berne. PostFinance employs some 1,800 people in Berne. Furthermore, the financial arm of Swiss Post has been the namesake of SC Berne's ice hockey stadium ("PostFinance Arena") since 2007. PostFinance intends to use this new head office to bring together employees currently based in five different locations in Berne. The 55-metre-high new head office, which will have capacity for 1,200 employees and 15,000 mfootnote: 2 of gross floor space, is one of the largest buildings in Berne, reflecting the company's successful business development story. The planning application will be submitted in autumn 2009, and planning permission is expected to be granted in spring 2010. Construction work will begin in 2010, with completion expected in 2013.

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