From Crypto site to residential quarter

Demolition work for The Park Steinhausen quarter will begin as early as May.
Affordable housing is also planned – but the client remains vague about the details.
 

A new quarter called ‘The Park’ is to be built on the Zugerstrasse in Steinhausen. This will take place on the former Crypto AG company site, which covers approximately 31,000 square metres.

“The first demolition work will begin during the month of May,” stated Empira AG in response to an enquiry. The internationally active real estate investor purchased the site in 2025, and is the developer for ‘The Park’ project. Construction is scheduled to begin this autumn, and the project is expected to be completed in 2029, as can be seen on the corresponding website.

Empira AG provides no specific answers.
In addition to apartments, the ten buildings will also house two kindergartens and numerous commercial spaces. Among the 227 residential units, 38 will be affordable 1.5 to 5.5-room apartments. The company’s response to enquiries about the specifics of this requirement is vague, however: the development plan stipulates that "at least 15% of the total usable floor space must be designated as affordable housing, and be maintained permanently."
 

How 'The Park' Steinhausen quarter is expected to look      Visualisation: supplied
The former headquarters of Crypto AG in Steinhausen      Photo: Alexandra Wey

Empira also responded to the question of why no more than 15% of the units are designated as affordable housing: The 15% figure is "the result of the overall planning and urban development process for the area in cooperation with the municipality."

The Park is intended to be car-free and sustainable.
The neighbourhood will be car-free, with an underground parking garage offering 317 parking spaces. Thirty charging stations for electric vehicles are also planned. Park-like open spaces will be created in the outdoor areas, and children's playgrounds, as well as sports and recreational areas, are also planned.

The project website mentions "sustainable construction, energy-efficient concepts, and durable materials." According to Empira, photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roofs, and the neighbourhood will be connected to the WWZ district heating network. Furthermore, green roofs will be installed, and attention will be paid to shading and landscaping.

A look back
For decades, Crypto AG operated on the site where "The Park" is now planned. The company was active worldwide in the development and production of encryption and security systems, but was dissolved in 2018.

Media reports in 2020 revealed that Crypto AG had produced manipulated encryption machines for decades. This allowed the CIA and the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) to intercept encrypted messages from other countries, as reported at the time by the Zuger Zeitung newspaper.

The company premises were then sold to Areal Steinhausen Zug AG, and an urban planning competition was launched. The residents of Steinhausen were actively involved in the process, and finally approved the development plan at a town meeting (Gemeindeversammlung) at the end of 2021.