More trees, an urban square and a high-rise building

The new concept for the Metalli shopping area places greater emphasis on the existing identity of the Metalli site and dispenses with a parallel further development of the Bergli development plan. It could therefore be capable of winning a majority in the Zug City Council (GGR).

In the wake of the popular initiative "2000 apartments for Zug's middle class", and on the basis of new findings and feedback from a public dialogue process, the originally planned indicative project for the Metalli site in Zug has been revised. The new concept focuses on the character of the existing buildings, and dispenses with a simultaneous further development of the Bergli development plan, which envisaged the replacement of the existing buildings on the Industriestrasse by properties for residential use.

On behalf of the client, Zug Estates AG, the project teams have drawn up a new indicative project, which will be submitted to the Zug City Council (GGR) as the basis for the new Metalli Development Plan. The Council will discuss the matter at first reading at its meeting on the 17th June.

Mixed use
The ‘Metalli Living Space’ project involves the further development of the current shopping centre into an urban district with mixed use. The plan integrates new residential areas, workplaces and leisure facilities into a compact, ecologically sustainable urban concept.

According to the concept, the preservation of ‘identity-forming elements’ such as the glass-roofed hall and the arcades is central to this. ‘Most of the existing buildings will be preserved or selectively extended.’ A high-rise building up to 80 metres high is planned for the north-western corner, which is to be realised through a project competition. ‘The high-rise building should take the surrounding buildings and the historic ensemble into account.’

Further structural adjustments will be made to the arcade building (partial demolition and addition of extra storeys), the central building and the building on the Industriestrasse.

The new Metalli square with green space and trees (view towards the railway station)    
A bird's eye view of the further developed Metalli    
The typical Metalli arcades will be retained     
A park-like roof terrace with a view of Lake Zug and Mount Rigi is planned    
The new Metalliplatz: view from the railway station side        Visualisations: zvg

Investment sum estimated at CHF 200 million
A total of 160 new apartments will be built, 64 of which will be rented out at favourable prices. This corresponds to an effective share of 49%, taking the demolitions into account. The project thereby fulfils the requirements of the approved popular initiative, according to which at least 40% of the newly created living space in densely populated areas should be affordable. The legal implementation is based on the building regulations, which are currently being revised.

Apartments are to be created for different needs, from those of single households to those of families. ‘The exact mix of apartments has not yet been determined,’ explains Peter Wicki, Head of Project Development, on enquiry. ‘Most of the commercial space on the ground floor and basement will remain open during the construction phase.’ A staggered realisation is planned. The shops in the construction area will have to be closed during the construction of the high-rise building, however.

‘The investment volume cannot be precisely quantified at the moment, as it depends on the outcome of the architectural competition for the high-rise and the extent of the structural adjustments to the existing buildings,’ he adds. ‘We are currently assuming an investment volume of around CHF 200 million.’

More green spaces and trees
Another key concern is the design of the open spaces, according to the revised project concept: ‘The new Metalliplatz will open up the site to the city and create a new address and a connection to the railway station site.’ The existing squares will also be redesigned. ‘Green areas, shady trees and transparent canopies will help to minimise heat and improve the climate.’

In terms of transport, the area will be better connected to the city's footpath and cycle path network. ‘Around 550 new bicycle parking spaces and an existing underground car park with 900 parking spaces - shared with the Bergli site - will ensure accessibility.’ The number of car parking spaces will not be increased, despite the structural densification. ‘Above-ground parking spaces remain prohibited.’

The entire Metalli development plan is subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) due to the number of car parking spaces, whereby the corresponding environmental impact report from January 2025 confirms that all relevant environmental requirements are met. The findings were incorporated into the binding provisions of the development plan. The aspects examined include the energy supply, which is guaranteed to be almost CO₂-free via Circulago, the aspect of noise development and structural measures relating to environmental protection.

Approval expected in autumn 2026 at the earliest
The procedure will follow the normal planning process. Following the first reading in the Grand Municipal Council GGR in June 2025 and a public consultation, the decision is expected to be taken in spring 2026. This will be followed by a referendum period and a second public consultation. Approval by the building authorities is expected in autumn 2026 at the earliest, according to the developer.