Zug wants to help International School with millions

The ISZL has hopes for a cantonal loan of CHF 15 million for its construction project. But nothing has been decided yet.
 

At just under CHF 66 million, the planned expansion of the International School of Zug and Lucerne (ISZL) in Hünenberg is one of the largest construction projects in Bösch. The Zug government now wants to help the school with a loan of up to CHF 15 million, according to a proposal submitted by the cantonal council (Kantonsrat) to the cantonal parliament (Regierungsrat) in July.

The government justifies its support with a long list of reasons: for example, the ISZL plays an important role as an internationally oriented education provider, is one of the largest private employers in the canton with around 320 employees, and increases the attractiveness of the location for internationally mobile professionals.

The loan does not appear to be absolutely necessary, however. The proposal states that the ISZL is a financially sound, non-profit organisation, with savings set aside for development projects. For the project in question, however, it is “temporarily dependent on external funds” in order not to jeopardise its own stability.

How the middle school of the International School of Zug and Lucerne (ISZL) will look one day       
The planned new buildings for the campus in Hünenberg                 Photos: zvg/ISZL

Objection to the construction project
According to the government proposal, the total cost of the expansion will be CHF 65.9 million. Of this, CHF 35 million will be spent on the construction of a new middle school building, CHF 4.3 million on the cafeteria, CHF 2.3 million on furnishings, CHF 7.1 million on an underground car park, and CHF 11.5 million on a multi-purpose room, with the possibility of adding another floor. The purchase of an upper floor on the Rothusstrasse in Hünenberg for CHF 5.7 million has already been completed.

Politically, the deal has not yet been finalised. It will first be discussed in a commission, then there will be two readings in the cantonal council. If a referendum is not necessary, the decision could come into force in June 2026, or in October 2026 if there is a referendum. The schedule is tight, as the temporary school at the Walterswil site will expire in 2028.

And the path is not yet clear for ISZL either. An appeal against the ‘Bösch-Rothus’ development plan is still pending, and the municipality (Gemeinde) of Hünenberg has confirmed that an objection to the construction project has been received.

The ISZL does not wish to comment on the substance of the appeal. In response to an enquiry from the Zuger Zeitung newspaper, the operations manager of the ISZL, Stefan Dittli, wrote: ‘There are still some open questions regarding the implementation of the approved design plan, which we are currently clarifying. We are doing this in direct contact with the parties involved. This step is part of the approval process and is included in our schedule.’

The International School of Zug and Lucerne (ISZL) was founded in 1961 and is a non-profit foundation based in the canton of Zug. Over 1,200 pupils from more than 60 countries attend the school, which employs around 320 staff. A full-time nursery place costs around CHF 26,000 per year, while a place at the high school costs around CHF 40,000.