“EWS” translated into architectural language
Power station with office and warehouse for EWS Schwyz
The new building and the associated concentration of all business areas at a common location required the optimization of all functions and processes. With its clear, minimalist design, the work yard on the existing site marks the presence of the EWS brand with technical elegance.
In order to improve organization and capacity,we were commissioned to construct a new building which would enable all the business activities of EWS to be concentrated into a single facility in Ibach. The core requirement was to ensure the optimal use of the available space despite the tightness of the site in order to deliver improvements in functioning and processes. Different operating units were relocated from the previous various locations to one central building, which enabled routes and processes to be optimized.
Corporate architecture
The choice of materials, colors and shapes was inspired by the company logo of Elektrizitätswerke Schwyz AG in order to create a building with recognition value: The color palette ranges from natural concrete grey to the company red and the flag of the canton of Schwyz, enriched with black and white accents. The minimalist choice of colors makes the new Werkhof appear simple and unobtrusive, while the high quality of the details, materials (primarily steel, glass and concrete, plus high-quality ball yarn) and workmanship give it a sophisticated appearance. Natural and sustainable building materials were used, which are treated in a way that is true to the material and thus used as a deliberate design element.
With the new building, we have succeeded in creating a magnificent logistics property in line with the corporate identity of Elektrizitätswerk Schwyz AG. With its strikingly minimalist design, the Werkhof is a trademark for EWS and the region.
Matthias Wehrle
Architect, Partner, Managing Director in Zurich
Efficient & environmentally friendly
The office wing is built to the Minergie standard. A photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of the building for this purpose. This supplies the company itself with electricity and, in conjunction with the E3/DC storage and control system, ensures optimum self-consumption. The energy supply is supplemented by a groundwater heat pump for heating and hot water. Two electric charging stations allow the electric vehicles in the EWS fleet to be integrated into the overall system.
Efficiency and uniformity are at the forefront of the lighting concept. In addition to a DALI daylight control system, individual workstations can be illuminated zone by zone. High-quality LED light sources were selected to match the design. EWS carried out the electrical planning and installation itself, thereby strengthening its expertise in these areas.
User-friendly & flexible
In the new building, the offices on the upper floor and the warehouse now merge to form a cube, with the offices adjoining the hall in an L-shape. In order to facilitate work routes and steps, we also integrated the former outdoor storage areas into the building and created additional usable space by adding a basement to the building. Modular element walls allow flexible adaptation to future requirements.
