Barrier-free compliance in new buildings and renovations
ETH Zurich is committed to barrier-free accessibility. The Real Estate Management department makes a key contribution to this.
ETH Zurich promotes barrier-free construction in order to provide all people with unrestricted access to its buildings and services. To this end, the Real Estate department contributes its expertise to new buildings or renovations and implements measures.
Our services
- Consultancy and training
- Support and project monitoring
- Collection of documents
- Liaising with authorities and associations
The specialist responsible for the Real Estate Management department supports ETH Zurich's stakeholder in the area of obstacle-free construction. In particular, he supports the planning and construction process of projects.
Where do we stand?
In 2020, the Executive Board of ETH Zurich decided to promote accessibility. To this end, it initiated various sub-projects, four of which the Real Estate Management department is responsible for.
Completed projects
Three of these sub-projects were completed at the end of 2023. These included:
- training courses
- consultations
- the development of specialist expertise and
- the creation of checklists and structural and technical specifications of ETH Zurich (BTV, in German)
This knowledge forms the basis for current and future construction projects. You can find more information on this page.
Implementation of barrier-free construction until 2044
The fourth sub-project involves the implementation of barrier-free construction at ETH Zurich. As ETH has a large number of buildings, implementation will take until 2044 at the latest.
71 per cent of ETH buildings for teaching and research already comply with the legal requirements (as of 2024).
Examples of barrier-free construction at ETH Zurich
- Automated doors
- Step markings and handrails
- Barrier-free WC facilities
- Lifts
- Acoustic measures
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Automated doors provide barrier-free access for everyone. All photos show the renovated, barrier-free CHN building. -
Lifts and stairlifts help to make a building accessible for everyone. -
Steps are easier to recognise thanks to markings. (Photos: ETH Zurich / Ufuk Düzgün)