All signs of green for new police and justice building

Secure fischer undercut anchors PJZ Zurich

All signs of green for new police and justice building
When the former 63,608 square metre freight station area in the Aussersihl-Hard district of Zurich was to be rebuilt, the people responsible thought big: The construction directorate of the canton of Zurich planned the Zurich Police and Justice Centre (PJZ) as a competence centre for combating crime on an area of 35,558 square metres. In the new building, departments of the cantonal police, the public prosecutor’s office and judicial enforcement as well as the Forensic Institute, the Zurich Police School and parts of the forced action court will be combined. After completion, the PYZ will comprise around 2030 jobs. In addition, there are around 280 prison spaces for provisionally arrested and investigative prisoners. The PJZ enables the cantonal police, which is now spread over more than 30 locations, to merge with the law enforcement authorities and the police and judicial prison.
Image: Construction Directorate, Canton of Zurich, Photographer: For Forrer

Property description

Architect
Theo Hotz partner architects
Workstations
2030, plus 280 prison spaces
Total surface area
35,558 m²
Outside material
green shimmering natural stone “Verde Salvan”
A striking feature of the building complex, designed by Zurich-based Theo Hotz Partner Architekten, is the facade made of glass and green shimmering natural stone. This is a Verde Salvan (also known as Vert de Salvan) mined in a quarry in the Valais town of Salvan. The installation of the stone slabs on the concrete structure posed major challenges for all planners and executors. The engineering firm IBT was involved. Marvit was responsible for the substructure and construction of the facade. The planning was in the hands of Atelier P3 AG. The 3D natural stone panels were up to 40 millimetres thick. The load level for the anchorages was correspondingly high. “One challenge with the facade of the PJZ was the inclined joints,” says Uwe Kirchesch from the IBT engineering office, who has measured a total facade area of over 1,000,000 m² in his life. "No mandrel anchors may be used here in accordance with regulations. The joint would have to be straightened first. That’s why I’m very happy to use the FZP II undercut anchor from fischer here. This allowed me to guarantee a standard-compliant and at the same time visually appealing design."
Image: Construction Directorate, Canton of Zurich, Photographer: For Forrer
"We have carried out numerous pull-out tests. As a result, our undercut anchors FZP II 13x15 M8/23 Carbon were ideally suited for introducing the high loads," confirms Steven-Henrik Maier, Market Manager of fischer Facadesysteme. “When it came to the technical support we provided for the project, the good cooperation between the IBT engineering office and our company division of fischer Fassadensysteme proved to be successful.” The FZP II cyclone panel anchors ensure positive-locking and completely expansion-pressure-free fastening in the tapered undercut borehole. Its rear mounting allows it to be fastened at the fifth point of the facade panel. This technology achieves particularly low plate bending moments and high load capacities. And should the need arise, the FZP II can also be used to replace individual panels on the facade.
Image: General Partner & Architect: Theo Hotz Partner Architects, Zurich- Visualisation: Space glider, Zurich
“From an aesthetic point of view, it was also an advantage for the project that our anchors allow the panels to be attached invisibly,” says Steven-Henrik Maier. "The undercut anchors are not visible from the facade viewing side, even in the joint pattern. This ensures a harmonious view of the building." Architect Stefan Adler from Theo Hotz Partner Architekten highlights the effect of the facade made of glass and green-grey natural stone. “Verde Salvan is a so-called conglomerate rock, which is distinguished by its vibrant structure with various stone inclusions and its colour nuances as a true 'nature' rock,” says the planner. "At the same time, the 'Verde Salvan' has enormous strength, which is a prerequisite for the implementation of the three-dimensional, sharp-edged geometry of the PJZ facade. And as a timeless and robust material, the stone also conveys the dignity of an 'office building'. Public officials are scheduled to move into the new district in 2022. 
Image: Construction Directorate, Canton of Zurich, Photographer: For Forrer
From an aesthetic point of view, it was also an advantage for the project that our anchors allow the panels to be fixed invisibly. The undercut anchors are not visible from the facade viewing side, even in the joint pattern. This ensures a harmonious view of the building.
Steven-Henrik Maier, Market Manager for Fischer Fassadensysteme

The clever undercut technology behind the green shimmering facade gives the office building a dignified face for a long time to come and combines security and functionality with a modern look.

Further information at: www.pjz.ch

Image: Construction Directorate Katon Zurich, photographer: For Forrer
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