The Thurgauer Kantonalbank, and thus the canton as owner, earned CHF 127 million with the sale of participation certificates. Then, the population was called upon to submit project ideas regarding how the money should be spent. The ideas are supposed to bring benefits for the entire canton and make it “known in a positive way” beyond its borders. In addition, only projects which can be defined as a long-term investment, also for the benefit of future generations, qualify. They have to achieve a positive rating in the sustainability triangle of environment, economy and society.
Lignum Ost, a regional working group of Lignum Switzerland, seized this opportunity and developed a concept for an 83 meter-high “Competence Center for Timber Technology, Building IoT and Sustainability”. The project has been successfully presented to a jury of experts, and there is a recommendation for a CHF 30 million contribution, as the internet platform tagblatt.ch reports.
The basic idea is a timber high-rise. Lignum Ost managing director Simon Biegger told tagblatt.ch that neither the building’s height nor the location are carved in stone. If the project is realized, though, the timber tower would be the highest in Switzerland with 83 meters. The entire project is said to cost around 80 million CHF.
