Precast elements for the Zölly Tower
in Zurich

Fig.: Nägelebau

Example of a drawing showing the arrangement of formwork components required to complete a Zölly Tower façade element

Fig.: Nägelebau

Fig.: Robert Mehl

The high-rise building includes a partially sand-blasted precast façade whose vertical pilaster strips are rounded

Fig.: Robert Mehl

The rounded areas were produced using GFRP forms

Fig.: Robert Mehl

The ComBar thermal anchors supplied by Schöck are being embedded in the facing layer at the bottom right after concrete pouring. On the next production day, the reinforcement of the load-bearing layer is inserted, and the final concrete layer is poured

Fig.: Robert Mehl

Side view of a precast element after formwork stripping. The black foam glass insulation appears prominently in the middle

Fig.: Robert Mehl

Pilaster strips were also produced piece by piece. This image shows them immediately before assembly

Fig.: Robert Mehl

Members of the precast element assembly team are preparing the mortar bed onto which the precast element is placed

Fig.: Robert Mehl

Two tower cranes were used to move the precast elements into their final installation positions

Fig.: Robert Mehl

Only two fitters were required for the assembly of the façade elements

Fig.: Robert Mehl

When this photo was taken, the shell of the Zölly Tower was nearing completion as 23 stories had already been built

Fig.: Robert Mehl

The façade of the Zölly Tower in Zurich, Switzerland, was designed with an envelope composed of precast elements to take up all loads.

A prime residential development is currently under construction in the western part of Zurich, the Swiss economic hub, in the area of a former railway junction. In urban terms, the so-called ZöllyTower with its 24 stories is the center point of this project. Contrary to common practice, the architects commissioned with the detailed design exercise, the Swiss Planwerk CH GmbH based in Laufen, did not include load-bearing internal columns and a curtain façade in the design of the building. Instead, they conceived a building envelope composed of precast elements that were to absorb all loads.