Major milestone reached in the renovation of the BIT

After more than four years’ work, Steiner SA has completed a major phase in the remodelling of the “BIT” – the International Labour Office’s headquarters in Geneva. This work has enabled the client to provide its 1400 employees with improved workspaces.

Steiner SA and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) welcome the successful refurbishment of the International Labour Office (BIT) building. A significant portion of the project, which began in 2015, has just been successfully completed.

The renovation work has been executed even while the building has been occupied. Dividing the work into phases meant that work could be carried out in different parts of the building without interrupting normal operations.

In the end, shared savings were achieved and reinvested by the client in new fire safety work on the base of the building.

During the project, it was possible to speed up the renovation work without compromising on quality thanks to the implementation of a LEAN management system. The building was renovated on schedule. On average, more than 1000 square metres of floorspace were renovated per month, which demonstrates the efficiency of the process.

Improved energy impact

The work will enable the building’s energy efficiency to be improved. Refurbishing the external envelope enabled excellent results to be obtained in tests. The lighting is 100% LED.

More than 100 km of new electric cables have been laid. 4500 windows are now equipped with triple glazing, plus a fourth layer to house the blinds. Waste materials, especially those connected with asbestos removal, were disposed of by specialist companies in accordance with the regulations.

A project for the centenary of the ILO

The International Labour Office (BIT) is situated in a building 225 metres long that was constructed between 1969 and 1974. It was designed by architects Eugène Beaudoin, Pier Luigi Nervi and Alberto Camenzind in a convex and concave shape to give it a human dimension. The main building has 11 office storeys and a total floor area of 51,000 m².

To mark its centenary, the International Labour Organisation decided to renovate the BIT, which houses its general secretariat. Thanks to the renovation, the client now has an upgraded and more efficient building at its disposal.

Steiner AG

Steiner AG, one of the leading project developers and general/total contractors (GC/TC) in Switzerland, offers comprehensive services in the fields of new construction, refurbishment and real estate development. The company, which was established in 1915, has constructed more than 1,500 residential projects, 540 commercial properties, 45 hotels and 200 infrastructure facilities such as universities, schools, hospitals, retirement homes and prisons. Steiner AG has its headquarters in Zurich and is represented by branches in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Tolochenaz and Lucerne.

 
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