LEED case study

The Circle
Case study

The Circle sets new standards in terms of sustainability:

it is the largest LEED® Platinum certified project in
Switzerland and is certified according to LEED® 2009 for
new buildings for «Core & Shell».

The Circle is the new district at Zurich Airport, right next

to the terminals. The Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto
has built a lettable area of 180,000 m2 on a lot area of
37,000 m2. Six high-rise buildings with nine to ten floors are
arranged on a single shared base, which encloses a hill with
a park to the west and south. Narrow alleys run between
them, like in an old town. While the slightly inclined façade
facing the airport takes up the curvature of the terminals
and is mostly closed, it opens up towards the green park
on the back side.

The Circle comprises office space, two hotels with a

convention center, a medical competence center, various
brand worlds as well as art, culture, gastronomy and
education. It is an inspiring place where lively encounters
give rise to new ideas.

Right from the start, the Circle aimed for a consistently

sustainable construction method. At an already developed
location, a dense urban district was built with sustainable
materials, which operates which operates mainly with
fossil-free energy and reduces the water demand to a
minimum. In addition to the LEED® certificate, the Circle
has also been awarded the Minergie certificate, the Swiss
standard for low energy consumption and high quality
of living.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 2

The Circle

37,000 m2
Project area

180,000 m2
Rental area

80,000 m2
Park

2009 – 2014
Planning period

2015 – 2021
Construction period

1.2 billion CHF

Costs

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 3

 28
General map

Flughafenstrasse

u
Fl
Parkhausring Butzenbüelrin
g

B
Terminal

e
ss
tra
ns
afe
gh
Flu
n g
u sri
ha
rk
Pa

nft

lring
Vorfahrt Anku

nbüe
Butze
1
A5

The Circle

Airport Park
Shopping

34
ft
kun
An
ahrt

A51
Vorf

Butz
Pa r enbü
k h a u s ri n g elrin
g

Flug
hafe
nstras
ing se
üelr
nb
tze
Bu

A51
Flu
gh
afe
ns
tra
ses

Parties involved
A51

in the project
Werfts
trasse
Flughofs

Flughafen Zürich AG holds 51 % of the shares in the Circle and Swiss Life
49 %. The construction project was implemented by the general
contractor HRS. The LEED® certification was supported by Intep during
the planning phase and by Amstein+Walthert from the construction
phase onwards.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 4

 Categories Leadership in
Energy and
Sustainable Site
28 of 28
Environmental
Design
Water Efficiency Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating
10 of 10 system for the sustainability of buildings originally developed in the USA
by the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council). It is one of the most
widespread sustainability labels worldwide. By offering different system
options, LEED® can be applied to all types of buildings and all phases of
construction. For the Circle, the LEED® system was implemented in the
Energy and Atmosphere Core & Shell options. LEED® Core & Shell certifies the basic construction
32 of 37 and additionally transfers selected sustainability requirements to the
tenants.

The LEED® system offers an internationally recognized framework for the

planning and implementation of environmentally friendly, resource-
Materials and Resources saving, healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving buildings. It is based on a
5 of 13 credit system and consists of mandatory sustainability requirements and
voluntary sustainability requirements, the fulfillment of which is rewarded
with credits. The more sustainability features are implemented by a
project, the more credits are awarded and the better is the overall rating.
Within the LEED® system, the overall sustainability rating is expressed by
Indoor Environmental Quality means of four consecutive rating levels. With the highest certification
8 of 12 level LEED® PLATINUM, the Circle achieves one of the most recognized
awards for building sustainability worldwide. It is the largest and highest
scoring LEED® certified building in Switzerland.

LEED® follows a holistic certification approach and reflects the different

Innovation and Design Process facets of sustainable building. This spectrum is covered by seven
6 of 6 different evaluation categories. With five basic categories, a total of 100
credits can be achieved. A further 10 credits are offered through two
additional categories.

Regional Priority Credits

4 of 4

Awarded 93 of 110 points

and certified on the
highest level, Platinum.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 5

 Energy supply
and demand
The Circle uses almost exclusively renewable energy for heating, cooling
and power supply. In addition, it is geared towards a responsible and
efficient use of the energy.

Energy piles
The core of the energy supply is the anergy grid heating for a self-
sufficient heat and cold supply. The continuous base connecting all six
buildings stands on a total of 1150 foundation piles. 850 of these are
thermally activated. This means that a plastic pipe is laid in them as a
loop in which a liquid circulates, enabling energy exchange with the
ground. In this way, the ground serves as a heat storage: In summer, the
excess heat that cannot be used directly is stored temporarily in the
ground. The building can be cooled by removing the heat. In winter, the
stored heat is drawn back from the underground, making the Circle
almost self-sufficient in terms of heat supply. At the same time, more
than half of the excess heat generated during the cooling process is
reused. To cover an extraordinary peak demand in winter, the Circle is
also connected to the airport’s own combined heat and power plant.

Energy piles under construction. Distribution of the pipelines from the energy piles.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 6

 Thermally activated
building systems
Thermally activated building systems (TABS) are used in the Circle to
release heat (in winter) or cold (in summer). For this purpose, heating
pipes are inserted into the ceilings which thus become active radiation
surfaces. The surrounding concrete mass serves as thermal storage.
This, in combination with the energy piles, enables efficient operation of
the heat pumps. External energy in the form of electricity is only required
to operate the pumps.

CCF-façade
The glass façade of the Circle is designed as a Closed Cavity Façade
(CCF) and meets the highest insulation standards. The CCF façade is a
two-layer construction in which the space between the inner and outer
The concrete ceilings are
thermally activated. skin is completely closed. Dry, clean air is constantly fed into the cavity to
prevent condensation on the façade. The outside climate is constantly
monitored by the control electronics and the amount of dry air produced
is adjusted accordingly. This reduces energy consumption to a minimum.

Due to the special design with the up to 13.5 meter cantilevered façade
which thus protrudes over the cantonal road leading along the building,
a completely new construction was required. The solution found prevents
the formation of ice, which could become a hazard for people and
vehicles moving directly below. At the same time, the façade meets the
strict LEED® and Minergie requirements for insulation values.
The overhanging sloping façade.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 7

 Shading
The heat development in the building in summer and thus the cooling
demand is mainly determined by the solar radiation. For this reason, as
well as for glare protection, a sophisticated shading system with 10,590
blinds has been installed. These are divided into 350 sectors which are
individually and automatically controlled according to solar radiation,
date, time and geographical orientation.

Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic panels were installed on the roofs of the six buildings to
generate electricity. Due to fixed infrastructures on the roofs, such as the
façade access system or cooling units, but also because of their use as
terraces, a total of 1861 photovoltaic modules have been installed on just
3005 m2 from a total roof area of 26,800 m2. These have an inclination of
10 degrees and are aligned at an angle of 185 degrees. The output is
599 kWp and the annual yield is 624,155 kWh according to calculations.
This corresponds to about 2.5 % of the Circle’s annual power
requirement.

A part of the photovoltaic panels on the roof.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 8

Purchase of sustainably
produced electricity
The Circle’s general electricity needs are covered to a large extent by
sustainably produced electricity. One third of the electricity purchased
for the common use areas is certified according to «naturmade star»,
which guarantees that it is completely renewable and also completely
ecologically produced in hydro, wind, solar and biomass power plants.

Energy efficiency
of tenant interior fitting
The furnishing of the interiors in the tenant fit-out is also subject to strict
specifications. At least 70 % of the machines and equipment are certified
according to the Energy Star label. All open-plan office areas are
controlled with daylight sensors, the remaining areas with occupancy
sensors.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 9

 Sustainable site
The Circle is located at a site that was already well developed before
construction. No new traffic routes had to be built. In addition, the area
was almost completely covered with buildings already.

Traffic and development

The connection of the Circle to the traffic net is excellent. The Circle was
built in the best connected location in Switzerland and is of course also
internationally well connected due to its location directly at the airport.

There are 370 train, 400 tram and 790 bus connections to the airport
every day. The Circle is also easy to reach for motorized individual traffic
directly on the freeway and cantonal road. Of 509 parking spaces in the
underground car park, 7 are equipped with electric charging stations.
These are located in the public area directly at the entrance / exit.

The Circle is also easily accessible by slow traffic, as it is located directly

on a national bicycle route. For a comfortable arrival by bike, 230
covered bicycle parking spaces are available as well as the necessary
infrastructure such as change rooms, showers and lockers to enable
commuting by bike.

The Circle has excellent connections

to the transport networks.

Germany

Basel
Zurich

France Zug Austria

Lucerne

Bern

Travel time in minutes

Switzerland < 30

30 – 60

60 – 90
Italy 90 – 120

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 10

 Compensation for
ecologically valuable areas
During the planning phase, around one quarter of the area to be built
over was assessed as ecologically valuable. These were road
embankments, verges and other green areas, but also original gravel
areas, which had been overgrown with plants over the years and had
therefore become valuable lean meadows. The authorities required an
equivalent replacement based on the Nature and Cultural Heritage
Protection Act. This was realized on a total area of 5250 m2 on two plots
of land in the town of Kloten which were re-constructed in such a way
that habitats with especially high biodiversity can develop on them. The
already existing conservation areas in the town of Kloten are thus being
valuably enhanced.

One of the compensation projects

in Kloten.
Green roofs
Most of the roofs of the Circle are covered with vegetation. The spectrum
ranges from a simple extensive greening with six native sedum species
on the non-accessible areas to greening with meadow character and
intensive greening with high decorative value in the public area. The
green roofs are part of the micro climate management by supporting the
insulation and providing cooling for the photovoltaic systems installed,
which increases their efficiency. It is also important for the retention of
rainwater.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 11

Park
The park contributes significantly to the high quality of dwell time in the
Circle. It is a nature reserve as well as a recreational area and includes
places for small events in the greenery.

With the redesign, ecological upgrades were made. Thus, the diversity of
the habitats could be increased. 7200 m2 of the existing forest were
transformed into an open forest with a high variety of species. 12,600 m2
of existing meadows were transformed into natural grasslands with a
large diversity of flowers and insects. Ponds and field shrubs were also
upgraded to achieve a higher biodiversity.

Regular guided tours by Zurich Airport Rangers bring visitors closer to

the natural values of the park.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 12

 Water demand
The Circle requires 50 % less potable water than a reference building
without special measures. Thanks to water-saving faucets, the need for
tab water can be reduced by 30 %. A further 20 % reduction is achieved
by using grey water.

Water-saving faucets
The amount of potable water consumed depends largely on the tenants
and their interior design. For this reason, they must also comply with
LEED® specifications regarding water reduction. This applies to the
faucets whose flow rate is limited. The toilets are equipped with two
buttons for a small and a large amount of water and the urinals are
operated without water. Exceptions are the rooms in the outpatient
medical center as well as hotel and convention.

Grey water usage

In the Circle the toilets are flushed with 85 % rainwater. The sanitary
facilities of the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), which are fed exclusively
with potable water, are excluded from this. In addition, the so-called grey
water is also used for irrigation.

The rainwater is collected on a roof area of 24,500 m2 and fed to four

service water tanks at a reduced rate. On a further 2300 m2, the water
cannot be retained due to the lack of greenery, which is why it is fed
directly into the service water tanks. The tanks have a usable volume of
1500 m3 and are interconnected through pipes.

Rainwater is collected on the roofs. Distribution of grey water.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 13

 Materials and
resources
Building materials
For the construction of the Circle, building materials with the least
possible environmental impact were used. Steel, aluminum and glass are
partly made of recycled raw materials. The building materials were also
procured regionally.

Waste management
The disposal of waste and the recycling of reusable materials was given
special attention in the Circle already during the construction phase. The
various fractions produced were disposed of separately or sent for
recycling. 75 % of the waste was recycled.

A total of 19 different waste fractions are collected in seven disposal

rooms. The rooms are integrated into the tours of the collection vehicles
of Flughafen Zürich AG, which, for example, collects waste daily. All
fractions are recycled or disposed of thermally. Even the mixed municipal
solid waste fraction is thermally recycled in an incineration plant.

75 % of demolition material was recycled.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 14

Interior quality
and comfort
The Circle is characterized by a particularly high level of indoor comfort.
First and foremost in this respect is the excellent ventilation and air
conditioning with constantly monitored fresh air supplied from outside.
But comfort also includes plenty of daylight and view which create a
pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Finally, smoking is only allowed
outside and in designated areas.

Adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings comply with strict limits
on chemical emissions so as not to impair the health and well-being of
users.

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 15

Heat and cold supply The Circle
Geothermal heat / Heat /cold Distribution Consumers heat / cold:
recooling production supply ducts 6 Buildings The Circle

Peak coverage
Recooling External initial operating phase
CHP plant
airport TABS
Floor heating
Radiators
Air conditioning

Heat
Chillers,
heat pumps

Cold
TABS
Floor cooling
Free-cooling Industrial cooling
Air conditioning
Decentralised Refrigeration
Geothermal hot water
piles production
Hot water
for use

Operating modes
Heat pump-mode
Heat pump- /chiller-mode

Chiller-mode Free-cooling

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 16

 Numbers
LEED®-Certificate Core & Shell 2009
Minergie ZH 9005
Project area 37,000 m2
Rental area 180,000 m2
Usable area 160,000 m2
Roof area 26,000
Park 80,000 m2
Conservation area 19,800 m2
Planning period 2009 – 2014
Construction period 2015 – 2021
Costs 1.2 billion CHF
Jobs 6500
Expected visitors per day 20,000
Number of parking lots 509
Number of covered bicycle parking spaces 230
Number of escalators 8
Number of elevators 89
Cantilever of the façade 13,5 m
Total window area 83,000 m2
Number of blinds 10,590
Foundation piles 1150
Energy piles 850
Total annual heating demand 4400 MWh
Total annual power demand 15,500 MWh
Total annual water demand 120,000 m3
Usable volume of grey water tanks 1500 m3
Reduction of potable water consumption 50 %
Photovoltaic roof surface 3005 m2
Photovoltaics Number of modules 1861
Photovoltaic power 599 kWp
Photovoltaic yield per year 624,155 kWh
Daily train connections 370
Daily tram connections 400
Daily bus connections 790
Percentage of recycled material in construction 75 %
Waste fractions during operation 19

Zurich Airport – LEED® case study 17

Flughafen Zürich AG
P.O. Box, 8058 Zurich-Airport, Switzerland
zurich-airport.com