Realising large-scale timber construction projects innovatively and sustainably
Timber construction
Creative, sustainable, digital: Implenia Holzbau leads your major project to success in an innovative way. In addition to our specialty, element construction, we can look back on almost 100 years of experience in carpentry and joinery - always focused on the progress of your project. We complete these specialist areas with our timber construction engineering.
Sustainability meets innovation
Timber construction: ecological, economical and aesthetic choice
We combine our extensive experience with state-of-the-art, computer-aided processes and innovative technologies. 100 Implenia Holzbau employees, including apprentices in carpentry and joinery, are there for you! We also offer support and advice in the planning phase from our experienced timber construction engineering team.
Find out more on the following pages.
Timber construction engineering, element construction, carpentry, joinery
We offer you everything to do with timber construction from a single source!
Do you have a concrete idea of your timber construction project, or are you still looking for the right solution?
In both cases, we focus on your needs, advise you, plan and implement for you: we are particularly professional when it comes to large-scale projects. We offer efficient planning using state-of-the-art 3D technology, which helps to optimize processes and professionalize project management.
This means less material waste, greater energy efficiency and better building quality. Find out more on the following pages!
Your Contacts
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Alternatively, the business card is available for download. Download VCF-Card
Timber construction services
We use the latest technological achievements and offer you a high level of creativity and flexibility.
Take a look at the individual service areas here!
Career portal
Carved from our wood?
Future employees and apprentices are our most important renewable resource. Whether in our element and large-scale prefabrication halls, on our construction sites or in our joinery shop, Implenia Holzbau is always on the lookout for wood-loving new talent. Here you will find a committed and open team and a long tradition of working with the world’s best building material. Join us as we work to build a sustainable, digital, creative future. Let’s grow together!
Discover the diversity of our timber construction projects
A selection of our references
Adrian Ulrich, Construction manager
Timber construction blog
Fascinating, up-to-date insights into wood as a building material
Those who know their stuff quickly excel: information is everything. Of course, this also applies to us as an innovative provider in timber construction. That's why we are constantly highlighting the latest developments in the industry in our timber construction blog. Our motto: Living material is not wooden. We therefore offer exciting and informative articles that you should not miss!
All blog articles on the topic of timber construction
Verdichten und zugleich ökologisch bauen: Dafür steht der Neubau der Schulanlage Bubenholz in Opfikon ZH. Holz und Beton können perfekt harmonieren.
Show moreEine Fassade soll nach Vollendung eines Projektes, möglichst lange in ihrer Optik und Funktion erhalten bleiben. Dafür braucht es regelmässige Sichtkontrollen der Fassaden.
Show moreLast year, Implenia built Switzerland's first wood-concrete parking garage in Dübendorf for the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Research Empa. The project shows that more environmentally friendly construction methods can also be implemented on a large scale.
Show moreAnyone who wants to construct buildings in a contemporary way today is best advised to look into the possibility of timber construction. Because building with wood is economical, climate-friendly and conserves valuable resources. The new multi-purpose building (MZG) in Alterswil (FR) is currently being constructed in wood.
Show moreIn mid-June, all employees of the Specialties - Wood Construction Division met at the Rümlang site for this year's "Wood Construction Safety Day 2022" with a special morning program. The Wood Construction Safety Officer, Silvio Neumann, again organized a safety course for all employees at the Rümlang site. This included a staged live accident and guests such as SUVA, Care Team Thurgau and Werner Witschi, an accident victim who is now in a wheelchair.
Show moreOur timber construction assistant Christina Rutzer grabbed a cameraman to find out exactly that. On her tour, she meets foreman Aaron Kreissl as well as managing director Christoph Zimmermann, and gets exciting first-hand insights. Aaron gives us an insight into the Lokstadt milestones to date. Christoph reports on the 100-metre-high wooden skyscraper "Rocket", a unique project.
Show moreHere we at Implenia Holzbau were allowed to get really creative: The "Connect" floor of Implenia's headquarters, which has been in place since September 2021, represents a world first and is the result of an intensive planning and testing phase. Our solution combines flexibility, modern aesthetics and sustainability - and also provides us with fascinating new insights for future projects. In this article, you will learn everything about this very special heart project.
Show moreWood is a versatile building material, not least because the different types of wood have different colourings, properties and uses. We have compiled a brief overview of the mainly native tree species for you.
Show moreWood is a versatile building material, not least because the different types of wood have different colourings, properties and uses. We have compiled a brief overview of the mainly native tree species for you.
Show moreImplenia has been playing in the top league in timber construction for decades. This benefits not only the clients, but also the employees – for example through exciting projects and state-of-the-art technologies. They can play an active role in shaping what is probably the most innovative sector of the construction industry.
Show moreThe ceiling can support two axes and span larger distances. In the Pi project, the elements are up to 9 metres long, but the principle is also suitable for more than 15 metres. At the same time, the construction weighs around 30 per cent less than concrete ceilings and is much thinner than conventional composite structures. Among other things, this allows for an additional storey and a massively smaller foundation on the 80-metre high Zug project.
Show moreFrom 2022, Implenia, as timber constructor and general contractor, will be building Switzerland's tallest timber high-rise, at 80 metres, for Urban Assets Zug AG. The ambitious Pi project is first and foremost about social and ecological sustainability, emphasises Gular Miller, project manager representing the client at Urban Assets Zug AG.
Show moreWooden high-rise buildings are becoming a worldwide building trend. There are good reasons for this: The higher the constructions, the more foundation work can be saved due to the lower weight of the natural material. In V-ZUG Immobilien AG's spectacular Pi project, technological innovations further reduce the weight.
Show moreThe low weight, the high degree of prefabrication and the unique eco-balance: wood can make the most of its specific qualities when it comes to sustainable compaction in urban areas, making it the most economical building material option in many cases.
Show moreAs part of a major modernisation project, the Kantonsspital Winterthur is moving three of its four emergency wards under one roof. For the new centre, an existing building was raised in timber construction, making optimal use of the available space. Millimetre work was required.
Show moreWood is considered the ideal building material when building upwards. Particularly in urban areas, timber construction is often the only way to make stacking projects profitable. Philippe Kaufmann explains where exactly the greatest savings can be made.
Show moreSustainability is becoming a decisive criterion for building projects in more and more Swiss municipalities. Wood is naturally the material of choice for this purpose: wooden buildings indirectly increase the CO2 storage capacity of the forests and they contain less grey energy than other buildings.
Generational living based on the principle of neighbourly help – that is the aim of the Winterthur TownVillage development. For the exterior walls and facade design, the total contractor Marti Gesamtleistungen AG is working with Implenia's timber construction experts.
Show moreA whole series of large wooden buildings is currently being built in Winterthur. This will help the city on the Eulach to achieve its climate goals, says city councillor and head of the building department Christa Meier in an interview with SPAN.
Show moreThe pilot projects that are driving the digitisation of the construction industry are often wooden buildings. This is no coincidence. The high degree of prefabrication and the possibility of combining timber constructions from standard elements offer ideal conditions for data-driven processes.
Show moreIn Winterthur's Lokstadt, Implenia already relied completely on BIM for the first time in the architectural competition. This first improved the evaluation of the submissions and then the planning quality of all trades.
Show moreCurrent BIM projects are primarily about gaining experience and thus laying the groundwork for future projects, says Stefan Rüegg, Timbatec project manager (pictured).
Show moreVarious construction disciplines worked together for SWISS's new First Class Lounges at Zurich Airport. As a total service provider, Implenia offers an efficient structural and process framework so that the customer receives all services from a single source.
Show moreThe renovation of the Vogelsang building in Wetzikon-Kempten is progressing quickly – thanks to the addition of wooden floors and lean management. The client benefits from on-time handovers.
Show moreThe "sue&til" development in Winterthur Neuhegi is not only currently the largest timber construction residential project in Switzerland, but also Allianz Suisse's most extensive construction project to date. The new residents have already moved in. Michael Steiner, Head Asset Management & Acquisition at Allianz Suisse Immobilien AG, explains how the project benefited from Implenia's comprehensive range of services.
Show moreHigher productivity through short distances and digital networking. Implenia's new production hall in Rümlang makes full use of the advantages of modern timber construction: planning, material delivery, processing and delivery of the finished elements are optimally coordinated in terms of space. State-of-the-art technologies are used in production and the entire process chain is digitally networked.
Show moreThe timber housing estate in Winterthur-Neuhegi will be groundbreaking. But it is not only the concept that is exciting, but also its implementation. A look behind the scenes of "sue&til" shows the genesis of the project.
Show moreIt feels cosy and can be used in many ways. It improves the indoor climate and saves energy during processing. In short: wood is the perfect building material.
Show moreWhether prestige buildings, extensions or entire superstructures: In Swiss cities, wood is being used more and more frequently in construction. Fire protection is no longer an obstacle. The first wooden high-rise buildings are already being developed.
Show moreBasel's "schorenstadt" shows that there is no way around wood for the structural implementation of the requirements of the 2000-watt society. The interaction between the building disciplines and the sustainability experts was crucial to the success of the project.
Show moreIn an interview, board member Benjamin Zemann explains why Gesewo, a cooperative for self-managed housing in Winterthur, relies on wood for its construction projects.
Show more
What makes building with wood so ecologically sound?
As our Sustainability Report proves, Implenia is committed to environmental responsibility. Our Timber Construction team makes a major contribution to our sustainability.
Building with wood achieves this in two ways. First, wood construction processes generally emit around 1/3 as much green house gas, when compared with other construction methods. Second, the wood material itself acts as a CO2 collector, trapping and storing this greenhouse gas in its cells. Building more with wood is an important step towards a 2000-Watt society.
Switzerland has no shortage of timber. Forests cover about a third of the nation`s land area with an annual increase of 0.42%; and we only use about a third of the available amount! Since the 19th Century, Switzerland has had strict forestry laws protecting the forests and ensuring their future. Implenia Holzbau is committed to sustainable forests. Our products carry the ecologically valuable FSP, PEFC and Swiss Wood labels. For more information, check out “Swiss labels for wood as an ecological building material” on the homepage of Lignum, the umbrella organization for the Swiss timber industry.
Why is the construction time so much shorter with wood?
At Implenia Holzbau, prefabrication in the workshop significantly reduces jobsite construction times, in comparison to other construction methods. The formwork stripping and the drying times in concrete and masonary construction are eliminated in wood construction. This saves an enormous amount of time – especially with wooden deck elements instead of concrete slabs between floors!
Wood construction is also less dependent on the weather. Although rain and humidity can create obstacles during element installation, wood construction has the clear advantage in low and below-freezing temperatures. Combined with LEAN processes and other optimizations, wood construction can reduce overall construction time by up 50%. This protects local residents and significantly reduces time-dependent construction costs. Wood-concrete hybrid design and construction can also reduce construction site transport traffic by up to 30%.
Which produces higher quality buildings – wood construction or other methods?
The key words here are detailed planning.
Building with wood requires thorough and precise pre-planning. Because of this, Implenia Holzbau provides more detailed information in the planning phase a construction project than is typical of other construction methods. Our careful, customized planning reduces or even eliminates conflicts and other unpleasant surprises during the construction phase. Precise preliminary work pays dividends on the jobsite. The dry, weather-protected conditions in our workshop and our drastically shortened installation times also contribute to a higher-quality product. Consider the difference between a window installed in a dry wooden wall element in an enclosed workshop and one installed in wet masonry on a rainy day on the jobsite!
Optimal building conditions, detailed planning and conscientious pre-fabrication under ideal conditions all contribute to a clear quality advantage in wood construction and are increasing our market share across many regions!
I`m interested in an apprenticeship in wood construction. What skills and prior knowledge are important to Implenia Holzbau?
Training new and motivated talent is very important to us.
Here`s what we`re looking for in our new hires:
Completed compulsory school
Solid handwork skills
Enjoy working with wood
Basic technical understanding
Enjoy geometry, physics and mathematics
Good spatial imagination
Robust health
Team player
Dependable
Sound like you? Perfect! Check out our career portal – there you`ll find all of our current job openings. And of course, unsolicited applications are always welcome!
Which woods does Implenia Holzbau use - are they natural and where do they come from?
With our wood, we always ensure that the transport route to the place of use is as short as possible. We only use wood with FSC, PEFC or equivalent labels. Overall, we mainly process spruce spruce and fir fir from Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Our woods are technically dried to below 18% - so we don't need any further ingredients. We offer the best wood in its purest form!
Do you also combine your wood with other materials in construction?
Absolutely! Our motto here is: "The right material in the right place". We clearly stand for a sustainable way of thinking - with an economically and statically optimised perspective. Each material offers its own unique advantages. In the case of element ceilings, for example, it can also make sense to combine the high tensile force of our wood (lower layer) with the high compressive force of concrete (outer layer). Especially in element construction, a combination with steel components can also make sense under certain circumstances. Real progress never hops on one leg only!
Wood in construction - isn't that a fire hazard?
Ask a firefighter: he will always prefer a wooden building to a steel hall during a fire. Because it is precisely when wood burns that it proves its performance. While the outer layer of a wooden beam chars, it protects the core for hours. The shape and load-bearing capacity are thus retained much longer than with steel, for example. This is also clearly visible in wooden cross-sections in case of fire!
But - isn't concrete simply more stable (in earthquakes, for example)?
Not at all! Especially in the event of an earthquake, wooden houses demonstrate real stability advantages due to their superior elasticity and their comparatively low weight. Wood can carry about 14 times more than steel of the same weight! The tubular cells of the wood create hollow spaces that can compensate for stresses and movements particularly well due to lower inertia.
What certifications does Implenia Holzbau have?
We are proud are proudly certified in:
- Quality management system (ISO 9001:2015)
- Environmental management system (ISO 14001:2015)
- Occupational safety and health management system (ISO 45001:2018)
Where is Implenia Holzbau active?
We operate mainly in German-speaking Switzerland and are currently expanding into Western Switzerland and Southern Germany.
What specific services does Implenia timber construction offer?
In the Zürich area we offer classic carpentry and finish carpentry services. Nationally and in southern Germany we execute large scale prefabricated element construction projects. We also offer special formwork construction and wood engineering services.