Competent facility management is essential for the smooth running of an office complex with 8,500 workstations. Read on to find out what matters most.
Everyone is familiar with Credit Suisse’s headquarters on Paradeplatz. But the true heart of this major Swiss bank beats a good two kilometers out of town at the Uetlihof office complex. In normal times, up to 8,500 employees come and go from Switzerland’s largest office complex, and all of the bank’s digital operations converge at the data center. Claudio Luraschi, Head of Regional Facilities Management Zurich-South at Credit Suisse, is responsible for ensuring smooth operations. A conversation about the collaboration with ISS, shared goals, and honey from their own nature park.
Claudio Luraschi, Head of Regional Facilities Management for Zurich South, Credit Suisse
Claudio Luraschi is Head of Regional Facilities Management for Zurich South at Credit Suisse. He has been working at the Uetlihof in Zurich for 33 years, with some breaks.
Mr. Luraschi, you’re responsible for ensuring that thousands of workstations run smoothly in one of Switzerland’s largest office complexes. Are you able to sleep soundly?
Yes, I usually sleep very well. For two reasons: First, I know this complex inside and out - I actually completed part of my training here. Second, I have highly professional employees and partners like ISS by my side.
Why is the Uetlihof so important to Credit Suisse?
You could almost call the Uetlihof the heart of Credit Suisse in Switzerland. Almost everything is brought together here: from trading to part of the client advisory services to the bank’s archives. Plus, with around 8,500 workstations, it’s the bank’s largest location. We also operate two data centers and two energy centers here. So the Uetlihof is absolutely essential for Credit Suisse.
Less essential, but all the more beautiful, are the green spaces at the Uetlihof. They even produce their own CS honey there.
That’s right. We’re proud of our nature park, which, by the way, is also maintained by an ISS gardener. The park, which has won multiple awards, is home to sheep and around 300,000 worker bees, which produce about 80 kilograms of honey per year. The honey is therefore a precious commodity and is given as a gift only to select clients and partners. Incidentally, one of the most recent batches of CS honey went to an ISS employee at our data center during an ISS awards ceremony.
The honeycomb-shaped complex began operations in 1979. Nestled in a nature park at the foot of the Uetliberg in the city of Zurich, “Uetlihof 1” provides space for around 6,000 workstations and has its own energy supply. In 2012, “Uetlihof 2,” an expansion with an additional 2,500 workstations, was opened. This building meets the Swiss Minergie P-Eco standard and was designed in accordance with the City of Zurich’s vision for a 2,000-watt society. This makes the Uetlihof the largest office and Minergie building in Switzerland.
For a good two years now, the Uetlihof has been part of the integrated facility management system. What are the benefits of this?
The biggest advantage is that we have a single point of contact who handles all matters, whether they involve budget issues, services, or - currently - the implementation of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, with such a large volume of work, synergies naturally arise - both in procurement and in processes.
What exactly does ISS do at the Uetlihof?
ISS covers all facility services necessary for the workspaces and the operation of the building - from routine cleaning to the maintenance and operation of the technical systems in the data center and the energy center, which handles high-voltage power supply. The complexity of the Uetlihof demands the utmost attention from ISS employees, especially since the Uetlihof houses not only support functions but also various customer-facing areas. Added to this is the fact that work at the Uetlihof continues practically around the clock.
Mr. Luraschi, you’ve been working at the Uetlihof for more than 30 years and are familiar with every aspect of facility management. What do you particularly value about working with ISS?
I appreciate the open and transparent communication with ISS. I also sense a strong sense of identification with us as Credit Suisse and with the Uetlihof. Many ISS employees are proud to work here. And I understand why, because the complexity and variety of systems and technologies make the Uetlihof an exciting place to work.
Long-standing partnership
ISS has been providing various facility services at different Credit Suisse properties for years, but the comprehensive mandate at Uetlihof has only been in place since October 2019. At that time, Credit Suisse opted for a single-provider strategy, and ISS won the contract through the bidding process. For nearly two years now, ISS has been managing the Uetlihof under a comprehensive IFS contract, in addition to over 200 locations throughout Switzerland. Approximately 150 ISS employees ensure clean facilities, safe evacuation routes, fresh paint on the walls, and relaxing green spaces in the nature-oriented outdoor area - and above all: the smooth technical operation of this office complex, which features its own power plant and data center. This makes expert inspections, broad expertise, and forward-looking planning all the more important.