2226 JED: An Innovation Lab on the Outskirts of Zurich

In the municipality of Schlieren, just outside Zurich, 2226 JED is taking shape. Designed by Baumschlager Eberle Architekten, the building will form the new epicenter of the JED campus, a dynamic research and innovation hub.

Built on a site once occupied by the printing plant of the historic Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung and just a stone’s throw from the train station, the project will transform an industrial area into a hub for offices and laboratories, complete with amenities and dining facilities for tenants. The acronym JED – Join. Explore. Dare. – sums up the essence of the complex as a place where businesses can collaborate and experiment against the backdrop of architecture designed for efficiency, well-being, and sustainability.

2226 JED: Cohesive, rigorous design

The structure extends across three interlinked units – Building J (the former printing plant), Building E (a former administrative block), and Building D (the new construction) – forming a harmonious and cohesive complex.

The architectural language is essential and rigorous, with geometric volumes, white lime façades, and evenly spaced square windows creating an understated, elegant structure that seamlessly integrates into the existing urban fabric.

The building’s base houses recessed courtyards and open spaces, while the upper floors are occupied by terraces and sheltered outdoor areas designed to promote occupant well-being and encourage informal interaction.

The 2226 principle: Energy efficiency and thermal comfort

A distinctive feature of the project, which also gives it its name, is the application of the 2226 principle. Developed by Professor Dietmar Eberle, this is a design approach that has defined a new philosophy for sustainable, energy-efficient buildings. The name comes from the ideal temperature range that these buildings can maintain – between 22 and 26°C - without traditional heating or cooling systems.

An automated system that opens and closes louvers based on CO₂ levels and temperature regulates ventilation and air quality. Comprising two layers of brick, the 75 cm thick exterior walls provide both structural strength and thermal insulation. Inside, exposed concrete ceilings and screed floors store heat from occupants, equipment, and artificial lighting.

With a gross floor area of 18,300 m², 2226 JED is the largest building constructed to date using the 2226 method. Only the laboratories require conventional systems because of their specific operational requirements.

Sustainable materials and circular economy

Sustainability extends to the building materials and circularity, with the use of recycled materials – concrete and gypsum plaster – reducing primary resource consumption and CO₂ emissions by approximately 82 metric tons. The materials are also fully reusable, with this streamlined through the use of joints designed to allow disassembly.

Life-cycle analysis and the elimination of traditional systems demonstrate how an eco-friendly project can also be economically efficient, with lower construction, maintenance, and operating costs combined with high-quality workspaces.

This is a responsible project that embodies a new concept of industrial and workplace architecture. The result is a science and innovation hub that will generate value for its users and local community.

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