Digitally controlled instead of manually managed
Project Stats
Project duration
2023 - 2028
Project volume
CHF 400 million
Industry
Area
.png)
The project: A new education and research campus for the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) in Biel/Bienne
The Biel/Bienne Campus is one of Switzerland's largest and most ambitious university construction projects. On the former Feldschlösschen site near Biel train station, a new facility is being built for the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) a new central education and research campus. Previously, BFH was spread across no fewer than 26 locations throughout Switzerland – the Biel/Bienne Campus will consolidate the Departments of Engineering and Computer Science, as well as Architecture, Wood, and Construction under one roof.
The scope of facilities is extensive: Seminar and training rooms, specialized laboratories for electrical and high-voltage engineering, workshops, assembly floors, a library, and a central campus hall form the heart of the new building.
With an investment of approximately 400 million Swiss Francs and the planned completion 2028 the project is among the most significant educational buildings in Switzerland.
Marti AG with overall responsibility & Künzli Davos AG as a strong partner in timber construction
Marti AG is responsible for the entire project realization. They received the contract in autumn 2023 together with the timber construction company Künzli Davos AG, with whom they already collaborated closely during the bidding phase and developed significant structural optimizations. The result was convincing: Künzli AG automatically received its contract with the award to Marti.
The building will be realized as a timber-hybrid construction: The basement in reinforced concrete, ground floor to fourth upper floor in timber construction. The ceilings will be concreted using filigree concrete slabs with a topping. With the Minergie P-ECO certification the building meets the highest requirements for energy efficiency and ecology.
Highest sustainability standards characterize the entire project: The SNBS-Gold and Minergie-P certifications place special demands on material selection, execution details, and the coordination of numerous trades. The wood used comes from Switzerland and sustainably managed forests in Europe.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
No items found.
Thousands of interfaces,
a digital schedule
What distinguishes the Biel/Bienne Campus in terms of construction technology makes it exceptionally challenging from a planning perspective: cramped space on the inner-city site, a tightly scheduled construction period, just-in-time delivery of timber construction components, and strict certification requirements influencing every planning and execution step. In addition, dozens of subcontractors and trades need daily coordination.
With lcmd , a central, visually readable schedule now serves as a common basis for all stakeholders. The rolling six-week daily forecast provides both site management and subcontractors with clarity on who is needed when and where, and creates the reliabilitythat a project of this magnitude requires.
From MS Project to lcmd: The Right Switch at the Right Time
Before the introduction of lcmd , Marti AG worked with MS Project, like many companies in the industry. The problem: In a project of this size and complexity, traditional Gantt charts quickly reach their limits.
Plans were difficult to read, changes were cumbersome to implement, and they were barely usable for the involved subcontractors. The project status was never truly transparent. Neither for the site management, the involved companies, nor for the executive management.
The consequence was clear: Without digital control, maintaining the schedule with the required quality and granularity would have necessitated a dedicated full-time position. Therefore, Marti AG decided in early 2025 to fully switch to lcmd, completely replacing MS Project for this project.
With lcmd, subcontractors can access the current schedule at any time. As a general contractor, we maintain the overall overview and can efficiently coordinate and optimally schedule the contractors.
.png)
Simone Blaser
Site Manager | Marti AG
What Marti AG particularly values about lcmd in the Campus Biel/Bienne project
• MS Project completely replaced: lcmd is the sole scheduling program for the project. The transition immediately improved readability and clarity. From rigid Gantt charts to a visually intuitive control tool that the entire construction management actively uses daily.
• All subcontractors integrated: All trades have read access to the platform and can filter their own specific area without Marti having to prepare a separate plan for each party involved. This reduces queries, strengthens individual responsibility, and noticeably improves communication among the trades.
• Clear project status for management: Through status tracking in lcmd, management always has a reliable overview of the project's progress, completed processes, upcoming tasks in the next few weeks, and areas requiring action.
• Measurable time savings: Without lcmd, maintaining the schedule with this quality and granularity alone would require an additional full-time position. With lcmd, construction management handles the tracking themselves – integrated into the regular weekly PEP meeting.
• Direct Support: Close collaboration with the lcmd team, from implementation to ongoing operations, makes all the difference. Direct communication, swift responses, and practical support.
Discover how lcmd can make your company more efficient too.
