Industrial technology giant ABB has announced plans to consolidate its worldwide headquarters in Zurich Oerlikon, unveiling a CHF 80 million project that combines the renovation of a listed historic block with a six-storey, low-carbon extension. The move—revealed on 30 January 2026—will provide workspace for about 500 staff and is scheduled for occupancy in 2031. (engtechnica.com)
While ABB has been domiciled in Zurich since the ASEA-BBC merger in 1988, the new campus will centralise leadership teams currently spread across multiple city sites. Global functions such as finance, HR, mobility, and the newly created Sustainability Office will be co-located, signalling a likely uptick in inbound assignments and commuter arrangements from ABB’s engineering hubs in Västerås, Bangalore and Houston. (engtechnica.com)
![ABB’s new CHF 80 million global HQ in Zurich Oerlikon set to drive executive relocations]()
For ABB employees and other professionals moving to Switzerland, VisaHQ can simplify the visa and work-permit process. The company’s online platform guides applicants through Schengen business visas, B and L permits, and even document legalisation, coordinating directly with cantonal migration offices to cut processing time. Explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
From a mobility perspective, the project overlaps with Switzerland’s unchanged 2026 work-permit quotas, meaning ABB must continue to compete for a share of the 8,500 third-country B and L permits available nationwide. Early engagement with cantonal labour authorities and the use of the federal tax ruling for expatriate cost-of-living allowances will be essential to secure key talent. Housing brokers in districts 9 and 11 already report a 6 % rise in short-stay furnished apartments since the announcement. (engtechnica.com)
The campus itself is designed to appeal to internationally mobile staff: on-site childcare, an 80 m² fitness studio and proximity to Zürich Oerlikon station (five minutes from the airport) aim to shorten commutes for cross-border workers living in southern Germany. ABB says it will embed multilingual on-boarding services and digital residence-registration kiosks, reflecting Switzerland’s push to modernise consular support outlined in the new 2026-29 Consular Strategy. For multinationals considering Swiss consolidation, ABB’s project illustrates how sustainability retrofits can dovetail with talent-mobility objectives. (engtechnica.com)
While ABB has been domiciled in Zurich since the ASEA-BBC merger in 1988, the new campus will centralise leadership teams currently spread across multiple city sites. Global functions such as finance, HR, mobility, and the newly created Sustainability Office will be co-located, signalling a likely uptick in inbound assignments and commuter arrangements from ABB’s engineering hubs in Västerås, Bangalore and Houston. (engtechnica.com)
For ABB employees and other professionals moving to Switzerland, VisaHQ can simplify the visa and work-permit process. The company’s online platform guides applicants through Schengen business visas, B and L permits, and even document legalisation, coordinating directly with cantonal migration offices to cut processing time. Explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
From a mobility perspective, the project overlaps with Switzerland’s unchanged 2026 work-permit quotas, meaning ABB must continue to compete for a share of the 8,500 third-country B and L permits available nationwide. Early engagement with cantonal labour authorities and the use of the federal tax ruling for expatriate cost-of-living allowances will be essential to secure key talent. Housing brokers in districts 9 and 11 already report a 6 % rise in short-stay furnished apartments since the announcement. (engtechnica.com)
The campus itself is designed to appeal to internationally mobile staff: on-site childcare, an 80 m² fitness studio and proximity to Zürich Oerlikon station (five minutes from the airport) aim to shorten commutes for cross-border workers living in southern Germany. ABB says it will embed multilingual on-boarding services and digital residence-registration kiosks, reflecting Switzerland’s push to modernise consular support outlined in the new 2026-29 Consular Strategy. For multinationals considering Swiss consolidation, ABB’s project illustrates how sustainability retrofits can dovetail with talent-mobility objectives. (engtechnica.com)
