Former Police Post in Unterstrass to Become a Kindergarten
A former neighbourhood police station in Zürich's Unterstrass district is set for an unlikely second life, as a double kindergarten, complete with a library and catering kitchen.
The city plans to convert the former Quartierwache Unterstrass on Röslistrasse 10 into a facility serving the Weinberg-Turner school from the 2028/29 school year, at a cost of CHF 11 million.
Why the Space Is Needed
The driver is straightforward: Unterstrass is growing, and its schools are feeling the pressure. Rising pupil numbers in the district, combined with the rollout of full-day schooling, have significantly increased demand for space at the Weinberg-Turner school. For years, the city managed this kind of overflow with temporary modular pavilions — a stop-gap measure that came at the expense of outdoor space for pupils and the surrounding neighbourhood. The closure of the Quartierwache has now opened a more permanent solution.
What's Being Built
All interior walls from the last renovation roughly 30 years ago will be stripped out and the floor plan reconfigured entirely. The ground and upper floors will house two kindergarten units, each with a main classroom and a supervised care area. The basement will get a catering kitchen, and the top floor a new school library. The building will also receive a lift and an access ramp to meet barrier-free requirements, and the outdoor area will be redesigned for young children.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with completion targeted for summer 2028. The city council is requesting the CHF 11 million credit, including standard contingency reserves, from the Gemeinderat.
