Lucerne opens central administration building for 2,000 staff

The canton of Lucerne has opened a new administration building in Emmen, bringing together around 30 departments that were previously spread across the canton, SRF reports. About 2,000 employees will work there, sharing 1,200 workstations.

The move will take place in stages from mid-November 2026 to the end of February 2027. The passport office, the agriculture and forestry department and the migration office are among those relocating. The cantonal government, its staff offices and the cantonal parliament will remain in the city of Lucerne.

The building cost nearly 192 million francs. The canton expects the consolidation to save nine million francs a year, largely by ending rental costs for offices and reducing travel between departments. It also expects cooperation to become easier and some reception points to close.

The shared workstations are intended to accommodate employees who work part time or from home. The building has just 66 parking spaces, reserved for operational and emergency vehicles, and none for staff’s private cars. Emmen residents have voiced concern that employees could take local parking spaces. The municipal council plans to raise parking fees, including the cost of annual permits, particularly for people from outside the municipality.

Lucerne Finance Director Reto Wyss said the lack of private-car parking was a deliberate choice, noting that the Seetalplatz location is well served by bus and rail. The building combines 4,000 square metres of timber from Lucerne forests with reinforced concrete, and uses rooftop solar panels, groundwater and industrial waste heat for energy.

Other cantons are also planning to consolidate their administrations. Schwyz is planning a new administration and security centre in Kaltbach, while Basel-Landschaft intends to place part of its administration in a new building at Kreuzboden in Liestal.