Successful floor refurbishment at Biel Hospital Centre whilst the hospital remained open

The Biel Hospital Centre has been a key part of healthcare provision in the Biel-Seeland region for decades. The existing hospital building has been extended and modernised in several phases and is now one of the region’s most important medical facilities. However, after many years of intensive use, the existing infrastructure has reached its limits. The current Biel Hospital Centre in Brügg will therefore be replaced by a new building in the coming years. Until it is due to open in 2032, however, it is essential to ensure that day-to-day operations continue under optimal conditions.

Around ten years ago, the hospital management began an intensive search for a suitable solution that would allow them to continue using the existing floor coverings in a cost-effective and technically sound manner until the new building was ready for occupation. The hospital centre found what it was looking for at Dr. Schutz GmbH, which is represented in Switzerland by Floor Concept AG.

A key part of this project was the comprehensive refurbishment of the floor coverings in the existing building. Between 2018 and 2025, over 2,100 square metres of flooring were replaced whilst the hospital remained open. The previous floor coverings – including parquet, rubber, PVC flooring, cement-based floors and cork – no longer met the current requirements of a modern hospital in terms of hygiene, chemical resistance and durability.

Dr. Schutz’s Floorremake system provided an efficient and sustainable solution. The innovative refurbishment system enabled the work to be carried out safely whilst the hospital remained open – without any significant noise, dust or odour emissions. This meant that disruption to patients and hospital staff was kept to a minimum.

A key advantage of this sustainable floor refurbishment solution lies in its ability to refurbish a wide variety of existing floor coverings. At the same time, the system offers great freedom in terms of colour and design, with customisable options for different areas and floors. The new surfaces also impress with their high chemical resistance and extreme durability in day-to-day hospital operations. Furthermore, the solution proved to be significantly more cost-effective than completely replacing the floors.

For each project, a bespoke colour scheme with subtle chip accents was developed, helping to improve wayfinding and create a pleasant atmosphere. The refurbishment was then completed using Dr. Schutz’s highly durable and chemical-resistant transparent ‘Anticolor’ topcoat, which is specifically designed for high-traffic areas in the healthcare sector and is resistant to disinfectants and dyes.

The refurbishment work was carried out by Zannetos AG. The company, based in Biel, specialises in the refurbishment of floor coverings and is a certified distribution partner of the Floorremake system.

The response to the project has been consistently positive. Markus Graf, Head of Buildings and Premises at Spitalzentrum Biel AG, is very pleased with the result: both patients and staff appreciate the modern look, the improved hygiene and the high quality of the new flooring.

Thanks to the successful floor refurbishment, the Biel Hospital Centre was able to modernise its infrastructure in a targeted manner and create optimal conditions in the run-up to the new building coming into service.

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