François Chapuis Appointed New Director of Real Estate and Facility Management

François Chapuis has been appointed as the first ordinary Director of Real Estate and Facility Management of the University of Zurich (UZH). The appointment by the Executive Board of the University was approved by the Board of the University. François Chapuis, who is 51 years old, currently holds the position of cantonal master builder (Kantonsbaumeister) and heads up the real estate department of the Canton of Aargau. He previously led the real estate and operations section at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen. His proven track record includes many years of management experience in the construction and real estate sector as well as degrees in building engineering and information systems and a Master of Advanced Studies in Real Estate Management. Chapuis is married, father of four children and lives in Wettingen. “I look forward to shaping the future development of the University of Zurich,” says François Chapuis. “The new autonomy in construction and real estate affairs is a great opportunity for the future.” Chapuis will succeed Peter Bodmer, who has been heading up the directorate on an interim basis, as of 1 December 2018.

Infrastructure central to university appeal 

The Directorate for Real Estate and Facility Management was created as of 1 January 2018 to meet the demands of managing and realizing large-scale construction projects over the coming decades. UZH acts independently in matters relating to new building and renovation projects and thus plans and realizes the buildings for its students, researchers and employees itself. “The quality of infrastructure is central to the appeal of a university,” says President Michael Hengartner. “I’m thus delighted that François Chapuis, an expert with a proven track record, has decided to join the University.”

In light of the strategic significance of real estate development of UZH, the new director will also be a member of the Executive Board of the University. In future, the Executive Board of the University will be made up of seven members, i.e. five members of academia (the President, three Vice Presidents, as well as the Vice President Medicine) and two technical specialists (Director of Finances and Human Resources and Director of Real Estate and Facility Management).