SVTI: New academy and conference center opened
After an intensive construction phase, the SVTI Group recently inaugurated the new Academy and Conference Center in Wallisellen. However, the Group is also celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
On July 9, 1869, exactly 150 years ago, the Swiss Association of Steam Boiler Owners was founded in Zurich. The industrialists had joined together to form a special-purpose association. The aim at that time was "to monitor steam boilers in order to prevent explosions as far as possible and to achieve savings in the production and use of steam." This special-purpose association eventually gave rise to the Swiss Association for Technical Inspections (SVTI) came into being. Today, the inspection of the safety of pressure equipment is only a small part of the tasks carried out by the SVTI Group. The purpose of the organization is the prevention of accidents, malfunctions as well as damage and the elimination of hazards in the manufacture and operation of technical equipment of all kinds, as the association describes its activities. Thus, the SVTI is a nuclear, piping and hazardous materials inspectorate, inspectorate for elevators, but also an institute for materials technology, to name just a few activities.
The new academy and conference center
The events in the anniversary year also include the ceremonial opening of the extension building at the headquarters in Wallisellen. This is the new Academy and Conference Center, which was officially inaugurated in mid-May 2019. The only drop of bitterness: Originally, the building should have started operations two years ago. Construction problems ultimately led to the unattractive delay. On the other hand, the new training center will open its doors in the anniversary year. Architecturally, the new building fits in perfectly with the existing building. Thanks to the glass facade, the interior appears flooded with light. The generous glass surfaces represent transparency, to which the SVTI is committed, it says. The new attic floor offers a wonderful view over the densely populated residential and industrial landscape of the area. The wide cantilevered flying roof provides a striking landmark and is clearly visible from the Wallisellen train station opposite.
Entire training activity under one roof
In addition to office floors, the extension primarily houses the new academy and conference center. This means that all training activities in German-speaking Switzerland can be brought together at the headquarters in Wallisellen, writes the SVTI. With an auditorium as well as seminar and conference rooms in various sizes, participants in training and continuing education courses are offered a modern infrastructure. This also includes, for example, the new sprinkler test facility in the underground car park. Those who complete a course in this field receive practical demonstrations of how fire alarms and sprinkler systems work in an emergency. As is well known, further training should not only be top-heavy.
Courses in other parts of the country
As already mentioned, the services of the independent competence center for technical safety and risk management include a comprehensive range of information, training and further education courses. According to the association, this is mainly realized and continuously expanded by the subsidiary Swiss Safety Center AG. It also includes courses for French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland at the branches in Neuchâtel and Lugano.
Click here for a virtual tour of the new SVTI building.
