Platform hall, SBB railway station, Bern

Originally completed in 1974, the platform hall at Bern’s main station is being comprehensively renovated, with completion expected in 2026. All six platforms are being upgraded with modern evacuation and public address systems, improved lighting, and acoustic enhancements—all aimed at improving safety and passenger comfort. SBB is also updating its customer information displays and overhauling the station’s entire wayfinding system.

A key feature of the redesign is a series of multifunctional ceiling panels that integrate technical infrastructure while establishing a consistent, contemporary visual identity. Designed to accommodate the station’s complex platform geometries—curves, tapers, and structural grids—these panels also serve as a canopy, adding a human scale that enhances the spatial experience.

The renovation is part of the broader “Future Bern Station” program and is closely coordinated with SBB’s “Public Facilities Expansion” project. Work is being carried out in phases, with each platform requiring around eight months. To avoid disrupting operations, construction takes place exclusively at night while the station remains open. The proximity to high-voltage lines demands rigorous safety measures. In response, IB developed a custom protective scaffolding system—an innovation introduced for the first time in Switzerland.

lines. To meet these challenges, IB developed a custom protective scaffolding system that had never before been used in Switzerland.