Launch of the ‘Old Building Renovation’ project

Renovation work on the historic building will begin in mid-2026. The original building of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich, which opened in 1917, will be completely renovated and adapted to meet modern requirements. The focus is on protecting valuable books and manuscripts. We will be happy to keep you updated here on the progress of the work.

The old building was completed in 1917 and partially renovated in 1983. Many of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich special collections are housed here. These collections are subject to the most stringent climatic requirements regarding the storage and preservation of these valuable items. To ensure that the premises in the old building meet today’s requirements for the protection of cultural property and comply with current standards, the storage conditions must be optimised.

Thank you for your patience and for taking note

During these construction phases, there will be noise and restrictions on the use of the Zentralbibliothek Zürich. On this page, we will keep you updated on the work currently taking place in the building. Thank you very much for your understanding and support, so that the Zentralbibliothek can continue to shape our cityscape in the future and the premises can be used in a way that is even better tailored to your needs.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve our service during this time and make your stay with us more enjoyable: feedback@uzh.zb.ch

Work in progress:

Time	Location	Issues
26. May - 4. June 2026	Main Building and ground floor	The dismantling of the glass enclosure may cause some temporary noise.
1. July	Historic Building	The Zentralbibliothek Zürich is no longer accessible via the usual main entrance. The alternative main entrance is located at the rear of the building, between the administration wing and the public wing. This entrance is wheelchair accessible. The closure of the main entrance marks the start of the construction site set-up.
15–23 August 2026	Main Building	Building inspection: Changed opening hours at the ZB
From September/October	Historic Building	Expected start date for the renovation of the Zentralbibiliothek historic building