PFAS contamination halts Bern University of Applied Sciences campus construction

Construction of the new Bern University of Applied Sciences campus has been halted since late 2025 after PFAS chemicals were found in the soil, delaying the project for around 7,000 students and staff. The contamination stems from firefighting foam used during a 1999 tire warehouse fire. Owner SBB is preparing a remediation plan, with costs split among SBB, the federal government, the canton, and possibly Bern. Estimated project cost has risen to 450 million francs from 350 million approved in 2022. Neighbours, including a local music school, are frustrated, as initial timelines targeted completion in 2026. Project manager Eugen Wagner said legal and liability issues now dominate his work, but he remains optimistic the building will eventually rise.