Urban Project

What Urban Project does

Urban Project SA is a Swiss real estate development and project steering firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Geneva, with a regional branch in Bulle opened in September 2022. The company operates as a project owner's representative (maître d'ouvrage) and developer, providing end-to-end services across the full real estate lifecycle — pre-development analysis, neighborhood master planning (plans de quartier), architecture competition organization, construction management, and property commercialization/handover — primarily serving French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie) across the Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel, and Ticino cantons.

The firm is built on a multidisciplinary team of approximately 40 architects, engineers, urban planners, economists, accountants, and construction specialists operating under SIA-standard project phase methodology. Its technology stack is process-based rather than product-based: structured project steering protocols, sustainability certification management (SNBS-Bâtiment, SNBS-Quartier, 2000-Watt Site), and coordinated multi-stakeholder workflows linking architects, engineers, municipalities, foundations, and contractors. Urban Project SA is part of an integrated real estate ecosystem with Edifea (general contractor), Barnes (brokerage), and Gerofinance-Régie du Rhône (property management), sharing the Avenue de l'Étang 69 headquarters in Châtelaine.

Revenue is generated entirely through professional services fees tied to project-specific mandates — development fees, construction management fees, and commercialization services — with pricing not publicly disclosed. Customer mix spans property developers, municipalities/public authorities (notably Ville de Vernier), foundations, and institutional clients (Edmond de Rothschild), with flagship engagements including the 11-hectare Quartier de l'Étang reconversion in Vernier and the 50,000+ m² Small City industrial hotel in Lancy. The company is privately held, originally seeded by Bugena SA's project pipeline in 2011, restructured in 2015 (when it took its current name), and supported by the Claude Berda family with no venture capital or private equity backing disclosed.

Name

Urban Project

Legal name

URBAN PROJECT SA

Website

https://urbanproject-sa.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Project SA is a Swiss real estate development and project steering firm serving property developers, municipalities, and foundations across French-speaking Switzerland with end-to-end project management from land acquisition through commercialization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development & Project Management

NAICS

Land Subdivision (23721), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL), Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Real estate project management
• Urban planning services
• Construction project steering
• Neighborhood development
• Property development

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Lignon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Project Development Fees: Fees earned for developing and steering real estate projects from concept through realization, representing project owners (maître d'ouvrage) throughout the development process.
2. Construction Management: Project steering, supervision, coordination and execution of construction work, representing project owners throughout the construction process.
3. Property Commercialization: Valorization and marketing services for developed properties, including coordination of interior/exterior design, permits, and commercial space positioning.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Urban Project SA provides real estate development and project management services in French-speaking Switzerland, representing project owners (maître d'ouvrage) from land acquisition through property exploitation. The firm coordinates architects, engineers, urban planners, and construction professionals across all SIA project phases, and develops neighborhood plans (plans de quartier), manages construction, and handles property commercialization. Its portfolio spans housing, offices, retail, logistics, and public infrastructure projects.

Product overview

Urban Project SA is a real estate development and project management company founded in 2011, operating primarily in French-speaking Switzerland. The company offers an integrated suite of services spanning the entire real estate development lifecycle: from pre-development and urban planning (plans de quartier) through construction management and project handover. Key flagship projects include the Quartier de l'Étang (Évolution+) - an 11-hectare urban reconversion in Vernier, Geneva; Small City - a 50,000+ m² industrial activities center in Lancy; and Les Jardins de la Pâla - a heritage conversion project in Bulle. The company also provides property marketing and commercialization services, working with sales teams to manage residential, commercial, and retail property sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quartier de l'Étang (Évolution+) Large-scale urban reconversion transforming an 11-hectare former industrial brownfield site in Vernier, Geneva into a mixed-use neighborhood with housing, commercial spaces, and public amenities; first-ever combined SNBS Building and SNBS Neighborhood certification achieved in September 2023.
• Small City Industrial hotel project offering over 50,000 m² of flexible spaces for workshops, warehouses, showrooms, and start-ups in Lancy, Geneva; targets industrial and commercial tenants needing flexible floor plans.
• Quartier des Jardins de la Pâla Urban reconversion project in Bulle transforming a former military arsenal into a mixed residential and commercial district with heritage preservation elements.
• Construction Project Steering Services Full-service representation of project owners (maître d'ouvrage) throughout construction, including steering, supervision, coordination, and quality control across all SIA construction project phases.
• Urban Planning / Plans de Quartier Services Design and development of neighborhood master plans (plans de quartier) across Switzerland, particularly French-speaking regions, including regulatory approval processes with municipal and cantonal authorities.
• Handover and Quality Control Services SIA expert teams examine construction defects and ensure proper project handover with warranty support up to two years after completion.
• La Prairie de Jéricho Neighborhood development near Bulle conceived as a 'habited park' with approximately 430 housing units and diverse typologies, promoting mixed-use and quality of life; car-free surface design with high-performance energy approach.
• Quartier Saint-Michel Neighborhood project in Moudon, Vaud, developed in partnership with Saint-Michel Properties SA, located within 40 minutes of Lausanne, Yverdon, Fribourg, Bulle, and Payerne.
• Quartier de la Suettaz Rehabilitation neighborhood project in Nyon developed in partnership with LSR Logements Sociaux Romands SA, SCHL Société Coopérative d'Habitation Lausanne, and SI Les Lupins Nyon SA.

Quantifiable outcome

• First SNBS-Bâtiment & SNBS-Quartier certificate achieved for Quartier de l'Étang (September 2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• EdifeacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Swiss-French general contractor based in Geneva and Lutry. Edifea became a significant partner when Urban Project SA became one of its newly entered shareholders. Companies share headquarters building in Geneva forming an integrated real estate competency hub.
• Gérofinance-Dunand–Régie du Rhône/BarnescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Major real estate group including Gérofinance-Régie du Rhône (largest property management agency in French-speaking Switzerland), Barnes (real estate brokerage), and Barnes Commercial Realty (commercial real estate). Urban Project is part of this group and shares office space.
• Bugena SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Parent company whose real estate projects Urban Project was originally created to develop. Urban Project founders developed Bugena SA's numerous real estate projects starting in 2011.
• belandscapestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm founded in 2010 by Laurent Essig, Patrick Berno, and David Loriot. Provided landscaping expertise for Quartier de l'Étang public spaces and amenities, developing ambitious proposals for climate challenges and urban heat islands. Also working on future mobility link between Quartier de l'Étang and Vernier train station.
• Fondation pour les Terrains Industriels (FTI)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneva foundation for industrial land development. Partnered with Urban Project for Small City industrial hotel project development in Petit-Lancy.
• PCM Opérateur Urbain SAcoreOthersSeparate entity within the group focused on Quartier de l'Étang development operations, formerly part of Privera Construction Management before restructuring.
• EGCD SAminorOthersConstruction management department that separated from Privera Construction Management during 2015 restructuring, continuing internal construction operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Implenia AG: Switzerland's largest construction and real estate services group with significant development activity. Comparable as a broad incumbent in real estate development and project execution, though much larger and more diversified than Urban Project.
• Losinger Marazzi AG: Bouygues Construction subsidiary active as developer and contractor for large Swiss real estate and urban projects. Comparable in scale and integrated developer-contractor model, but operates more broadly across Switzerland and beyond.
• Steiner AG: Swiss general contractor and developer active across residential, commercial and mixed-use real estate. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Swiss real estate project development with a wider portfolio than Urban Project's Romandie focus.

Direct peers

• HRS Real Estate AG: Swiss real estate developer and total service provider active in large mixed-use and urban reconversion projects. Highly comparable to Urban Project in business model (developer + project steering) and Swiss market focus, though larger in scale.
• Itten+Brechbühl AG: Swiss architecture, planning and project management firm. Comparable to Urban Project in multidisciplinary project delivery across housing, commercial and urban regeneration in the Swiss market.
• Burckhardt+Partner AG: Swiss architecture and general planning firm delivering complex building and urban projects. Comparable to Urban Project in project steering and planning expertise, particularly for larger Swiss mixed-use developments.
• Edifea SA: Swiss-French general contractor based in Geneva and Lutry, co-located with and a partner of Urban Project. Directly comparable as a construction execution partner serving the same Geneva-area developer clients.
• Halter AG: Swiss developer providing Gesamtleistungen (total services) including project development, planning, and realization. Directly comparable to Urban Project's integrated development and construction management offering for large Swiss real estate projects.

Emerging players

• Marti Gesamtleistungen AG: Swiss subsidiary of the Marti Group offering total contractor / developer services for complex real estate projects. Comparable to Urban Project in integrated project delivery for mixed-use developments in Switzerland.

Regional players

• SBB Immobilien (CFF Immobilier): Real estate arm of Swiss Federal Railways managing and developing large Swiss mixed-use sites around stations. Comparable in handling complex, multi-stakeholder urban projects in Switzerland, though driven by a single institutional owner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/urban_project_sa
• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanProjectSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-project-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/urban_project_sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Project