5-million-franc street improvements needed to accommodate the expected increase in traffic. The venerable educational institution will contribute to this effort, without which the campus in Schönried would not be possible.

 

A campus is born

Bursting at the seams at its current Gstaad location, Institut Le Rosey was under pressure to secure plans for a new campus. But where? The location was subject to significant debate, as several parcels were considered and abandoned by the school. Some refused to be relinquished by their landowners, while others had zoning issues that could not be resolved despite best efforts.

In 2009, the board of trustees of Ferienheim Fraubrunnen approved the sale of Erli, a 40,000 m² plot, to Le Rosey. The sale, however, would only be legally valid with planning permission. The project plans for “Erli” and “Ausbau Hubelstrasse” now approved, Le Rosey can take next steps for transforming the four-hectare Erli parcel into a campus which will accommodate 450 students and 100 staff.

 

Concerns voiced in the council

The project will have follow-up costs, such as wastewater and water, but voters have been assured that the building and property owners will shoulder those costs, not the community itself. Shuttle buses – rather than private cars – are expected to transport students.

Despite these assurances and the Council’s ready approval, questions regarding snow removal and ski slopes which cross the street remain. Additionally, the intersection at Bettlersmatteweg and Hubelstrasse has been deemed unsatisfactory and considered a security risk.

 

Keeping Institut Le Rosey local

A close friend of the Saanenland, Institut Le Rosey has been bringing students to spend the winter months in Gstaad since 1916. Close to four hundred students and 100 staff members relocate to Gstaad each year, providing a significant economic boost to the region. Moreover, it fosters long-term tourism as students grow to love Gstaad and often return with their families for many years to come.

With the approved “Erli” project and expansion of Hubelstrasse, both the community and Le Rosey can now breathe a sigh of relief while they await official building approval from the canton. Courted extensively by other cantons and communities, such as Crans-Montana, Le Rosey has secured its nearly 100-year old home in Gstaad for future generations.