UADM – Uppsala University in Sweden by 3XN

Article source: 3XN

3XN wins architecture competition for university building in Uppsala, Sweden

The new university building unites the past and the future by extending the lines from the historical surroundings into an innovative structure pointing towards future study and work life

Uppsala University has more than 500 years’ of history and thus is one of Sweden’s most established institutions, complete with traditions and an esteemed regard.  At the same time, the University is known as a modern institution for world class research and higher education. Thus, the vision for the new University Building is to bridge the past and the future by creating synergy between location, expression and layout.

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• Architect: 3XN
• Name of Project: UADM – Uppsala University
• Location: Dag Hammerskjölds Väg, Uppsala, Sweden
• Client: Akademiska Hus and University of Uppsala
• Size: 13.000 m2
• 3XN team: Kim Herforth Nielsen, Jan Ammundsen, Christian Wamberg, Olaf Kunert, Tobias Gagner, Stig Vesterager Gothelf, Majbritt Lerche, Rasmus Hjortshøj, Eva Hviid-Nielsen

The building builds a bridge between past and future. Several lines from the historic surroundings are also present in the new building, that through its flexible and open spaces will encourage new ways of working, studying and collaborating, explains Jan Ammundsen, Partner and Head of Competition in 3XN.

The 13,000 m2 university building include a number of sustainable features such as natural ventilation and a facade design protecting from direct solar heat gain, while allowing plenty of daylight inside. Although the building has a light and transparent expression its compact structure minimizes the surface resulting in environmental and operational savings.

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UADM is designed with particular attention to Uppsala University’s historical location and legacy combined with today’s modern and transparent working environments, which invite social interaction in a multi-disciplinary forum. The building will house the University management, administration, restaurant, and a small study hall.

The building concept is a simple construction of overlapping office wings placed on top of each other.  In doing so, the result is an open atrium which unites the building. The atrium is serves as the backdrop for the staircase which not only connects the floors, but also provides mezzanine areas in connection with the atrium.  The building’s entrance and lower floor has a sense for the human scale, while the higher floors open up and grant a treetop view over to the Uppsala Castle, the botanical garden and the university campus area.

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The design of the floorplate gives a dynamic and variation to the whole building. The open spaces increase the experience of being a part of the same environment, while the small and large plazas create the feelings of intimacy and community.

UADM is a multi-purpose building within a unified structure. It respectfully integrates the landscape and lines from the surrounding buildings, most importantly the 16^th century Uppsala Castle.  With flexible design and integrated environments, UADM lives up to the University’s ambition of creating new ways of working, studying and interacting.

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Tags: Sweden, Uppsala

Category: University Building

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