The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) situated in the scenic countryside of Aas is the leading Norwegian research institution in environmental and biosciences. The university will be merged with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH) and the National Veterinary Institute of Norway (NVI), both located in Oslo. The educational institutions will be consolidated in one large new university and research campus, which is expected to open in 2018.
”A number of architectural, functional and technical issues should be considered in connection with a research and university building of this calibre. In the project team, we have looked into and analysed which competencies are necessary to solve the task”, tells Anders Sælan, architect and associate partner, Henning Larsen Architects. “The project group has vast international experience and specialised knowledge and the Norwegian partners will help to ensure that the project is adapted to the local context.”
The winning team has a long history of cooperation. Henning Larsen Architects has previously cooperated with Multiconsult, NNE Pharmaplan and the Norwegian architecture company Økaw on the national cancer hospital and research centre of Norway, which opened in 2006 and 2009, respectively. The team also consists of Hjellnes Consult and the landscape architects LINK Signatur.
”We will realise the political vision and the architecture is of great importance in terms of reaching the objective of a modern, scientific university environment”, says Anders Sælan. “The buildings will comprise common spaces encouraging network creation across the consolidated institutions and providing the framework for mutual inspiration and informal learning. The detailed design and construction phases will stretch over many years, which means that new technologies and teaching methods will place new demands on the building. Therefore, flexibility is a keyword in the building process in terms of remaining open to new opportunities.”
The competition was a tender competition where nine teams were assessed on the basis of quotation, insight into the project and quality. To begin with, the winning team has been offered a contract for the sketch and outline plan. The construction phase is expected to begin in 2015.