Österåkers gymnasium

The existing main building had architectural and functional qualities worth preserving. The brick façade was one of them – a period-defining and timeless material. To honour the building’s history and at the same time give the school a contemporary feel, we added modern elements and details. These contrast with the 1950s architecture and bring it into a new light.

Socialising and study in the glass pavilion at Österåkers gymnasium

The new heart of the school is an entirely new building containing the media centre, library and cafeteria. We aimed to give students an inspiring and bright environment where they would want both to socialise and to study. The building we designed is a freestanding glass pavilion, where one part of the interior spans two levels, while the other is an open, airy space with a double-height ceiling. Around the building we placed seating areas and created the possibility for an outdoor theatre.

We aimed to give students an inspiring and bright environment where they would want both to socialise and to study

Forward-leaning architecture – an innovative school

Österåkers gymnasium was selected in 2011 to become a leading school, a so-called Pathfinder School under Microsoft’s innovation programme for schools. According to the school management, the architecture is one of the factors driving the school’s development. Guided by principles such as openness and light, we have developed transparent environments that encourage interaction between both students and teachers.

At Tengbom we have completed an impressive number of schools and educational projects. Feel free to explore our education portfolio for a selection of them!