Campus Tensta

Designed by Gösta Uddén, the school was inaugurated in 1984. Some call it “the last truly grand school built in Sweden”, while others argue it should be designated a listed building. Since 2018, it has stood empty, with rumours of demolition causing concern among both architectural experts and the public. However, Hemsö’s vision is the opposite: the school will be carefully restored, ensuring its architectural integrity remains intact.

Letting go of the ego

“As an architect, there’s always a desire to make your mark on a project. But when working with heritage buildings, you have to set aside your own vision in favour of preserving the original structure,” says Josefin Larsson, architect and business developer at Tengbom, specialising in restoration, cultural history, and adaptive reuse.

A cultural restoration detective story

Tengbom has led the extensive renovation, which aims to bring the school back to its original condition while meeting modern requirements for accessibility, acoustics, and fire safety.

“This type of project requires a great deal of creativity. It’s like detective work—less about what you do and more about how you do it,”

says Josefin.

Together with Reichmann Antikvarier, Tengbom has mapped and documented the building’s cultural and historical attributes. As an expert in heritage conservation under Swedish planning law, the antiquarian ensures that all modifications comply with strict preservation regulations.

Patterned concrete and pagoda-inspired roofs

The original complex, designed by Uddén, includes the school, the Tensta Träff community centre, a library, and later a sports and swimming hall. Together, these three buildings form a triangle.

The facades feature high-quality materials such as red brick, patterned cast concrete, laminated wood, and black-painted steel. At the heart of the school, a glass-roofed winter garden floods the interior with natural light. Architectural elements include open-air corridors, diagonally protruding staircases, and dramatically curved roofs inspired by Asian pagodas.

Stockholm’s City Museum has classified the school as a “blue-listed” building—the highest level of heritage protection, meaning it is considered an essential part of Sweden’s cultural heritage.

“For Campus Tensta, this means an absolute prohibition against alterations that could compromise the building’s historic character,” explains Josefin.

Thoughtful additions that blend in

Each space within the school has been assessed for its cultural significance. Architecturally valuable areas are marked as “rooms of special character,” allowing only minimal changes. Other spaces, such as classrooms and restrooms, are being renovated to meet modern standards while preserving the original design.

Campus Tensta’s classrooms are being upgraded with new acoustics, lighting, and accessibility features. Suspended ceilings are being replaced, and all restrooms will receive new tiles, sinks, and toilets. However, in areas such as corridors and the winter garden, everything is being restored to its original state.

“The principle behind the renovation is gentle transformation—we work with the building’s original logic,” says Josefin. “Any additions should blend in rather than stand out, and we prioritise reusing materials whenever possible. New technical systems will be discreetly integrated, and interventions will be minimal yet highly functional.”

Campus Tensta – reviving the original vision

In 2021, Hemsö acquired both the school and the Tensta Träff community centre. The goal was to create Campus Tensta, a space where education and culture come together.

Their vision is to bring together secondary and adult education, higher education, cultural initiatives, and entrepreneurial ventures under one roof.

“We are truly excited to bring life back to these incredible buildings. Our goal is for Campus Tensta to enrich both the local community and Stockholm as a whole—contributing to education, culture, and creativity,” says Johan Einarsson, project developer at Hemsö.

The first step begins in autumn 2024, when Järva Gymnasium moves in. The newly established foundation-based upper secondary school will mark the start of a new era for Campus Tensta.