Archives

Future Campus Luleå

Conditioned by the climate
Architecture
Education, Health
Client: Akademiska hus
Location: Luleå
Assignment year: 2024-
Visualizations: Tengbom

Luleå University of Technology is facing one of the largest transformations in the history of its campus. Together with Akademiska Hus, Tengbom is working on four new blocks that will develop large parts of the area and make room for research, teaching and student life for many years to come.

With a planned investment of around SEK 5.5 billion, it is Akademiska Hus’s largest project ever. And in the midst of the transformation, the university’s operations continue. Research, teaching and laboratories must keep functioning while people gradually begin using the new environments.

The project is led by Akademiska hus. Our team from the Stockholm, Luleå and Piteå offices brings together building architects, landscape architects and sustainability specialists working together to create a cohesive architecture. A clear design language connects buildings, outdoor environments and pedestrian routes. The setting should be as inspiring as it is easy to navigate.

The climate sets the conditions

For much of the year, everyday life in the north is shaped by snow, wind and shifting light conditions. This affects not only how people move, but also how the buildings are used and experienced. The roofs are designed to manage the snow loads. Entrances and pedestrian routes provide shelter from weather and wind. Light plays an important role, both outdoors and indoors.

“In Luleå, the climate is a fundamental condition. It affects everything from how we design the roofs to how entrances and routes function for much of the year. Here, the technical solutions become part of the architecture,” says Eyvind Bergström, design lead architect at Tengbom.

At the same time, the ambition has been to make the campus more open and vibrant. New routes, activities and a park are now being developed, making it both easier and more natural to spend time outdoors on the campus.

Research with diverse needs

Luleå University of Technology plays an important role in the green transition in northern Sweden. The university conducts some of the country’s most advanced research environments in areas including industry, technology and materials development. The new blocks therefore need to accommodate many different types of activities in parallel.

These range from vibration-sensitive research and heavy laboratories to teaching environments, offices, workshops and a clinical training centre. In block D, we also designed an arena for 600 people that, in everyday use, also functions as two separate case-study classrooms.

In block G, the most vibration-sensitive research is gathered in a building where the structure itself is critical to the activity. Parts of the building are anchored directly to the bedrock to minimize vibrations from the surroundings.

From vibration-sensitive research to clinical training facilities

“Designing buildings for activities with extremely high and sometimes completely opposing requirements presents major challenges. Having vibration-generating operations and vibration-sensitive equipment in the same area is one such example,” explains Eyvind Bergström.

To make the activities work together, the team has worked to gather and distribute functions within the blocks and adapt the structure and building components to different needs. In some areas, metre-thick concrete structures are required to create stability. At the same time, the ambitions for low climate impact are high.

“There are parts of the project where very robust structures are necessary. In those cases, we have needed to compensate in other ways, including working extensively with timber where possible,” Eyvind continues.

A city under one roof

In block D, several of the campus’s functions are gathered around a large south-facing atrium. Here there is space for study, conversation, lectures and social meetings between departments that were previously more separate. The tiered staircase and open balconies become a place where people can sit between lectures, meet over coffee or gather for larger events. Inside, timber plays an important role and contributes to a warm atmosphere in contrast to the more technically defined laboratory environments.

“A good and attractive work environment is important. The environments also need to be able to change quickly when new needs and research projects arise,”

says Anna Morén Sahlin, lead architect at Tengbom.

A campus that continues to change

The transformation of the campus will take place in stages over many years. When the project is complete, the university will have new environments for research, teaching and student life, while the campus will also have become more cohesive and more open to its surroundings. For us at Tengbom, the project is as much about the people who will use the environments every day as it is about the buildings themselves.

“We wanted to make the campus more vibrant and truly place the students at the centre. It is about both everyday life and creating better conditions for meetings between people from several different activities and fields of research,” concludes Anna Morén Sahlin.

Contact person

Anna Morén

+46 841 03 54 47

Related

Djäkneparken sports hall

We borrowed a piece of the sky
Architecture
Education, Sports & Health
Client: Norrköping Municipality
Location: Norrköping
Project years: 2023-2026
What: Competition-winning proposal for a new sports hall
Visualizations: Play-Time

When the ground runs out, you have to think vertically. In Djäkneparken in Norrköping, we designed a sports hall for a site already full of activity. We thought: more surfaces, a better schoolyard, and a point of orientation in the city. Not an object in a park—even if it happens to be precisely that.

In the middle of the lush urban park, you find Djäkneparken School. Here, children balance play, lessons, and rest throughout the day. And this is where the new sports hall will be located. From the competition stage, our ambition was for the building to feel like a natural element of the schoolyard.

It was not only about adding a new function. Equally important was to build on the already vibrant place. To find thoughtful ways of creating new conditions for play and movement. The building would frame the street space, become part of the cityscape, and make the area more usable for more hours of the day.

— There was a clear idea that the sports hall should become a natural part of its surroundings. Not an object in the park, but something that belongs there, says Joao Pereira, lead architect and office director at Tengbom in Linköping

Competition concept

In the competition proposal, we formulated the idea: a timber building with a sports hall, stands, and an active roof park that returned space to the city. After the win, the work continued and the idea was further developed.

The program was adapted to the school’s specific needs. The structure was adjusted. Together with the client and the city architect, we refined the design.

— After the competition, the real work begins. That is when the ideas must function in practice and hold all the way to built reality,

says Jonatan Svensson, architect.

A significant change can be seen in the façade. The arches now open outward instead of terminating downward. This gives the building a calmer meeting with the street and a stronger connection to the adjacent buildings. In our competition proposal, we envisioned a timber structure. In the continued work, it was replaced by concrete—a change that emerged at the intersection of budget, technology, and feasibility.

— But several core ideas remain: how the building meets the ground, how the façade filters light, and how the building relates to the park’s green spaces, explains Jonatan.

The content also changed. From a larger sports hall with stands, the hall was refined to meet the school’s needs. This affected both scale and use.

— This is the stage where the project truly lands. We need to be responsive to the site, the financial framework, and how the building will actually be used in everyday life. At the same time, we cannot lock ourselves into today’s solutions—how we use our buildings today will not look the same in 15 years, says Joao Pereira.

Hold on to what carries

At every stage, as architects, we ask: what matters most here, and how do we arrive at a collective solution? For us, it was about holding on to what carries the project—the relationship to the site, movement through the building, and the connection between inside and outside.

— The roof park is a good example. It creates new open spaces in a dense urban environment and ensures that the building not only occupies land but also gives something back, says Jonatan.

At the same time, the hall becomes something of a crowning element. It frames, orients, and activates the area.

Life on the roof

During the day, students move between the schoolyard and the hall. During lessons, the hall fills with bouncing balls and high energy. We also hope that some students stay a while after school—perhaps in the break areas facing the street.

On top of the roof, there is a world of its own, with a running track, play areas, and spaces for socializing. A perfect between-classes oasis.

Inside, the materials and structure reinforce the experience. The wood provides a warm and clear framing of the activity, while the large open spaces make it easy to adapt the hall to different uses.

The value of what is used

For us, the project and the architecture ultimately come down to what they add to everyday life. More space for movement. A better-functioning schoolyard. A place that is used every day—by students, teachers, and others moving through the area.

Djäkneparken sports hall is the result of many decisions, adjustments, and priorities. From competition proposal to completed building.

— It is very satisfying as an architect to see your vision realized. Not identical to the initial idea, but still true to what made it worth building, concludes Joao Pereira.

The procurement of the contractor has now been completed, and the project is ready to move into the construction phase.

Contact person

Joao Pereira

+46 708 79 99 38

Related

Henriksdalskolan

Home-like
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape
Education
Client: Vellinge Municipality
Location: Vellinge
Completed: 2025
Category: Architecture, interior, landscape
Photography: Mads Frederik

How large can a school become without feeling large? What happens when a preschool to grade 9 school is divided into smaller buildings, courtyards, and pathways? At Henriksdalskolan in Höllviken, architecture, interior design, and outdoor environments shape a cohesive everyday life—rooted in traditional building culture and village structure. And with a sense of safety throughout.

When we were commissioned to design a new school in Vellinge, the goal was clear: the school should be a safe and welcoming place—both during and after school hours. A municipal framework for increased safety in and around school environments became an important starting point in the design process.

— Our goal was to create environments where students and staff feel safe, included, and involved. Using our methodology Socially sustainable living environment, we were able to define and follow up on social values throughout the entire process, says Ellen Persson, lead architect at Tengbom in Malmö.

Dividing the large

So how do you make a larger school building fit into a small-scale context? The detailed development plan provided a long, linear building volume to work with. We chose to break it down and divide it into smaller buildings and clearly defined parts, allowing the school to feel more like a cluster of buildings than a single large one.

The materials, in turn, anchor the building to its place. Brick and wood reference the surrounding environment and help the building settle naturally into its context.

The design draws on the Scanian building tradition with a courtyard structure of four wings. This creates sheltered courtyards with protection from the wind and clearly defined spaces for staying and gathering. At the same time, they open toward the flat landscape, making the site easy to read and navigate.

Learning in motion

All learning environments were planned with flexibility in mind. The spaces were designed to evolve over time and adapt to different pedagogical needs without losing clarity. Circulation routes, niches, and shared areas function as natural meeting places for teaching, collaboration, and rest.

— Each classroom, group room, and break area has its own identity, yet they are tied together by a common thread in materials, light, and proportions. This creates environments that feel both cohesive and varied, says Kajsa Larsson, project architect.

A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions.

Materials with meaning

We carefully selected materials and colors to create a calm, durable, and legible environment. The foundation consists of natural materials and muted tones.

Three thematic landscape elements—beach, heathland, and pine grove—recur in the color palette and material choices. This gives each part of the school its own character while maintaining a coherent whole.

— We are particularly proud of the wood paneling and how it contributes to a robust, sound-absorbing, tactile, and beautiful indoor environment, Kajsa continues.

Creative schoolyard – also for bats

The client’s intention was for the schoolyard to become an integrated part of the community. No fences or walls exclude—everyone has access to the yard after school hours.

An ambitious lighting concept was developed to ensure the schoolyard felt safe even in the evening. But adjustments were needed. Existing bat colonies risked being disturbed by the planned lighting, so the concept was adapted to suit the bats’ sensitive navigation abilities. A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions.

One step ahead throughout the construction phase

It is during construction that many aspects are put to the test. Decisions must be made quickly, and new questions arise along the way. Being involved throughout the entire construction phase and working proactively ensured a highly successful result.

— By being present on site weekly, we were able to address questions immediately and, through close dialogue with the client and contractor, find solutions that were both cost-effective and well-functioning, concludes Kajsa Larsson.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

Related

Bottnarydsskolan

It should be easy to be small
Architecture
Education
Client: Jönköping Municipality
Location: Jönköping
GFA: 3 622+1 548 sqm (school + sports hall)
Project years: 2020-2025
Collaborators: AFRY, SWECO, WSP, Billingham & Flygare, Ramboll
Photography: Felix Gerlach

In Bottnaryd, a new primary school is taking shape — a school that might as well have stood here for generations. The surrounding nature and everyday life set the tone. The forest framing the site, the villages the students come from, and the natural architecture already present in the community.

When planning the new school, the challenge was clear: a relatively small site but with great responsibility. About 240 children will spend their days here, many of them bussed in from various locations. This required a structure that is intuitive from the very first step — clear entrances, smooth internal circulation, and a natural connection to the adjacent sports hall.

A sense of home on the schedule

The two buildings that make up the school and sports hall are designed to feel both new and familiar. We drew inspiration from the old 1950s school and the surrounding houses. Gabled roofs, brick, wood, and a scale the residents of Bottnaryd recognize. By breaking the buildings into smaller volumes, they become easier to comprehend — both from the outside and the inside. Corridors are shorter, pathways more legible, and daily life, hopefully, easier to grasp.

— We want the children to feel at home quickly. That’s why we worked with clear building volumes, fine, honest materials, and welcoming entrances. The reused brick is essential for the identity. It carries a story the students now get to continue.

David Christoffersson, project lead at Tengbom

The red brick around the school’s façade has its own story. It is reused, with variations and traces of its previous life that no newly manufactured façade could replicate. Together with the timber structure of the sports hall, it gives the school a warm, grounded personality. A building that changes with the light and the seasons.

Bottnaryd
Bottnaryd
Landscape architects for Bottnarydsskolan are Billingham & Flygare
Bottnaryd

Order with care

Inside, the same idea continues. It should feel safe, logical, and inviting. Students enter through two dedicated stairwells and reach their classroom wings without hassle. The spaces are flexible and ready to adapt to the pedagogy — not the other way around. As it should be.

The materials were chosen with care. Light plywood and ash give the rooms a warm stability, and each classroom wing has its own color scheme in deep, nature-inspired tones drawn from the ancient forest outside. Running in the hallways, wet mittens, eager backpacks — the surfaces here are made to withstand everyday life while dampening sound. A robust, warm foundation for learning and living.

Corridors are shorter, pathways more legible, and daily life easier

Art for the imagination

In the stairwells, materials take on another dimension. Artist Emma Löfström based her marquetry on the school’s plywood. The forest inspired the patterns and motifs. The idea is for the artwork to become a natural part of the children’s daily movement through the building. A quiet companion that tells of the place and also opens the door to imagination.

— For us, it was crucial that the school would naturally settle into Bottnaryd. Wood, brick, and solid materials create both calm and long-term sustainability. I like how the playful courtyard, the artwork in the stairwell, and the two building volumes together form a whole the children can make their own, says David.

A winner!

As a testament to the thoughtful material choices and design, the school has been nominated for the Jönköping City Planning Award.

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

Related

Österåkers gymnasium

A modern 1950s gem
Architecture
Education
Client:
Location: Åkersberga
Developer: Ebab i Stockholm AB
Commission year: 2009-2010
Project type: Upper secondary school

In 2009 we were commissioned to transform the 1950s Berga högstadieskola into a modern upper secondary school. The project involved both refurbishment and extension, carried out in close collaboration between our architects in education, interior design and landscape. Meet: 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!

Contact person

Lina Swanberg

+46 8 412 53 36

Related

Brännkärrsskolan

Flexible and nature-oriented school
Architecture
Education
Client: Kommunfastigheter
Location: Alsike, Knivsta
Completed: 2013
Project Type: New construction, grades F–5
Area: Ca 4 500 m²

Tengbom’s commission was to create a spatial programme for a school accommodating just over 300 pupils, with the principal requirement that the building should easily adapt to future needs. At the same time, a study was conducted regarding the potential development of an untouched forest area in Alsike. The client’s wish was for a school with strong architecture and warmth, harmoniously integrated into this specific natural setting. The result is Brännkärrsskolan.

The main building of Brännkärrsskolan features a brick façade, while the adjoining volumes are clad in horizontal timber panels. Internally, we placed great emphasis on selecting durable materials and achieving a high level of architectural expression to help create a creative and stimulating learning environment. The carefully designed visual connections make the building easy to navigate and enhance contact with the surrounding landscape.

Play meets convention at Brännkärrsskolan

Natural light flows through the building and adds energy to the spaces. In selected areas, we introduced loose furnishings to bring in a playful character. Meanwhile, the classrooms follow a more traditional interior layout. Acoustics play a vital role in any school, so we worked closely with specialists to integrate sound quality into the architecture. Specially designed panels are one example.

The flow of natural light adds a sense of dynamism to the spaces.

Our team has been involved in the project from the initial programming and detailed planning phases through to completion. Tengbom also took part during the construction phase, working in close collaboration with the client and contractor.

At the same time, Tengbom has designed and built a wide range of schools across Sweden. Feel free to explore our portfolio, where you will find a selection of our projects.

Contact person

Lina Swanberg

+46 8 412 53 36

Related

NEO & Technology for Health

A foundation for innovation
Architecture
Education, Health, Life Science
Client: Hemsö
Project duration: 2013–2017
Developer: TKV AB (SveaNor and Hemsö)
Area: TFH – 22,000 sqm, Neo – 26,000 sqm

NEO and Technology for Health are part of the Stockholm region’s ongoing Life Science initiative. These two new buildings at Karolinska Huddinge in Flemingsberg are designed as an education and research center, with a transparent environment that fosters creativity and synergy. Through our commission to design the entire center, we are actively contributing to a fertile ground for future innovation.

Life Science is a complex concept, and an exciting field of the future. It encompasses disciplines such as medicine, biology, chemistry, technology, informatics, and materials science. It is also a collective term for the sector that includes private and public healthcare, pharmaceuticals, patient and medical organizations, education, research, and much more.

Stockholm’s commitment to Life Science

The Stockholm region is actively investing in Life Science. The focus lies in building meeting places where institutions can collaborate and exchange knowledge. One example is the Life Science cluster near New Karolinska Solna in Hagastaden. Another is the new education and research centre taking shape next to Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge. We play an active role in both projects — and together, they signal a strong commitment to innovation in healthcare and science.

Photo: Felix Gerlach

A gathering place that fosters knowledge and innovation

Transparency creates synergy

The new education and research center at Karolinska Huddinge will be housed in two entirely new buildings – NEO and Technology for Health. Both are owned by SveaNor and Hemsö through their joint company TKV Fastighets AB. Our vision for the center is based on their ambition to create synergy between education, research, and the business sector. We are designing an open and transparent environment that promotes spontaneous encounters between various activities, with close proximity to workplaces, learning environments, the hospital, and Södertörn University nearby.

Technology and Health

Two buildings – one vision

Technology for Health, the project’s first phase, opened in July 2016. This new building, directly connected to the hospital, is specifically tailored to the needs of its new tenants, KTH School of Technology and Health, and the Red Cross University College. Interior spaces open toward a brightly lit atrium featuring angled staircases and balconies designed to encourage informal meetings.

The project’s second phase, NEO, will be home to Karolinska Institutet. The building is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Here too, we have designed spaces aligned with our shared project vision. From an open, social ground floor, there is visual connection to the advanced research and laboratory environments above. Within the atrium, we have created an auditorium. A spherical form in semi-transparent concrete that shifts in color through an LED lighting system, generating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.

We have paid careful attention to reflect the vision of Life Science environments in the exteriors of both buildings. The façades, with floor-to-ceiling glass panels interspersed with striking metallic lattices in varied sections, signal both transparency and advanced technical precision. The commercial ground floor surrounding the buildings invites people from across the area to meet and network. A gathering place that fosters knowledge and innovation.

Contact person

Anna Morén

+46 841 03 54 47

Related

Rödaberg School

A new chapter on the hill
Architecture
Education
Client: Skolfastigheter i Stockholm AB, SISAB
Project years: 2014–2023
Scope: Renovation, architectural extension, new sports hall, fixed interiors
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

The first thing you notice is the brick. Warm and red, in shades ranging from dark brown to light burnt tones. Rödaberg School has stood here since 1953, designed by Paul Hedqvist – one of the architects who most clearly shaped post-war Stockholm. When we continued developing the school, our goal was to preserve its historic legacy while also creating new environments where children can grow, learn, and feel safe.

The expansion increased the school’s capacity from 640 to 1,040 students. It gained new specialist classrooms, learning environments for younger children, and a pedagogical outdoor space. We also designed a new large-scale kitchen, an expanded dining hall, and a full-size sports hall – today an important resource for the entire district. Adjacent to the school lies Rödaberg Park, which serves as the schoolyard.

An embracing school in the heart of the city

Brick, volumes, and light were key elements in Hedqvist’s design, and these became our starting points. The new building volumes frame a courtyard that functions as the heart of the school – a place for play, movement, and calm. Outside, S:t Eriksgatan buzzes with life, but within the ring of buildings, children encounter a safe and sheltered environment. In the evenings, the courtyard becomes a neighborhood park for local residents.

Hedqvist’s French windows

In the new section facing S:t Eriksplan, classrooms are broken up by bay windows – small glazed alcoves where students can retreat for a moment while still being part of the community. Their form references Hedqvist’s French windows, while at the same time pointing forward toward new ways of thinking about learning environments.

“Paul Hedqvist chose to place a French window in every classroom where the teacher sat at the desk. The bay windows in the new buildings are instead designed for the students, but they still nod to Hedqvist’s original design,”

Karolina Lorentzi, architect and business developer in educational environments at Tengbom.

A sports hall of glass and light

The new sports hall rises to the north, where Hagastaden meets the E4 motorway. Almost the entire long side is glazed. During the day, light floods the courts; in the evening, the hall glows like an eye in the cityscape. It is both a space for body and movement and a clear signal to the city: here, there is life, here, things are happening.

The hall echoes the art room at the top floor of the original school building, which has a large panoramic window letting in daylight.

Above the sports hall sits the library, designed as a half rotunda – a quiet space for reading and reflection. Higher still are the science classrooms, bright and spacious rooms where knowledge and city views share space.

Brick that carries time

It’s hard to imagine Rödaberg School in any material other than brick. Robust, beautiful, and timeless. The original façades have strong character, bearing the kiln marks of their making. To carry the heritage forward while adding our own imprint, we chose, together with the City Planning Office, a red brick façade that ties together the old and the new.

“We wanted the same material expression around the park that serves as the schoolyard, incorporating both Paul Hedqvist’s building and the old brick building across from it. The new buildings needed to echo that same character,” says Karolina Lorentzi.

Contact person

Karolina Lorentzi

Practice Director Linköping och Kalmar
+46 841 03 54 36

Related

Stockholm School of Economics

Florence in exile
Architecture
Education
Client: Stockholm School of Economics Association
Architect: Ivar Tengbom
Completed: 1925
Cultural Status: Blue-listed by the Stockholm City Museum
Location: Sveavägen 65, Stockholm

When the Stockholm School of Economics was inaugurated in 1925, it marked a new statement in academic architecture. Behind the drawings stood Ivar Tengbom, one of the most influential Swedish architects of the 20th century. With influences from the Italian Renaissance and a desire to anchor the expression in Swedish tradition, he shaped a building that still today sets the tone for higher education in Sweden.

Stockholm School of Economics (SSE).
Photo: Peter Nordahl / IBL Picture Agency

The move from Brunkebergstorg to Sveavägen signaled a new chapter for the young institution – and a great responsibility for Ivar Tengbom. Here, the ambitions of the education would take physical form. The school was meant to inspire confidence, stand firmly in its time, and signal both seriousness and international presence. Tengbom saw architecture as a way to show the way forward. The new building became more than a school. It became a silent, yet clear, expression of faith in the future.

 

Renaissance inspiration with a Swedish sensibility

The design drew inspiration from Florentine palaces, with a tripartite façade – base, middle, and crown – giving the building rhythm and stability. However, Ivar was no nostalgist. He wanted to interpret, not copy. By carefully selecting materials and proportions, he found balance between the classical and the contemporary. Accordingly, the façade was built in brown-red Helsingborg brick with details in sandstone, limestone, and black granite. Furthermore, the column arcades on the corners and the monumental portal with limestone intarsia create a solemn entrance: sober yet welcoming.

 

An environment for future leaders

The interior carries the same thought: uniting tradition with function. With its dark wooden panels and tall windows, the auditorium remains one of the highlights of the building. Everything from furniture to lighting was carefully selected to create an environment that fosters concentration and respect for knowledge. Tengbom knew that the environment shapes behavior. Here, he wanted to establish a place that would form not only academics, but also future leaders.

Echoes of Florence – with roots in Swedish granite

Unknown photographer. Created: 1911. Object ID: Stockholm City Museum, photo number C 1815.

A house that holds both history and future

Perhaps the building’s most striking feature – the bay window and dome facing Observatorielunden – speaks volumes about Tengbom’s sense of spatiality. The cylindrical auditorium, flanked by Doric columns, seats 300 listeners. It is a solemn space where light, acoustics, and materials meet in careful balance. Above the auditorium rises the library’s book tower with four circular floors inside the dome. Custom-designed bookshelves and study spaces with views of the city contribute to an environment where knowledge can grow in multiple directions at once. The spiral staircase linking the floors reinforces the sense of moving through a microcosm of concentrated study.

Respectful extensions

Over the years, the building has been developed, always with respect for the original. Over the years, architects have extended the building — always with respect for the original. In the 1970s, architect Åke Ahlström (1918–2001) added a new southern wing. Then in 1976, a western wing took shape toward the northern part of Saltmätargatan. This extension brought in a modern auditorium and the technically advanced KAW lecture halls. Interestingly, Tengbom also designed this addition — now under the name Tengbom Architects, Sweden’s oldest architectural office and a direct continuation of the practice Ivar Tengbom founded in 1906. That the same office shaped both the original and its later development nearly a century apart says something rare. It shows how architecture can become a conversation across generations — built not just in brick and wood, but in ideas.

 

Between tradition and progress

Although the Stockholm School of Economics is often associated with classicism, Tengbom’s interpretation is far from dogmatic. He worked in a time of change. Functionalism was just around the corner, and in the tension between the tried-and-true and the new, he found the building’s particular strength. Today, the Stockholm School of Economics remains one of Tengbom’s most significant works. A building that did not choose between past and future, but held both in its hand.

Contact person

Mia Lindberg

+46 8 410 354 93

Related

Nyhemsskolan

Open to all
Architecture, Landscape
Education, Parks, Play & Public Spaces
Client: Ängelholmslokaler
Location: Ängelholm
Construction operators: Skanska Sverige AB, Region Hus Syd
Assignment years: 2014 - 2017
Environmental class: Miljöbyggnad Silver
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

School by day. Sports, culture, and community life in the evenings and on weekends. Nyhemsskolan is a resource for all of Ängelholm.

Step onto most school grounds, and you immediately sense that you’re in a space designed solely for students. Sometimes even feeling like you don’t quite belong there. But the vision for Nyhemsskolan was different. From the start, the goal was to create an inclusive, open, and inviting environment that would be a true asset to the city.

A school that welcomes the entire city

In 2014, Ängelholmslokaler launched a site allocation competition, where Tengbom, in partnership with Skanska, emerged as the winner. Since April this year, students have been enjoying their new school, along with the rest of the community.

Ängelholm has a strong tradition of clubs and associations, especially within music and sports, and there was a clear need for facilities that could serve multiple purposes beyond school hours. Throughout the planning process, the school’s public role was a guiding principle.

“We conducted a thorough analysis of the school’s location, looking at movement patterns, city connections, and visibility.”

Liv Stein, Architect

The public areas, such as the auditorium, foyer, cafeteria, specialist classrooms, and sports hall, were placed along the school’s main approach, making them easy to find. Meanwhile, the more private areas, like classrooms and group rooms, were set further back towards the surrounding greenery.

“It should be clear that this is a school for everyone in the community, in every sense.”

Spaces designed for connection

Nyhemsskolan is a large school, with around 450 students in grades 7–9, as well as a special education unit, which required a high level of accessibility and thoughtful design both indoors and outdoors.

“The schoolyard reflects how teenagers like to spend time. Hanging out, socialising, observing, and being seen,” says Cecilia Parin. “That’s why we created a variety of seating and gathering spaces for different types of interaction.”

Multi-use spaces with a purpose

The outdoor areas are closely connected to the learning spaces inside, with a culture square outside the music and art rooms, garden plots near the home economics classroom, and an outdoor café area for the cafeteria.

The site also had strict stormwater management requirements, which became a visible part of the landscape design. Two sunken areas, playfully shaped like red asphalt “amoebas”, temporarily collect rainwater before it drains away. At other times, these spaces double as play areas for skateboarding, mountain biking, or scooters.

Designing Nyhemsskolan was a complex challenge, requiring both a strong vision and practical solutions.

“It’s a high-quality result, and it’s clear that the municipality values well-designed public spaces, which we love to see. It’s also a matter of sustainability, building something that will last for generations.”

Contact person

Related