Big news in Aalborg: New campus worth DKK 213 million planned for this area
Students at Techcollege in Aalborg will soon get entirely new facilities.
AART Architects has won the competition to create a new, cohesive campus at Techcollege.
Techcollege announced this in a press release.
With the winning proposal, Samlingen, Techcollege takes a significant step toward creating a new and unified campus environment, which will include both a completely new so-called “heart space” and a comprehensive renovation of the school’s existing buildings.
The winning proposal, Samlingen, was developed by AART in collaboration with Nerd Architects, ReVærk, and Søren Jensen Consulting Engineers.
With a total budget of DKK 213 million, AART will lead the design and overall consultancy for the entire project, which will be realized in part through a grant of DKK 108 million from the A.P. Møller Foundation.
A heart space that builds bridges
The winning proposal connects the existing concrete building with a future timber building, which will include a so-called heart space that becomes the school’s central area.
Students and staff can look forward to a modern learning environment that encourages interdisciplinary interaction between young people and adults across more than 11 different vocational programs and the technical upper secondary school, HTX.
Anne Sofie Buur Okkels, partner and architect at AART, says:
“Future Techcollege will not just be a new chapter for an important educational institution – it will become a landmark for professional pride and sustainable education. With this transformation, we show that you do not have to tear down in order to build up.
Through visible connections between new and old, we create a campus where craftsmanship is clearly expressed – and where students encounter architecture that educates, inspires, and invites community.
For us, it is both a meaningful and socially relevant task to help shape the future of vocational education, and we are proud to help create a school that takes responsibility – socially, environmentally, and professionally.”
The proposal’s working title reflects that the project builds on the existing Techcollege and that the school’s current structure and concrete columns will become part of the new buildings.
“With the A.P. Møller Foundation’s generous donation and the winning proposal, we have taken a major step closer to our ambition of creating an exceptional and motivating educational environment. Here, students can be activated and inspired to develop strong professional and social communities across the school’s many different programs.
The visual and architectural framework can help create pride among students in being part of the Techcollege community,” says Techcollege Director Søren Samuelsen.
The construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2030.
About the winning proposal
– Four architectural firms participated in the competition.
– A new, prominent heart space will become the campus’ lifeblood – a space full of life, rhythm, and identity that stretches through the buildings and connects the entire campus.
– A new sports hall and multi-purpose hall will be built to strengthen the school community and open the campus to the surrounding area.
– The campus will be opened up to its surroundings, giving students easy access to outdoor areas.
– New pathways across the courtyards will create cohesion and make it more natural to move between buildings.