science building
science building
science building
science building
science building
science building
science building
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Niels Bohr Building

A unifying Troposphere

"Bohr would have been proud if he had seen this project. Besides making ultra modern laboratories, the newly built winning project is also part of the answers to the new requirements for education and research facilities in the future. The project unites the professions in an open an internationally oriented way."

Ralf Hemmingsen, principal at The University of Copenhagen

Connected by a skywalk across Jagtvej, one of Copenhagen’s main roadways, the Niels Bohr Building is an iconic home for the Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen. Here, experts from the worlds of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science come together in a transparent research community. The building’s glass façade consists of custom-made ‘pixels’, designed according to a geometry pattern that makes the building come alive as it interacts with the light during the day. The heart of the building is the Troposphere, an open atrium shaped as an infinity symbol, where researchers and students can meet in a vibrant and engaging environment, created for innovative, interdisciplinary teamwork. A wealth of social zones for informal meetings further strengthens the focus on teamwork. The departments are organised in towers around the Troposphere, which naturally divide the building’s formidable programme into smaller scale units. The design of each tower is unique, using different materials and colors to create a sense of identity and support wayfinding. All the units have access to coffee spots and small kitchenettes where the students can meet up.

The Niels Bohr Building is built on the principle of social connections

The architectonic concept of the Niels Bohr Building is inspired by the heritage from the well known danish scientist Niels Bohr and the international science scene that he created i Copenhagen in the 1920s and 1930s. The Niels Bohr Institute was known as ‘the creative Copenhagen’ that attracted leading scientists from all over the world and created groundbreaking scientific results. Today, the science building houses different disciplines of science such as biology, chemistry, physics, geography, geology, physical education, computer science, and mathematics – but also modern multidisciplinary professions such as molecular bio-medicine, nanotechnology and e-science. Because of this, the Niels Bohr Building is designed with a big social centrum, the Troposphere, that functions as a knowledge sharing loop where it is possible to exchange and seek new knowledge. The Troposphere branches into smaller loops around the inner towers. The building has no long corridors, but instead the loops give students the possibility to seek to the periphery of the social life to find serenity without being disconnected the social community.

“The winning project completes – in a persuasive way- the two buildings that are crossing Jagtvej – also the bid on the problem with crossing the road, is a very interesting suggestion. The proposal uses the building’s areas with a rational and flexible structure with beautiful long connected balconies and green atriums. While the requests for a space for informal meetings, interactions and interdisciplinary collaborations are fulfilled, there are also created opportunities for enclosed academic identity and immersion.” Tells the jury of the project.

How the science building adresses the Sustainable Development Goals

In the project, we have worked with issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the project was not designed to address the global goals, as it was created before the goals were adopted by the UN. We have worked with issues related to: SDG 3: Good Health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production and SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals.

Client
The Danish Building and Property Agency
Area
55.000 m²
Year
2022
Location
Copenhagen, DK
Collaborators
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Rambøll, GHB Landscape Architects
Images
Coast Studio
Users
University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute, Department of Chemistry, Department of Science Education