Christensen & Co Architects completed the three buildings for Linneaus University as a sustainable and socially responsible learning space in Kalmar, Sweden.

Linneaus University is a city-integrated university that contributes to Kalmar’s city center. In the project Christensen & CO Architects have focused on creating a framework for meetings between researchers, students, the trade and industry, and the public sector since these meetings can lead to the birth of creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial ideas.

The University spans three buildings named “Magna” “Radix” and “Forma”, functioning both individually and collectively. Outside, a large new outdoor area connects the campus with the harbor. Throughout the three buildings, an internal street with open study spaces, connects the entire university. The heart of the building is a large multifunctional atrium space. Here several trees support the experienced indoor climate and help optimizing humidity, acoustics, and CO2 levels. The student facilities are specifically designed to support the social life of the multiple departments at the University, including Faculty of arts and humanities, Faculty of social sciences, Faculty of Technology, Kalmar Maritime Academy and School of Business and Economics.

The buildings are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable. This means that attention has been directed to local natural conditions to best ensure the sustainability of the buildings and local environments. As for social sustainability, the buildings promote participation and interaction between people; they are economically sustainable from a life-cycle perspective, taking into account both energy efficiency and the use of resources.

The position of the building is optimized related to the trajectory of the sun, ensuring rich amounts of daylight inside the campus buildings, creating a bright and open environment, reducing the need artificial lighting. The roof is used for solar panels, which provides the university with electricity, and they were in use during the building process. The buildings have green roofs and insect hotels, supporting local biodiversity.

Architect: Christensen & Co Architects
Photography: Niels Nygaard