Campus Kolding – University of Southern Denmark

Kolding

GOAL no. 3, 4, 9

The five-storey atrium is the heart of the Kolding Campus of the University of Southern Denmark. The building promotes knowledge sharing and communal feeling and comes with significant energy savings.

A building’s operational carbon – i.e., greenhouse gasses emitted while the building is in use – accounts for 28 % of the building and construction sector’s global CO2 footprint. So, in large buildings every energy-saving solution makes a difference. Educational architecture must also be innovative to inspire new principles for learning and promote well-being among students, who increasingly struggle with loneliness and stress.

Campus Kolding was designed to have minimal energy needs for lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation. As a result, it has an energy consumption of 20–25 % compared with similar facilities and is classified as Energy Class 1. This makes it one of the world’s first low-energy universities.

The geometry and facade design are central elements in the sustainability strategy designed to lower the building’s operational carbon emissions and improve the indoor environment. As daylight changes, the facade moves to provide students and faculty with optimal daylight conditions and a comfortable indoor climate. The facade is a dynamic solar shading system fitted with sensors that continuously measure light and heat levels and regulate the shutters mechanically. The system consists of approx. 1,600 triangular, perforated shutters mounted on the façade which allows them to adjust to the changing daylight. Indoors, an atrium spanning all five floors forms the building’s meeting place.

The building turns the traditional educational organization inside out. Learning has moved from traditional, long corridors and closed classrooms into the heart of the building. Each floor was designed to facilitate encounters while also offering calm spaces for concentrated work.

The project demonstrates how a large educational facility can be designed for maximum resource efficiency while providing a comfortable and inspiring learning environment.

Project details

Where: Universitetsparken 2, 6000 Kolding

Completed: 2014

Client: Bygningsstyrelsen (Danish Building and Property Agency)

Architects: Henning Larsen, Kristine Jensens Tegnestue (landscape), Orbicon (engineer)