Nordea Bank HQ, Denmark
Efficient cooperation in construction projects is crucial when strict timelines and environmental requirements need to be met. If everything works seamlessly and all the challenges are overcome, the end result can be something truly amazing: Nordea Bank in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a great example of what can be reached with precast and well-functioning team work.
The previous Nordea headquarters in Christiansbro, Copenhagen were designed by Henning Larsen architects in the late 1990’s; hence it was natural to continue the efficient cooperation when the new headquarters were planned. Nordic nature and the vision of creating transparency between the employees, clients, and the city were the bases for the design.
Project details
| Location | Ørestad, Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|---|
| Construction period | 2012-2017 |
| Gross area | 46 600 sqm (502 000 sft) |
| Developer | Nordea Properties |
| Contractor | MT Højgaard |
| Architect | Henning Larsen |
| Landscape architect | SLA |
| Space planning | Signal Architects |
| Structural designer | Cowi |
| Precast product supplier | Spaencom |
| Amount of precast products | 3 430 tons columns and beams |
| 25 808 sqm walls | |
| 49 280 sqm hollowcore slabs | |
| Cost | More than 1 billion DEK |
The new building is a great tribute to the Nordic landscapes. Through the large windows and crystalline facades, the passers-by can see how the daylight flows through the building. In addition, the building was designed to meet the highest LEED standard, LEED Platinum. The headquarters comprise of two light and sculptural buildings; one houses employees with their clients and the other is dedicated for Scandinavia’s largest trading floor with the capacity of 600 traders.
Precast products
Spæncom, a part of the Consolis group and an Elematic customer, was responsible for delivering the precast products to the construction site following a strict schedule. A major logistical and manufacturing challenge had to be overcome. Nearly 10,000 concrete elements – including beams, columns, concrete walls and hollow core slabs – were to be delivered during nine months, meaning 50 – 60 elements delivered each day. Spæncom was up for the challenge with dozens of years of experience in designing, manufacturing and assembling solutions for the construction sector.
Project co-operation
MT Højgaard, the contractor, and Spæncom cooperated closely throughout the project. Without logistic precision and flawless communication between the contractor and the precast factory, the project would not have proceeded as smoothly as it did. Poul Dam, Project Manager at Spæncom comments, “MT Højgaard was committed to getting the assembly done as fast as possible. We worked hand in hand with their very experienced assembly manager, who was dedicated to the project, in order to always find the most adapted, quickest solution.”
The new building provides Nordea’s employees with the best opportunities to produce results in an inspiring and modern work environment. Good, natural daylight conditions creates not only a warm, open and bright environment, but also a sustainability statement that will set new standards in Denmark.
This project proves how something truly unique can be built with precast products, when designers, precast producers and all people involved work closely together.
