Now it’s finished. The Danish architecture firm Dorte Mandrup’s (architects’) proposal for the renovations and additions to the Centre of Economics building found approval with the evaluation group.
It was in a battle between the architecture firm Tham & Videgård from Stockholm and Snøhetta from Oslo that Dorte Mandrup’s architects won, finding approval with the evaluation group. According to Akademiska hus, contruction of Centre of Economics IV will begin in 2015 at the earliest and will last two to three years. The new building will be located at Ole Römers väg and will unite the already existing buildings EC 1, EC 2, and EC 3. When the construction is finished the idea is for the Centre of Economics to leave their premises at Alfahuset.
“We want to create a learning environment with many places to study and many group rooms. Our pedagogy is often built on solving assignments as a group, and that’s why having many group rooms is important” says Kristina Eneroth, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the Centre of Economics.
How many new places to study will there be?
“It’s too early to put an exact number on it, but we can estimate and see how many students we have today and how many students we will have in a couple of years. We can conclude that there are far, far too few places to study, currently” she says.
Easy Access and Availability
For a long time students of Economics have had limited space to study, and have because of this often used other institutions’ facilities to study. Because of this, the amount of places to study is something that Lundaekonomerna (The Economics student union) have particularly emphasized in the evaluation group.
“We have pointed out the importance of having many places to study, and that future needs should be considered. Former Vice-Chancellor Allan T Malm, also involved Lundaekonomerna’s education committee, so they have been given the chance to voice their opinions. Now we are making an inventory of exactly what needs we have”, says Anton Blidhem, Vice Chairperson of Lundaekonomerna.
What do you think about the proposal that the architecture firm has put forward?
“It’s only a concept drawing today and many details have to be reviewed and adjusted. But I think it’s a beautiful design”.
Skånis will be torn down to make room for EC IV. What happens to your student union premises?
“We want the student union’s new premises to be easily accessed and available for the students. Now we are also looking at different solutions in order to be able to host larger events at our own premises,” says Anton Blidhem.
Text: Carl-Johan Kullving
Translation: Linnéa Richardsson
