Vilberg Elementary School, Eidsvoll | Norway
Vilberg Skole is a future-oriented educational structure in Eidsvoll, Norway, designed for some 590 students. The new building consists of three wings facing each other (two school buildings and a multi-purpose hall) forming a central courtyard and creating a modern, healthy learning environment. The school was designed as a solid wood construction focusing on environmental compatibility and low carbon emissions.
facts
Project New elementary school building
Location Eidsvoll, Norway
Completion 2024
Client HENT AS
Architecture Filter Arkitekter
Material use 1.830 m3 of binderholz CLT BBS and 344 m3 of glulam
Total construction time 24 months
Planning period - statics and project development: 18 months
Timber construction 4.5 months
Gross floor area 10,100 m²
Usable floor area 7,900 m²
Sequestered carbon (C) when in use 591,483 kg ≙ 2,167.335 kg CO2e
The school was designed in a courtyard layout with three buildings surrounding a centre. Two buildings are intended for school operation, the third as a multi-purpose hall. The latter is equipped with grandstands and change rooms and is suitable for many different purposes. The exterior is functionally structured and allows for various outdoor activities such as playing, recuperation, walks, bicycling and ball games.
The architectural and construction team opted for an innovative approach that uses wood as the primary building material for the building's structure and rooms. This not only significantly reduced the complex' carbon footprint, but also provides natural aesthetics and a warm, welcoming ambience and learning environment thanks to the fact that most of the solid wood used is of visually appealing quality (used on walls, ceilings and roof).
b_project Department realised the solid wood construction
In the context of this order we assumed project development, statics, works planning and delivery as well as partially prefabricated all solid wood elements including fasteners. In total, we used 1,830 m³ of binderholz CLT BBS and 344 m3 of glulam.
The majority of exposed surfaces on walls, ceilings and roof were executed in visually appealing quality. A particular challenge were the structurally stressed areas with large window openings and obscured wood connections. The sports hall was realised using a glulam and steel tension rod roof superstructure spanning 30 metres.
The project's holistic sustainability approach is also mirrored in its logistics. Thus, the glulam and CLT BBS solid wood elements were transported from Austria to Norway via rail. binderholz' Hallein site served as the hub. Using rail not only led to a reduction in transport emissions, it also offers additional advantages in terms of storage at the target station and the resulting option of delivering the elements to the site only when needed. Moreover, oversized CLT BBS elements such as those used on roof and ceilings as well as oversized glulam beams can be transported without issue on rail.
Vilberg Skole is more than a place of learning, it's a symbol for the successful combination of architecture, environmental protection and education. It shows how timber construction can contribute to creating a healthier and more sustainable future for the generations that will succeed us.
Photos: © Tove Lauluten © Hent AS © Filter Arkitekter - Baptiste Robin
