Renovation of an existing 14,500 m² school located in Ørestad City on Amager, Copenhagen
- Address
- Arne Jacobsens Allé 21, Copenhagen
Info
- Client
- ByK
- Area
- 14,500 m²
- Architect
- AART Architects
- Project Period
- 2025–2031
- Contractor
- MT Højgaard
- Total Project Cost
- Confidential
Nature of the project
This project involves the renovation of Ørestad School, totaling 14,500 m², located in Ørestad City on Amager.
The building, designed by KHR Architects, was constructed in 2012 and houses, among other facilities, a gymnasium, a dental clinic, a library, an after-school care center, and a recreation club. The school is a three-track public school serving grades 0 through 9, with a capacity for approximately 750 students divided among 36 classes. It consists of eight stories plus a basement and is characterized by its distinctive architecture, featuring roof terraces, communal plazas, and bay windows.
The school features both classrooms and open common areas with large glass facades that allow light to flood in from all sides. The building is located in an urban setting close to the metro station and has been designated a flagship project for sustainability and new forms of learning.
Shortly after the building was put into use in 2013, moisture-absorbing MgO panels were discovered in the exterior walls. The renovation work includes a new full structural analysis as well as approximately 5,200 m² of wind barrier panels, 3,400 m² of windows, and 2,700 m² of roofing materials.
The project is being carried out while the building remains in operation, so the work is planned in phases. About half of the students (grades 4 through 7, as well as the after-school club) are being relocated, while the rest continue their classes at the school. This places special demands on the consultant to minimize disruption and ensure an efficient and safe construction process for both the construction crew and the school’s users.
The project is expected to begin in June 2028 and be completed in July 2031
Sustainability
Ørestad School is a flagship project for sustainability and serves as one of the City of Copenhagen’s designated “flagship schools.”
This means the school is intended to be a model project and a source of inspiration for future school construction in the municipality.
The building was constructed to the highest energy standard, Low-Energy Class 1, and stands as a CO2-neutral pioneering structure featuring green roofs, rooftop terraces, and sustainable solutions for solar and wind energy.
In addition, the materials were selected with durability and longevity in mind, including the use of 10,000 m² of linoleum on floors and walls—a material that contributes to both a low environmental footprint and a healthy indoor climate.
