Maersk Tower, the new home of the University of Copenhagen´s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, was inaugurated a few weeks ago.
The building will among other things be the center of the University of Copenhagens research and education activities within the fields of cancer, obesity and diabetes, cardiac disorders, vaccines, dementia and ageing.
Concrete, glass and oak veneer
Twelve storeys of the tower provide for modern laboratories and offices, including a substrate and autoclaving department and a freezer hotel. The building also features a large, elegant canteen which is also open to visitors.
To ensure the best, most stable conditions for research in public health science, the concrete parts of the building were cast in situ. This ensures compliance with the major anti-vibration requirement since the building does not sway so easily as other high-rise buildings.
Much of the interior of the building is in concrete, glass and oak veneer. For example, the elegant spiral stairs in the big atrium that can be seen from Blegdamsvej are made from about 2000 form-pressed pieces clad with oak veneer.
Tonning Rasmussen’s original murals in Panum have been preserved and now occupy a well-lit prime place where old meets new in the foyer.
Space for staff and students
The building has parking for 2,350 bicycles – 950 indoors in the basement and 1,400 outside in the campus park.
The building features three new super modern auditoriums that provide the best facilities for students. The largest auditorium has fixed seating for 504.
A spiral staircase leading from Level 2 at the centre of the office area to Level 14 encourages research teams to interact.
Taking you up to second floor height, the 300 metre aerial path zigzags across the campus park.
Patina
The facade is fitted with 3,300 copper shutters, giving relief to the appearance of the building. A third of the shutters move, depending on the sun. During the day, the facade changes and reduces the energy needed for cooling by shielding the sun’s heat. The patina of the facade ranges from shiny to dark brown. Copper only starts to go green after many years.
Sustainability
There is room under the concourse facing Blegdamsvej for 5 million litres of rainwater. This means that the Maersk Tower can retain rainwater on-site so that it does not put a load on the city’s sewage systems after heavy downpours.
The rainwater from the tower goes through a filtration fascine around the whole building. The rain water that is collected is recycled, amongst other things for irrigating the park.
Under the building, there are two basement levels for bicycles and technical facilities. This includes an advanced ventilation system that also provides air conditioning for laboratories and the rest of the building.
The Maersk Tower was designed by C. F. Møller and built with funding from the A.P. Møller Foundation. The client is the Danish Building & Property Agency. Lead contractor: C. F. Møller. Subcontractors: Rambøll
The University of Copenhagen rents the building, and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences will be the user of the Maersk tower.
Photographer: Lærke gade Bjerregaard
