On track with the future
The name, Campus På Sporet, is both a homage to its historic roots and a metaphor for the students finding their way into professional life. The campus is set in the old freight railway area in central Aalborg. After extensive renovation it now houses SOSU Nord and VUC&HF Nordjylland, two educational institutions within the social and health field.
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Project: SOSU Nord
Location: Aalborg, Denmark
Architects: Friis & Moltke A/S
Two buildings are joined together with the former terminal's large round-arched halls. The original railway buildings did not meet modern building standards and were therefore rebuilt in agreement with the municipality. Now construction is optimized, while still maintaining the historic character.
The stairs appear sculptural with a strong and distinctive expression. This adds something to the whole building.
The environment gives a sense of both coherence and openness. In the centre of each building are atrium ceilings and big stairs. The architects were looking for something that could help make the stairs a visual centrepiece. The search for a solution that could meet the demands of acoustic specifications as well as the architects’ design wishes began. They found Ecophon Clipso™, a stretch-fabric with acoustic benefits that enhanced the light and colour of the staircase construction.
“The stairs appear sculptural with a strong and distinctive expression. This adds something to the whole building, because all floors and rooms are connected to the centre,” says architect Mogens Husted Kristensen from Friis & Moltke A/S.
In all building projects – especially when it comes to one for educational purposes – the acoustic solutions need to be included from the start. Education is communication.
Even if the main goal of using Clipso was to bring the geometry of stairs into light, softening sound reflections in this multi-floor atrium was also a part of the plan:
“In all building projects, especially when it comes to one for educational purposes, the acoustic solutions need to be included from the start. Education is communication,” says architect Mogens Husted Kristensen.
Working with sound-softening materials in more unexpected places has other advantages, beyond making a design statement. According to Mogens Husted Kristensen, it’s often difficult to find surfaces for as many sound absorbers as you need. Untraditional thinking creates new surfaces and possibilities.
Past and present are brought together in the campus area to create a dynamic atmosphere. Here we also find evidence of what can happen when innovative design and acoustic solutions are united.