Sweco HQ | SWECO

An open, modern building that supports our way of working and sets the focus on sustainability – these were a few of the guiding objectives for reshaping and renovating the Sweco Building.
Creative meetings are central for the company Sweco. Through cooperation between the companie’s various experts they are able to see the client’s assignment in a wider context and give consideration to everything that can affect the end results. For that reason it was vital to gather all of Sweco’s many competencies under a single roof. Several possible properties were evaluated, but the final choice went to the head office in the Marieberg area of Stockholm. From a sustainability perspective there were major advantages in transforming an existing property rather than building a new one. This also created an opportunity for us to use the company’s own office as a role model for sustainable building.
One special challenge was that the building’s exterior is a registered cultural heritage site, which meant that any changes would not be permitted to affect its appearance.

From dark to light
Realizing our visions based on the constraints of an existing structure was a challenge – the building was dark and divided into sections. The step from this to an open office complex with contact between departments and visible meeting places was a long one. But the results were all the more dramatic.
A generous open stairway ushers visitors from the main entrance into the living room, the heart of the new head office. Here we have provided a natural meeting place and a creative environment that encourages dialogue. The ceiling has been raised and the outer walls facing the atrium have been replaced with glass railings. In this way the atrium binds together the office floors visually in both horizontal and vertical directions.

A natural flow
The passageways, elevators and staircases have all been designed to facilitate spontaneous interaction. At the far end of the living room are a lunchroom and a café, which also results in a natural flow of employees moving through the living room. The glass-walled meeting rooms along either side of the living room have each been named for a classic chair design. That the furniture can be used for many years into the future is a signal our commitment to sustainability.
The different floors of the building contain a bright and airy open plan office environment with flexible structures. This allows our consultants to see what others are working on, share their knowledge and get a grasp of the big picture. Here you find glass-walled meeting rooms and other communal areas where you can read and converse in comfortable seating arrangements. The warm, comfortable atmosphere with carefully planned daylight flows on all floors gives Sweco’s consultants a unique and customised working environment.

A GOLD STANDARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
The Sweco Building is not just a building – it is also a large-scale environmental project. Here, they show just how energy smart an existing property can become after rebuilding and renovation.
Sustainable renovation and a completed building with high environmental performance were key objectives for both Sweco and the property owner AMF Fastigheter before starting the rebuilding process.
Environmental work was carried out with a holistic approach to energy and resource consumption, the indoor climate and the flexibility required to meet future needs.
One of the overall goals was for the building to be certified according to the Sweden Green Building Council’s environmental certification system Miljöbyggnad, with an ambition to reach the highest rating, Gold.

Ambitious energy goals
To meet these stringent goals we have used the best available technology. For example, in the ground outside the building there are 26 bore holes with a depth of 280 metres for seasonal storage of heating and cooling. The building’s climate shield has been improved by renovating the windows, through which energy losses during the winter have been cut by half. Other measures include an effective new ventilation systems with a heat recovery rate of 90 per cent and new control systems that are regulated by weather forecasts and motion sensors. The lighting is also controlled by motion sensors and the amount of daylight. Solar cells on the roof contribute to the supply of electricity.
The Sweco Building has earned preliminary certification for Miljöbyggnad at the Gold level (a verification is carried out before the certification is finalised). Among other things, the property’s need for purchased energy has been reduced by 65 per cent (from 180 kWh/m2 to an estimated 57 kWh/m2). Furthermore, the building has been awarded Sweden Green Building Council’s environmental prize in the category “Miljöbyggnad – existing property”.