Sundby School wins WAF Award 2022
Sundby School, Denmark’s first Nordic Ecolabel-certified school, was announced the overall winner in the Future Projects: Education category at this year’s World Architecture Festival in Lisbon. With 14 shortlisted proposals, the Future Projects: Education category celebrates the world's best examples of future primary schools, universities, and other educational institutions.
Developed in collaboration with Skala Architecture, BO-HUS, ETN Arkitekter, Autens, and MOE Consulting Engineers, Sundby School was awarded the design accolade for its distinguished circular form and integration into the landscape.
The international awards jury celebrated and commended Sundby School as a bold and ambitious project that conveys a clear vision for the life of the school.
"We are extremely proud to receive this great recognition for Sundby School on an international stage. Sundby School is designed at the intersection between learning and landscape. It is not just about the learning that takes place in the building, but the whole route to and from the school and the way the school will connect to the local community," says Eva Ravnborg, Country Market Director, Denmark, Henning Larsen. The new school has high ambitions to be a local anchor for the community, providing a sustainable framework for learning, well-being, and community for all.
The project has set ambitious goals, not only for sustainability parameters, but also for its potential for local learning and community engagement. The school is designed to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for teaching facilities that support sustainable development through both physical design and curriculum.
In addition to creating robust classrooms, special attention has been paid to spaces outside the traditional learning environment. Located on the outskirts of the city, the design takes advantage of the school's proximity to nature and aims to bring outdoor life inside. The school is integrated into the landscape with its sloping roof touching down to the ground level always facilitating public access.
“Sundby School offers opportunities for outdoor learning, building on a pedagogical philosophy common in Danish schools, where it’s understood that there is so much more to learn outside of closed rooms and books. For example, the school will feature infrastructure for lessons on rainwater collection and a garden where children can learn how to grow fruits and vegetables for their shared daily lunches,” continues Eva Ravnborg, Country Market Director, Denmark, Henning Larsen.
Set to open its doors in the summer of 2023, Sundby School will accommodate approximately 580 students from grades 0-9 and is eagerly anticipated by the local community.
