Swedish contractor Peab has got the green light on a €76m contract to construct a new entrance building for the Central railway station in Sweden’s second city, Gothenburg.
Designed by Reiulf Ramstad Architects, the 15,000-sq-m “Gothenburg Grand Central” will be a portal for Sweden’s new West Link underground rail tunnel being built now to connect commuter trains to underground stations in the city.
The new building, which Peab described as “classical in a modern form”, will also lead travellers out into a planned new city quarter called “Centralstaden”.
The station redevelopment comes as Gothenburg anticipates continued economic and population growth.
It’s home to Sweden’s biggest port, and knowledge-intensive manufacturers like Volvo, SKF and AstraZeneca have bases there.
100% recycled bricks
Grand Central has been designed with notable sustainability features.
The façade will be 100% recycled bricks, and the building’s frame and joists will be mostly of wood.
Lower-emissions concrete and recycled steel will be used.
Above the spacious hall, Peab will build three upper floors of offices designed to achieve BREEAM Outstanding, a certification only one other Gothenburg building now meets.
The client is Jernhusen, the property arm of Sweden’s rail operator.
It said the roof would provide habitats for insects and birds, with shrubs and flowers, insect hotels and different types of birdhouses.
“We have high expectations for everything from architecture to climate footprint and sustainability,” said Caroline Ahrnens Martin, Jernhusen regional manager.
“We’re making it easy for passengers and residents from all over the region to choose the train and be able to move smoothly from the station to the next stop,” she added.
Two-stage project
Construction starts now, and the the building will be open as a station when West Link is finished, estimated for 2026.
The offices will be finished in the first half of 2027.
The building phase follows a consulting phase where Jerhusen and Peab worked out details for design, construction methods, and risk.
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