The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre

The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre in Trondheim has far-reaching aspirations for contributing to the development of the ocean and becoming a powerhouse of research and sustainable development. The facility is a technically exciting and challenging project – both architecturally and in terms of content – and will be an important contribution to value creation in the ocean-based industries.

The Ocean Technology Centre comprises several different research and teaching buildings with a total floor area of approximately 50,000 m2, three of which are new builds. The facility will consist of wet and dry laboratories, a workshop, classrooms as well as office space and meeting rooms. The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre will lead to new knowledge, expertise and research into the opportunities that lie in the world’s oceans.

The facility is complex and requires a wide range of expertise – both in terms of architectural design and construction. The Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property is the client under the auspices of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) will own and operate the centre, while SINTEF Ocean will be the operator of several of the laboratories and the tenant of parts of the office space.

LINK Arkitektur and Multiconsult are contributing client consultancy as well as architect and landscape architect services and have been the managing architects of the framework application for the Basin Building. Snøhetta was the early-phase architect, and LINK Arkitektur has continued Snøhetta’s concept in the project implementation phase. Multiconsult brings in wide-ranging expertise of strong industrial and geotechnical environments, and LINK Arkitektur provides specialist knowledge gained on other large-scale green projects of high architectural quality. Over a number of years, both companies have built up extensive experience gained on complex technical facilities and collaborate across disciplines to ensure effective progress.

With Professor Mørch’s House, the aim is to build Norway’s most environmentally friendly university building which has a BREEAM rating of ‘Outstanding’ – the highest BREEAM rating achievable. An almost zero-energy building due to its solar cells and heat recovery, re-use of the Towing Tank and Ocean Basin as well as eco-labelled products and energy-efficient equipment are all important factors that contribute to a strong environmental profile.

Find out more: https://www.ntnu.no/oceanspacecentre/