Topping out the new school – corona style

Today the construction of the first new built school of architecture in Denmark reached an important milestone when the parties behind the building project held an untraditional topping out ceremony.

11.06.2020

Aarhus came one step closer to a new-built school of architecture when, today, it was possible to hold a rather untraditional topping out event at Godsbanearealet in Aarhus. Due to the corona situation, only the craftsmen had been invited – divided into four groups. And all the praise for the project was delivered online, in a video, in which representatives for respectively Aarhus School of Architecture, design-and-build contractor A. Enggaard, the architecture office ADEPT, and The Danish Building & Property Agency, the project’s building owner, praised the craftsmen for their efforts.

– A topping out ceremony is always a big day. And despite the fact that the corona situation limits the ways we can be together, we are happy that, taking the right precautions and with the right planning, we were able to celebrate an important milestone. The project is proceeding according to plan. And although the corona situation has complicated the process, all parties involved, especially the craftsmen, have been able to strike the right balance between complying with the recommendations of the health authorities and continuing their work on the project. I think we have every reason to be very proud of this, says Jens Skinnebach, department head at A. Enggaard.

However, it is not only the topping out that has been approached in an alternative way for the NEW AARCH project. As a special feature of this project, The Danish Building & Property Agency has created a new model of collaboration model called NEW PARTNERING. With this model, the parties of the building project were involved much earlier in the process than usual, and several transparent and open collaborations were established across the value chain:

– We, the building owners, feel we can hardly thank you enough. Every day we encounter a constructive and solution-oriented approach at the site. And everybody contributes their specific, professional knowledge. The hand that executes is of absolutely vital importance to the finished house. This is why we greatly appreciate the ongoing dialogue with the craftsmen on how the project can be improved, says Lisa Sørensen, project manager in The Danish Building & Property Agency.

The plan is that Aarhus School of Architecture should play a key role in the new neighbourhood called Aarhus K; an area which will be Aarhus’ new epicentre for creativity and culture. At Aarhus School of Architecture, they look forward to opening the doors to the new School next year:

– The new school building will be a fabulous building that brings together all our staff and students, who are now working and studying in many different locations. We are impressed with the high level of craftsmanship that has been performed. This high level can help our students learn their craft: they can see how a house should be constructed. We will let the beautiful carcass remain visible; and, so, it will play an important role as a rallying point for the architects of tomorrow. We are sure this will help raise architectural education to a new level in this city, says Torben Nielsen, Rector of Aarhus School of Architecture.

Martin Krogh, partner at ADEPT adds:
– The great work that has already been put into the project clearly testifies to the fact that all who have been involved in the work at the building site take a huge amount of pride in the project. And it is truly a pleasure to see the way the high level of quality of the craftsmanship helps support the details of the architecture of the building in the most beautiful way. A very big thank you from us and the rest of the consulting team.