TEC H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet

TEC H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet KANT architects came out on top in the competition to design TEC’s new upper secondary school campus in Lyngby, Denmark. In the near future, brand-new facilities will welcome the many students and teachers at the new high school ‘TEC H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet’, named after the Danish scientist who discovered electromagnetism. With inspiration from H.C. Ørsted’s pioneering research and practice KANT architects designed the 8,000 square-metre ‘technical upper secondary school of the future’ located in the Danish city of Lyngby. The new building is going to be an experimentarium – a technology and science playground for both students and teachers. Our ambition was to create a building that plays an active, integrated role in the teaching. A learning space that sparks inspiration and curiosity. The building is designed to adapt itself to the continuous transformation that characterizes educational practices and ideals. Our insight into the best way to acquire new knowledge is quite different today than it was when many of the existing educational facilities were built. And that development guided our design of the new building. For example, we had a focus on establishing different zones and on supporting thematic and interdisciplinary work, so that the ongoing development of educational practices is supported by and integrated into the architecture. The main architectural device: an homage to Ørsted In a number of ways, the new H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet pays homage to science and, specifically, to the Danish physicist, philosopher and scientist H.C. Ørsted. who is considered to be the one who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields, which involves the strict connection that lies in between electricity and magnetism. The main architectural device in the new school is a stacked assembly of rounded, spatial volumes conveying a visual reference to electromagnetic coils. The coils, housing classrooms, labs and meeting rooms, constitute the building’s interior structure and are also manifested in the facade, coming together to form a holistic solution. The coil feature thus provides a unifying theme that ties together the interior spaces and the expression of the facade. The heart of the building is a striking triple-height main hall, which varies in character throughout the day, as daylight is refracted in various angles by the louvered surfaces. The unique space offers a setting for the students to meet for social events across age levels. The specific placement of the coils on the different floors shapes learning environments, moving from a “dead-end” corridor system towards a both robust and flexible space. In this ever-changing atmosphere the walls have to evolve and adapt too: they are no longer just an element of division of spaces, but incorporate functions such as storage, meeting spaces and learning hubs. All of that in order to support the vision of a dynamic space that can improve teamwork activities. In 1825, H.C. Ørsted made a well a significant contribution to chemistry. His studies allowed him to produce aluminium for the first time by isolating the element via a reduction of aluminium chloride. The material chosen for the lamellas covering the façade is therefore another reference to the incredible discoveries made by H.C. Ørsted. It evokes curiosity and is thought to be a stimulating element that drives future generations in questioning and understanding the unique interdisciplinary relations in the scientific world. Two sides of the same building Another characteristic feature of the design of the building is the way its expression varies with the vantage point. Seen from the busy Elsinore motorway, the impressive building is a towering landmark, while the building volume is scaled down in an inviting gesture towards the row houses planned for the adjacent site. Towards the east we use the coils to scale the building down, and towards the west we use them to create a living wall – a wonder wall – designed to spark the curiosity of passers-by. Overall, curiosity is a consistent theme for the building; we wish to inspire curiosity in the students on a daily basis as well as in visitors and passers-by who encounter the building. About the new TEC H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet Natural science and technology are key topics for the 700 plus students at H.C. Ørsted Gymnasiet. The technical high school is part of TEC (Technical Education Copenhagen) and is currently located at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). KANT architects won the competition in cooperation with Anker Hansen & Co, Orbicon engineering consultancy and landscape architects Thing Brandt Landskab. Next, the plans for the new building will go through local planning processes, stakeholder dialogue, preliminary project procedures and so on. Actual construction is scheduled to start in early 2019.