Reykjavík University
The new main facility of Reykjavik University (“RU”) was opened at the end of 2010. The University building was a true engineering challenge in itself, and Mannvit was in charge of the entire engineering design. The main designers were Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen Architects and the Icelandic architectural firm Arkís. The building is 36,000 m2 on 3 floors plus basement, and its unique shape proved very demanding on structural designers who had to show unusual versatility regarding solutions. The construction design was done in 3-D, using BIM (Building Information Modelling).
The aim of the building’s design is to support RU‘s policy to improve communication between departments and to integrate operations in order to make studies more interdisciplinary. In the centre of the building is a large glass covered square. The square’s glass ceiling covers all three stories where a multitude of the University services are made available, both to students and faculty. From the centre, different sized blocks stretch into all directions, where teaching and research takes place. Emphasis is placed on quality work facilities for students and faculty. The centre of the building therefore creates an interconnection to all blocks, as well as having connecting isles between the blocks to increase communication and flexibility of the building.
Role
- Structural design (3D using BIM)
- HVAC design
- Electrical design (subcontractor)
- Fire safety
- Acoustical design
36,000 m²
Size4
Floors3200
StudentsIceland‘s President and RU‘s Rector spoke at the building’s inauguration event on November 11th 2010, while the Minister of Education and RU Student Chairman laid the cornerstone. The cornerstone is a 5 kg meteor that was a part of an enormous meteor that hit the earth in South America some 4000 years ago. Since the design of the school building represented the earth and space, school officials decided that a meteor was an appropriate cornerstone for the building.