Södra is to build a tennis centre in Växjö from wood according to the design of the winning entry in an architectural competition held last winter. The aim of the project is to raise timber construction to new heights and develop a concept for the sports hall of the future. The building will also give Linnaeus University in Växjö the opportunity to study timber construction for research and development purposes.
As one of the leading forest products companies in Europe, Södra’s ambition is to play a part in the continued development of timber as a construction material. This initiative was launched 15 years ago with the Wälludden project, the first apartment block in Sweden to be built using a timber frame construction.
To support the development of timber construction, Växjö municipality also took the decision to set aside the area surrounding Södra’s main office and Linnaeus University for buildings in wood. One of the projects is the Limnologen quarter where the highest apartment buildings in Sweden using timber frame construction were recently built. The project consists of four seven-storey buildings.
Some 18 months ago, to further boost the rate of development, Södra announced an architectural competition for the design of a new concept tennis centre made of timber. The response was extremely positive with a total of 193 proposals from 23 countries.
"The competition criteria focused on designs which were energy-saving, cost-effective and flexible, bearing in mind the size of the building. It was also important for applicants to present a solution that could be replicated in other locations," said Peter Nilsson, President, Södra Timber.
The winning entry was Tennis + trä by Kent Pedersen Arkitektfirma in Hellerup, Denmark. In the words of the jury, the concept "made good use of the strength and character of timber".
Together with the Davis Cup trio of Stefan Edberg, former world tennis champion, Carl-Axel Hageskog, ex-Davis Cup captain and professor at Linnaeus University, and Magnus Larsson, assistant Davis Cup captain, Södra has continued with the work by assessing the cost of building the winning concept as well as the initial draft planning.
Södra has now taken the decision in principle to build the tennis hall adjacent to Södra’s main office in Växjö. The intention is to build the hall using so-called passive technology which involves very little energy consumption. The building will also give Linnaeus University the opportunity to study timber construction for research and development purposes.
"This is not only a concept for sport but also a concept for energy-efficient and climate-friendly construction. This is where timber construction technology gives us an advantage, both during the construction period itself and during the entire life-time of the building. We have known for some time that constructing buildings in timber is the best way of achieving long-term carbon dioxide capture and storage," said Leif Brodén, President and CEO, Södra.
