The research park

Location
Oslo, Norway

Size
8,000m²

Principal
The research park

Year
2007

Forskningsparken is a research and innovation center in Oslo. The industrial complex houses over 140 companies, with approximately 1,700 workers using the buildings every day. Nielstorp+ architects were first engaged by Forskningsparken in the late 1980s to develop the first phase, and have designed several additions to the centre, with the newest buildings to be completed in 2022.

The buildings lie along a small river and are surrounded by a nicely landscaped park. The building volumes vary in height between four and six floors. A central covered street acts as the axis of the plan, with the buildings springing out on either side. The street acts as a focal point, with circulation areas and the possibility of daylight deep into the buildings, while dispersing any build-up of heat. The buildings are based on a 2.3m x 2.3m module and are flexible so that they can be adapted to the changing needs of the tenants. Sustainable design has been an important factor, and the latest buildings have been designed with an energy consumption target of 120 kWh/m² per year. The facade has a glass area of 35%, with solar shading on the south-facing and west-facing facades to prevent overheating in the summer. The windows are designed to maximize natural daylight in the building, while the concrete slabs act as thermal mass to cool the indoor air in the summer and heat the indoor air in the winter.