flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Winning design by 3XN converts modernist bathhouse to university library

Winning design by 3XN converts modernist bathhouse to university library

The sleek, new 196,441-sf addition in Sweden contains modernist elements that respects the original 1930s structure's integrity.


By BD+C Staff | July 1, 2014
All renderings courtesy 3XN
All renderings courtesy 3XN

Denmark-based architecture firm 3XN's design won the architectural competition for Mälardalen University's new educational facility in Eskilstuna, southwest of Stockholm, Architecturelab reports.

The new building's cubic shape, geometric trellis, and bright façade is a nod to the nearby historical, modernist public bathhouse designed by Paul Hedqvist in the 1930s. 

The winning proposal is of a 196,441-sf structure that will house educational facilities and workplaces for 4,000 students and 350 students. The project is estimated to cost 49 million.

The firm said about the conversion:

"Internally, the new building connects to the public bath on the first to decks, creating a cohesive flow between old and new. The lower levels will be completely open and connected so that the new and old building seen as one functional and spatial whole. The volume of the main swimming pool is retained as the school library. By also locating the café and student house in the public bath, it becomes a unique social meeting place for the students.

"A central atrium, double-height auditoriums, open study areas and inner courtyards create a building with good visual connections between floors. Classrooms and lecture halls are located on the lower three floors. The administrative offices are at the top of the building, creating a more private working environment."

Related Stories

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 18, 2024

A modular construction solution to the mental healthcare crisis

Maria Ionescu, Senior Medical Planner, Stantec, shares a tested solution for the overburdened emergency department: Modular hub-and-spoke design.

Codes and Standards | Mar 18, 2024

New urban stormwater policies treat rainwater as a resource

U.S. cities are revamping how they handle stormwater to reduce flooding and capture rainfall and recharge aquifers. New policies reflect a change in mindset from treating stormwater as a nuisance to be quickly diverted away to capturing it as a resource.

Plumbing | Mar 18, 2024

EPA to revise criteria for WaterSense faucets and faucet accessories

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to revise its criteria for faucets and faucet accessories to earn the WaterSense label. The specification launched in 2007; since then, most faucets now sold in the U.S. meet or exceed the current WaterSense maximum flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm). 

MFPRO+ New Projects | Mar 18, 2024

Luxury apartments in New York restore and renovate a century-old residential building

COOKFOX Architects has completed a luxury apartment building at 378 West End Avenue in New York City. The project restored and renovated the original residence built in 1915, while extending a new structure east on West 78th Street. 

Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2024

YWCA building in Boston’s Back Bay converted into 210 affordable rental apartments

Renovation of YWCA at 140 Clarendon Street will serve 111 previously unhoused families and individuals.

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 17, 2024

5 criteria to optimize medical office design

Healthcare designers need to consider privacy, separate areas for practitioners, natural light, outdoor spaces, and thoughtful selection of materials for medical office buildings.

Construction Costs | Mar 15, 2024

Retail center construction costs for 2024

Data from Gordian shows the most recent costs per square foot for restaurants, social clubs, one-story department stores, retail stores and movie theaters in select cities.

Architects | Mar 15, 2024

4 ways to streamline your architectural practice

Vessel Architecture's Lindsay Straatmann highlights four habits that have helped her discover the key to mastering efficiency as an architect.

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 15, 2024

First comprehensive cancer hospital in Dubai to host specialized multidisciplinary care

Stantec was selected to lead the design team for the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital, Dubai’s first integrated, comprehensive cancer hospital. Named in honor of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the hospital is scheduled to open to patients in 2026.

Codes and Standards | Mar 15, 2024

Technical brief addresses the impact of construction-generated moisture on commercial roofing systems

A new technical brief from SPRI, the trade association representing the manufacturers of single-ply roofing systems and related component materials, addresses construction-generated moisture and its impact on commercial roofing systems.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Mass Timber

Charlotte's new multifamily mid-rise will feature exposed mass timber

Construction recently kicked off for Oxbow, a multifamily community in Charlotte’s The Mill District. The $97.8 million project, consisting of 389 rental units and 14,300 sf of commercial space, sits on 4.3 acres that formerly housed four commercial buildings. The street-level retail is designed for boutiques, coffee shops, and other neighborhood services.


Construction Costs

New download: BD+C's May 2024 Market Intelligence Report

Building Design+Construction's monthly Market Intelligence Report offers a snapshot of the health of the U.S. building construction industry, including the commercial, multifamily, institutional, and industrial building sectors. This report tracks the latest metrics related to construction spending, demand for design services, contractor backlogs, and material price trends.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021