Based on the three winning proposals from the open design competition and the Jury Report and in cooperation with Aarhus Municipality, the final site was determined and a user process involving students and staff at the school was initiated. During this process topics such as the city and the public, the workplace, study and research environments and building physics were in focus.

Along with the knowledge achieved through the open design competition, this work resulted in a competition brief for the restricted design competition, which marked the beginning of the next step towards the final design of the future school of architecture. The three winning teams from the open design competition were, just as the three pre-qualified teams, invited to the restricted design competition, which launched 1 August 2016.

On 17 March 2017 a unanimous jury announced the team consisting of ADEPT, Vargo Nielsen Palle, Rolvung & Brøndsted Arkitekter, Tri-Consult and Steensen Varming as the winner of the competition.

Immediately after the announcement of the winner, the Danish Building Authority signed the contract with the team behind the project. The project has since been processed and detailed through dialogue with the School of Architecture's students and employees, and in November 2017, it was tendered for a turnkey contract with a reverse tender based on an extended outline proposal. This means that the financial framework for the project has been determined and that the parties are obliged to develop and, if necessary, adjust the project within this framework.

In April 2018, the Danish Building Authority awarded the turnkey contract to A. Enggaard A / S. The Danish Building Authority's lead consultant ADEPT and sub-consultants Tri-Consult and Steensen Varming continued as consultants to Enggaard.

During the design phases, Lendager Arkitekter has made an in-depth study of the possibilities of upcycling, just as a part-of-the-interior competition honored Praksis Arkitekter as the winner of the design for the school library. Lea Porsager is the artist behind the integrated artwork.

The NEW AARCH project has been developed and completed under ‘NEW PARTNERING’. The collaboration model created a transparent cross-disciplinary collaboration environment and managed every process successfully by establishing a framework for dialogue, trust and openness. The early and continuous involvement of knowledge, skills and input across the project’s organization, has optimized time and finances, minimized conflicts and has fulfilled every expectation of quality as well as ensured a shared ownership and commitment to both process and the result.

Handover of NEW AARCH was before scheduled and on budget in the spring 2021 and inaugurated by Xxxxx xxxx October 2021.

See more about the project and find the jury report here.

This open design competition was the first exciting step towards a new school of Architecture in Aarhus - the first time ever a new school of architecture is going to be built in Denmark.

After many years in outdated facilities, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus School of Architecture have agreed on obtaining a new building for the school. To manage and develop the project, Aarhus School of Architecture has chosen the Danish Building & Property Agency. The competition was moreover launched with the assistance of the Danish Architects’ Association and with funding from Realdania.

The aim of the open design competition was to re-think the programming of a modern school of architecture and achieve the best, most visionary ideas. Aarhus School of Architecture and the Danish Building & Property Agency were therefore delighted to invite all architects and architecture students to present their ideas for the new school. They hoped for the engagement and participation of the entire profession and the result was overwhelming. 230 entries from across the world. We are very grateful and will like to thank all the entrants for all the hard work they have put into the project.

See more statements from the jury in the press release at: bygst.dk

About Aarhus School of Architecture (AAA)

AAA is one of two national schools of architecture in Denmark. The school currently has a student population of approximately 750 and a staff of 140. All students are provided with individual work spaces at the school; these are available and used 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The aim of AAA is to carry out research and artistic development work at the highest level with the purpose of continually qualifying the education, architectural practice, and the public’s understanding of architecture. The school has chosen an artistic approach to the discipline and an approach that engages with society. This requires students and staff to re-think, experiment, provoke and question norms and dogmas that are normally taken for granted. 

About the Danish Building & Property Agency (BYGST)

BYGST is the developer of the NEW AARCH project and thereby the initiator of this competition. 

BYGST is the property enterprise and devel­oper of the Danish state. The agency is responsible for creating modern, functional and cost-effective frameworks for some of the most important government institutions in Denmark, such as, for instance, the universities, the police, the courts and, of course, the central administration. With a total property portfolio of approximately 4 million m2 and with current and planned construction projects for a total cost of approximately DKK 14 billion, BYGST is one of the largest public developers in Denmark.

The open design competition was an open call for participation and evaluated based on two key criterias: "idea, architecture, function" and "relation to the site". The jury has selected three winners among the 230 entries.  

After the open design competition, the final brief for the new school was specified based on the outcome of the competition. Based on this, BYGST has arranged a restricted design competition, in which we plan to find the ultimate winner and thereby the designer of the new school. The three winners of the open design competition have been invited to participate in the restricted design competition along with three prequalified participants. This means a total of six participants – three selected on the basis of the prequalification, and three appointed on the basis of the open design competition.

BYGST expects the total process for the project to proceed as follows:

• Prequalification of three participants for the restricted design competition
• Open design competition with three winners which will be appointed to participate in the restricted design competition.
• Restricted design competition with one winner
• Entering of a full-service consultancy contract with the said winner
• The full-service consultant produces an outline proposal (dispositionsforslag)
• A design-build contract will be put out to tender
• The full-service consultant is affiliated with the design and build contractor as their consultant
• Detailed project design and construction

We are looking forward to the next exciting step! 

Questions regarding the competition must be sent in writing, to the project manager at the Danish Building & Property Agency; Lisa Sørensen at lis@bygst.dk