Following a tender process, the cost of the next phase of the Department of Biomedicine's new building will be DKK 30 million lower than expected. This means savings that were under consideration for the renovation of Biomedicine South (Anatomy) can now be cancelled.

2015.08.14 | Mette Louise Ohana

The renovation of Biomedicine South (Anatomy) will start once the department begins using the new building. Photo: Søren Kjeldgaard, Aarhus University

Unforeseen extra costs during the construction of the new Skou Building during the spring forced the faculty to draw up proposals for cost savings. But the good result of the tender process means that the renovation of Biomedicine South can now be carried out in its entirety.

"We are very pleased that the money was found elsewhere so that we can renovate Biomedicine South as planned and also install up-to-date laboratories. This will give us far greater flexibility," says department head at Biomedicine Thomas G. Jensen. 

Renovation slightly delayed

On the other hand, renovation of the teaching wing in the Bartholin Building will not be initiated this time round, though the reason has nothing to do with money.

"We do not have an alternative to the classrooms, so we cannot do without them for a longer period of time. Consequently, the decision has been postponed until 2019, where we hope to have new opportunities," says Conor Leerhøy, head of building services at Health.

Construction of the new building was slightly delayed in the autumn and again in the spring because the work created noise and vibrations in neighbouring buildings, which made it necessary to find other construction methods. It is now expected that the Skou Building will be completed in the middle of 2017. This also means that the renovation of Biomedicine South and the Bartholin Building will also be slightly delayed as this work can only begin once the new building is ready for use.

Artists have been selected

All the while, the new building is progressing slowly. The next stage is the basement, which will begin to take shape as the concrete elements are mounted in the near future.

Work on the decoration of all three future Biomedicine buildings is also under way and will be carried out by four artists. Visual artist Henriette Heise will decorate the inside of the Skou Building with sandblasted figures and copper sheeting. Leif Kath will take care of the outdoor areas, where geometric patterns will decorate the terrace and area in front of the new building, as well as the Bartholin Building and Biomedicine South, which will feature the same pattern in some of their brickwork.

In addition, the Bartholin Building will feature work by Hilde Hauan Johnsen from Norway, including a fibre optic sculpture which will hang from the ceiling of the new atrium. The communal areas in Biomedicine South will also be decorated with work by visual artist Anne Marie Ploug.

A total of DKK 8.9 million has been earmarked for the decoration of the new buildings. In Denmark it is obligatory to allocate a certain percentage of total construction costs towards art in public buildings.

Winners of the tender

• Foundation, concrete and masonry: NCC A/S
• Roof, windows, doors etc.: TL Byg A/S
• Technical installations: Brøndum
• Laboratory equipment and furniture: Labflex
• Fume cupboards: Zystm A/S
• Autoclaves, labware cleaning etc.: Getinge
• Washing facilities, robots etc. for animal laboratory facilities: Scanbur

Further information

Department Head Thomas G. Jensen
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Mobile: +45 2778 2805
thomas@biomed.au.dk

Head of Building Services Conor Richard O'Connor Leerhøy
Aarhus University, Health
Direct tel.: +45 8715 2241
Mobile: +45 2899 2241
conor@au.dk