The faculty's two departments, the Academy of Art and Design (HDK-Valand) and the Academy of Music and Drama (HSM), can move together in the new building. The building will be home to students, researchers and teachers in all artistic subjects, which creates greater opportunities for students and researchers from different disciplines to interact and new collaborations in the artistic subjects can emerge.
"It's gratifying to finally be able to put symbolic shovels in the ground for Konstnärliga. The building will be a fantastic meeting place for students, researchers and Gothenburgians. The university wants to continue to be part of Gothenburg's cityscape and here we will be in the middle of the vibrant urban and cultural life," says Malin Broberg, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg.
Sketch: Tham & Videgård
Investment of SEK 1.9 billion
Konstnärliga consists of a rebuilding of the old Artisten and the addition of two new buildings; one towards Götaplatsen and one towards Johannebergsgatan. The reconstruction is complete, while the extension is starting now. The environments will include workshops, multi-purpose halls, dance halls, concert halls, theatres, galleries, studios, music rooms, photo labs, studios, offices, cafés and restaurants. Akademiska Hus is investing a total of approximately SEK 1.9 billion in the project.
"We are very pleased to be working with the University of Gothenburg to realise this project. The Konstnärliga building will be a fantastic addition to the urban environment in central Gothenburg – both for the university's activities and for the citizens of Gothenburg in general. It is a fine example of how we can develop knowledge environments that contribute to the city's pulse and cultural life," says Ali Ranji, Project Director at Akademiska Hus.
The premises will have a flexible design so that they can be changed according to the university's future needs, while the co-location in the new building means that the faculty will reduce its total premises by 25 per cent compared to the premises that the faculty currently rents. The renovation and extension project comprises a total of approximately 45,000 m2, of which the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts intends to lease 26,200 m2. Other areas include a parking garage and attractive office space for external activities linked to academia or which in a longer perspective can constitute space for the university to grow in.
Sketch: Tham & Videgård
Exit from the West Link
The project also includes an entrance from the West Link station Korsvägen with retail premises with adapted service offerings. The entrance will be integrated into Konstnärliga and will be located at the corner of Johannebergsgatan and Olof Wijksgatan. The location has been developed in close collaboration with the City of Gothenburg with the aim of minimizing changes in the urban environment. With the increase, the building and the university will open up further to the city, throughput and street life on the surrounding streets will increase and the opportunity for sustainable travel to and from the university campus will be improved.
"This building will be a crucial piece of the puzzle for our future. We finally have the opportunity to gather our unique breadth of artistic education and research in new premises, in the middle of the city's cultural district. It not only strengthens our own activities, but also Gothenburg as a vibrant and forward-looking cultural city," says Henric Benesch, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts.
The extension is planned to be completed by the summer of 2029. Moving in for the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts will take place in stages, starting in the rebuilt Artisten from the summer of 2027.
