Our campus is developing for the future!

When University West's Campus Plan 2030 was developed, there were many who wanted a clear main entrance, space for meetings and creativity, and a cozier restaurant.

Our new main entrance, indoor square and restaurant were inaugurated on September 14, 2022.

A new detailed development plan for the campus area is one of the designated sub‑projects within the Campus Plan. In 2020, a joint collaboration group for campus and urban development was established:

Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
University Director (Convener)
President of the Student Union
City Chief Executive
Head of Community Development
CEO, Eidar
CEO, Kraftstaden
Project Manager
Deputy Project Manager

Sub‑project status

A planning programme for the campus area was approved on 7 June 2023, which now serves as a guiding document for the continued detailed development planning. For more information about the detailed planning process for the campus area, please visit the City of Trollhättan’s website.

Background

The application for a planning notification to initiate a detailed development plan was submitted jointly by University West and the property owner Kraftstaden AB. The development plan concerns parts of the properties Öjebro 2, Önan 1, and surrounding parcels.
The purpose of the development plan is to enable the continued development of the university’s campus area with new facilities for education, research, collaboration, and associated services, as well as student housing.

The project group responsible for reviewing the planning notification consisted of representatives from the Planning Office, City Architect’s Office, Streets and Parks Department, Environmental Office, Municipal Land Surveying Authority, Office for Growth and Development, and Trollhättan Energi AB.

The proposed development plan is in line with the “Comprehensive Plan 2013 – A Place for the Future,” which means it supports ongoing land use and contributes to strengthening Trollhättan as a student and knowledge city.

Contact:
Head of Property, Thomaz Birgerson

Strategy

The demand for housing for students and guest teachers is high in most study areas. Building the housing on campus provides strong competitive advantages. Access to good housing is an important factor for the student's choice of university and contributes to well-being, not least for international students. With accommodation on campus for students and guest teachers, we create a safe and lively campus area. In addition, student housing on campus contributes to a more vibrant downtown.

In June 2024, student housing was inaugurated on the campus premises in a refurbished existing building.

For practical and logistical reasons, the rebuilding of the University’s learning, working, and collaboration environments was divided into two phases. The first phase has now been completed and the final report has been submitted.

Strategy for the sub-project Learning Environments

To create flexible and creative learning areas in physical and digital environments

We have identified a growing need for flexibility in our learning environments in order to meet the changing needs and requirements regarding education for individuals and in working life. Our future learning environment will be safe, inclusive, creative, and contribute to successful study for more people. Creation of such learning environments requires extensive commitment and participation from students and employees in the development process.

Reducing the boundaries between formal and informal learning environments

Creative and flexible learning environments involve the design of technical infrastructure, premises and furniture layout in formal learning areas (halls and group rooms) as well as the design of informal learning environments (social spaces such as libraries, corridors and open areas). One way of supporting such development is to eliminate the boundaries between formal and informal learning environments. To the greatest possible extent, these arenas ought to be developed into shared working environments for students, teachers and partners. Both formal and informal learning environments should be perceived by everyone to be safe.

Variation of learning environments

In the case of educational learning environments, research and practical experience from other institutions has identified a need for lecture theatres that are adapted for interactivity and cooperation. As a result, a creative and flexible learning environment requires rooms in a variety of sizes, with flexible layouts and furniture that facilitate interactivity. Our informal learning environments shall also provide a high degree of variation in their design, and contain areas that both stimulate and enable concentrated work, group work and unplanned work. In technical terms, this means the teaching we provide will be increasingly supported by digital technology. Traditional educational thresholds in the form of time and space will be exceeded to a greater extent.

The library as a meeting place and hub of communication

The role of the library has been extended as a result of digitalisation. The role of the library will be reinforced in the physical environment, providing a social, informal learning environment in association with the support and service of formal learning environments. The library increasingly serves as a hub of communication between different information services, students and teachers.

Contact person: Lars Johansson

For practical and logistical reasons, the rebuilding of the University’s learning, working, and collaboration environments was divided into two phases. The first phase has now been completed and the final report has been submitted.

Strategy

To develop attractive, flexible workspaces and meeting places, a workplace where people long to be.

University West strives to be an employer who offers an inspiring, secure workplace for every employee. Our workforce has increased, and we envisage continued expansion. That growth will require greater flexibility in the design and layout of workspaces.

The physical workplace is intended to be inviting, and encourage a culture that ensures that everyone wants to be there. This creates conditions for creative meetings and interaction.

Through diversification and flexibility, the needs of employees and departments will be met regarding both functionality and needs. Workspaces need to be designed in such a way that they encourage collaboration within working units, between working units and with other collaborative partners. Creation of such workspaces requires both commitment and participation from employees in the development process.

Contact person: Sandra Öhrström

For practical and logistical reasons, the rebuilding of the University’s learning, working, and collaboration environments was divided into two phases. The first phase has now been completed and the final report has been submitted.

Strategy for the sub-project

Creating inspiring and productive collaboration environments on campus

One of the basic goals of campus development is to increase integration between education, research, postgraduate education and collaboration. Collaboration with our partners, but also internal collaborations between colleagues across departmental boundaries. To create better conditions for this, we will develop the physical environment on campus and the Production Technology Center. Participation of our employees and collaboration with our partners are important in this work.

Contact person: Vacant

The sub-project is completed and the final report has been submitted.

Strategy

Create inspiring and productive collaborative environments at Production Technology Centre, PTC.

One of the basic goals of campus development is to increase integration between education, research, postgraduate education and collaboration. Collaboration with our partners, but also internal collaborations between colleagues across departmental boundaries. To create better conditions for this, we will develop the physical environment on campus and the Production Technology Center. Employee participation and collaboration with our partners are important in this work.

The interior design project has now been completed and the final report has been submitted. Regarding visualization, a feasibility study has been prepared.

Decoration

In order to create a good work and study environment, our new premises on campus need to be furnished. We work together with White Arkitekter to create an environment that is inviting and fit for purpose. In our work, we pay particular attention to sustainability aspects, and are constantly looking at what can be reused. The project will develop an interior design concept that applies to the entire campus.

Contact person: Linda Severinson

Visability

In addition to the interior design of our premises, the project will also work to increase the visibility of the university's core activities on campus. Through efforts in the physical environment, it will become clear what University West stands for and works with. The goal is to increase awareness among external visitors, as well as the pride of staff and students.

Contact person: Stefan Kudryk

Steering group:
Management Team: University´s Board of Directors

Campus Development:

• Rickard Norén, Project owner
• Sandra Öhrström, Project leader
• Gunilla Thålig Karlsson, Acting Project leader
• Lars Johansson, Sub Project Leader Lärmiljöer​
• Sandra Öhrstöm, Sub Project Leader Workspaces and meeting places at campus​
• Lennart Malmsköld, Sub Project Leader Collaboration and meeting places at PTC
• Thomaz Birgerson, Head of property
• Linda Severinson, Sub Project Interior design and visualization
  Stefan Kudryk responsible for visualization

Project resources: Anna Tanderud, communication officer, Anna Nordgren Meijer, controller
 

The term campus is a broad concept for the entire university's operations. It accommodates the physical place with its environment and buildings as well as the business, the life and the surrounding service created in the area.

Agenda 2030 describes global goals for sustainable development and should be an obvious guiding star in the continued work to develop the campus. Therefore, our starting point when we rebuild on campus is to reuse as much as possible. It concerns both building materials and interior design. In the rebuilding of phase 1, nearly 40% of the furniture is reused, resulting in a climate saving of almost 54 tons of carbon dioxide. This is a significant climate saving and also an economic saving.

The furniture that is not worn out and does not need to be disposed of, is prioritized for reuse. What we cannot reuse goes to recycling.

Reduce the climate impact

The academic world has a central role in the work to counteract the negative climate changes. The so-called “Klimatramverket” was created at the initiative of universities with the ambition to clearly contribute to the climate transition in line with society's national and international commitments.

Together with 35 other universities, we have committed to reducing our negative climate impact so that we are in line with the 1.5 degree target, i.e. a halving by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2045.