About the project
Gothenburg's new station building is a project with a clear focus on sustainability and a minimized climate footprint. The majority of the building's structure is made of wood, which is combined with recycled bricks, climate-improved concrete, and recycled steel.
The building will be nearly 120 meters long and extend more than 20 meters in height. The interior is characterized by visible wood in various forms that promote sustainable construction.
– We are very proud to deliver our renewable and locally produced CLT to Gothenburg’s new station building. Using wood as a building material with low climate impact significantly reduces the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the building. Additionally, the wood continues to store carbon dioxide throughout the building's lifetime. Wood as a natural material also provides a pleasant environment to be in, says Andreas Berge, business area manager at Södra Building Systems.
Hybridge (former Prefabsystem Syd) is responsible for the frame contract in the project and is a long-standing and well-established partner of Södra.
– We have collaborated with Södra already in the early bidding phase. Our good cooperation in the early phase combined with Södra's capacity and the product's low climate impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions is what made the choice fall on Södra when it comes to deliveries of CLT in the project, says Mårten Holmberg, CEO and business manager at Hybridge.
The assembly is carried out by KL projekt, with which Södra has a well-functioning collaboration.
The groundbreaking of the construction took place in September 2024. Södra's delivery of CLT starts in the first quarter of 2025. The station building is expected to be completed in December 2026, with the upper floors in early 2027.
The architect behind the project is Oslo-based Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter. PEAB is the general contractor for the project. The building is owned and will be managed by Jernhusen.
Södra's value chain contributes to the low climate impact of CLT
The production of CLT (cross-laminated timber) is carried out in symbiosis with Södra's pulp mill and sawmill at the facility in Värö outside Varberg. In this way, we utilize the entire tree and refine the sustainable forest raw material from family forestry's responsibly managed forests into renewable, climate-smart products and solutions that create value for many people in a more natural society.
Södra was founded in 1938 on the idea that we are stronger together. Today, Södra is Sweden's largest forest owners' association with more than 50,000 family forest owners as members. Together, the members of Södra own a world-leading industry that refines forest raw materials into renewable products in pulp, wood, building systems, liquid bioproducts, and energy.
It’s much more pleasant working with wood. From a work environment perspective, it has major advantages, as timber machinery neither makes as much noise nor vibrates as much as those used for other materials.
The advantages of CLT at Göteborg Grand Central
We spoke with Jakob Boman, lead fitter at KL projekt AB, who has assembled the frame at Göteborg Grand Central, about his experiences working with CLT.
What advantages do you see with CLT as a structural material?
– It’s much more pleasant to work with timber. From a work environment perspective, it has major advantages as machines for timber are neither as noisy nor as prone to vibration as those for other materials. Concrete also tends to get dirty, and steel becomes very cold in winter. It’s cleaner, quieter, and warmer on site when the frame is made of timber.
What role does the choice of material play in the assembly, practically speaking?
– CLT is quick to assemble, which makes the construction process efficient. It’s also easier to handle on site when we receive deliveries directly from the factory. This allows us to maintain a high pace without compromising on quality.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the assembly?
– We’ve had moments where the floor slabs needed to enclose columns. It wasn’t possible to install them horizontally, so we had to lift the panel at a 30-degree angle and then lower it to a horizontal position once we were between the columns. It’s been enjoyable to try different approaches, and the end result has turned out very well.
What does it mean to you to work with a sustainable and locally produced structural material?
– It feels good to know we’re doing something for the environment. And it’s fun to be able to boast a little when people ask about the material. Working close to the factory where the CLT is produced also makes deliveries quick and smooth, which is a big advantage for the efficiency of the assembly.
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Wood from inside and out
We offer wood frames, facades, and interior cladding. Together, they provide the opportunity to create unique and sustainable buildings that breathe the forest from the inside out.
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