[ SHL Architects ] NRGi’s Headquarters

Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Location: Dusager, Aarhus N, Denmark
Client: NRGi a.m.b.a.
Ingeneering: Consult - Consulting Engineers
Contractor: H. Hoffmann & Sønner
Project Year: 2005
Construction Year: 2006-2007
Constructed Area: 5,067 sqm
Photographs: SHL

NRGi’s new corporate headquarters is situated in an area marked by a number of freestanding buildings. NRGi stands out from its neighbours in the surrounding area in virtue of its visually light, metallically gleaming built volume. Distinguished by an angular and distinctive façade, the building forms a crisp contrast to the mellow, scenic context. Moreover, the building is situated and oriented so as to accommodate the path of the sun, and set at an angle so that it provides sun shading – hence, energy efficiency is built into construction design.

The interior echoes the dynamic tone of the façade. Three open horizontal plates are mutually displaced diagonally. With long lines of sight across the building and vertically up through the floors, the architecture creates visual transparency and facilitates contact between employees.

Small meeting pods and coffee points act as breakout areas and as spaces for informal exchanges. These innovative channels of communication are further enhanced by the vertical atrium – an energy conductor for communication in-house. With its characterful form and façade articulation the building provides its own landmark – a landmark for energy.