Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB: Winning architect named for Malmö University's new building

Amphitrite is centrally located next to the university's profile building Niagara. The building will house Malmö University's Faculty of Odontology (Tandvårdshögskolan) with learning environments and administrative spaces, and the student unions.

The winning concept, "Magasin för kunskap," will preserve parts of the existing warehouse and highlight aspects of the area's dock and industrial past. With welcoming entrances, vibrant interiors and a visual nod to history, the new building provides attractive living environments for students as well as Malmö residents.

Amphitrite is based on circularity, with the goal of reusing or recycling the existing buildings and structure to the greatest possible extent. Health and well-being is promoted by creating optimal conditions for natural daylight, views, access to outdoor environments and comfortable work environments for everyone.

The jury's statement about the winning proposal:

"Magasin för kunskap" highlights the specificity of the site and the design reflects its surroundings and its closest university neighbour, Niagara. The building is inviting and connects all of the floors, offering a variety of meeting places and environments to spend time in, both inside and outside the building. This creates conditions for a dynamic campus environment that will also become part of the city. The team's understanding of the assignment is reflected in an architectural approach that, with respect for the cultural history and innovative ideas, becomes a worthy representative for the socially engaged academia that the university represents.

"Malmö University is a young and modern seat of learning built on academic tradition. Amphitrite will meet the university's future needs, while concurrently preserving the history of the city, the site and the university. The building will house learning environments, workplaces, student unions and university dental care. We have high expectations in terms of the contribution Amphitrite will make to a sustainable and creative campus, and as an important space for students, staff and dental patients. We are proud to be an urban, open, socially and globally engaged university at Malmö's heart" says Mia Rönnmar, Vice-Chancellor of Malmö University.

"Amphitrite is an important puzzle piece that adds something new while retaining a clear connection to the location and the building's history. I'm pleased that we have been able to come to an agreement on a building with many excellent qualities, in terms of architecture as well as sustainability. Thanks to its indoor social spaces, together with the connection to the quay and the docks where the City of Malmö has created an inviting and active space, Amphitrite will be a social building for students, university employees and for Malmö residents," says Stefana Hoti (MP), Chairperson of the Urban Planning Committee for the City of Malmö.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to be part of designing Malmö's new university building. Our vision for Amphitrite is for it to become an inclusive meeting place for students and Malmö residents in the middle of the city and a natural part of Malmö as an international city of knowledge. With the `Magasin för kunskap' concept, we want to unite forward-looking architecture with the cultural and historical value of the site. We look forward to developing the proposal in collaboration with Wihlborgs, Malmö University and the City of Malmö," says Ola Jonsson, lead architect and partner at C.F. Møller Architects.

"Amphitrite will be a building characterised by flexibility, which is important for operations at Malmö University as well as for the location. There will be a variety of teaching and working environments with space for focused work as well as creative exercises for Malmö University's students and staff. The building itself is also flexible, with the ability to adapt to new needs. It's genuinely exciting to be part of putting the next piece in place in Malmö's university cluster and to have a new, unique feature in Malmö's central cityscape," says Ulrika Hallengren, CEO of Wihlborgs.
 

About the assignment

The parallel task was carried out in spring 2024, with refinements as an additional task in June for two of the pre-qualified teams. The winning idea will now be further developed by C.F. Møller Architects/Förstberg Ling/Softer.

Wihlborgs has won the assignment to, in consultation with the Malmö University and the City of Malmö, design and plan construction of the building, which will be leased by the university in the future.  Occupancy is planned for 2027/2028.