In Västerås (Sweden), the location of the Citizens Advice Bureau has long been scattered across different buildings in the city. But not anymore, Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB (SBB), together with NCC and Et Cetera Arkitekter AB, have constructed a modern and well-designed building that meets environmental requirements and provides a safe environment for both visitors and staff. To refine facade maintenance, brick and plaster facades were chosen and the window sills were clad with wood-look Rockpanel boards. A good choice from both a practical and aesthetic perspective.

In 2017, the city of Västerås began looking for a landlord who could help bring all social services under one roof. SBB was the successful bidder and together with NCC and Et Cetera Arkitekter AB, they managed to construct a modern office building that feels both safe and welcoming.

Used products:
Rockpanel Woods Beech

In order to reduce facade maintenance, SBB administration chose to use durable materials for the external facade. In terms of design, the building is divided into two parts, one with a brick facade and the other with a plastered facade. They also chose to replace the specified wooden beams in the window sill with grooved and milled slats from Rockpanel board material, which looks like wood thanks to its beautiful grain and thoughtful design - while being virtually maintenance-free.

Safe and inclusive

During the process, SBB was very keen to understand what the city needed. They wanted a location that had a mix of different building types with convenient transportation connections. It also had to feel safe. Maria Liderås, Regional Manager at SBB, explains:“If people need to seek help, we want them to be looked after in a safe space where they do not feel excluded. People should be able to come in and register, receive a thoughtful and welcoming treatment, and then be able to go to other parts of the building depending on their needs. We also wanted a modern design that matched the site, with materials that are recognisable but don't feel bulky. It should be a calm and inclusive place, and I think we achieved that.”

Authentic materials with a focus on sustainability

Maria Liderås explains: “We wanted a environment-friendly house that also looks solid and robust, so we chose brick and plastered facades. We also needed deep window sills to meet local certification requirements, which also look at indoor climate. In these window sills, we initially wanted wooden beams, but as a property manager, that's a bad idea because they require maintenance. So, we looked for a durable material that looks like wood but is more maintenance-free. That's when we found Rockpanel, which offered sustainable cladding boards that also help the building to be environmentally certified.”

She is complemented by Carina Lindelöv, lead architect at Et Cetera Arkitekter AB:“We opted for wooden beams at the ground floor and did not want to completely drop the idea of the window beams being connected to these. So, we were delighted to be able to trace and granulate wooden slats into the Rockpanel board material. We first tried installing them vertically, but because of the pattern, it looked unnatural. So, we mounted them horizontally and welded them instead, and it turned out much better. It created a warm feeling that merged with the beams at the entrance.”

Carina Lindelöv continues:

“As an architect, you want to work with real materials as much as possible, but I think it's great that there are good alternatives like Rockpanel Woods. It's not real wood but it's similar enough that it still works well in terms of design and will continue to look good in the future - even without maintenance. They're also sustainable and fit in well with green building certification.”

NCC was the general contractor and played a major role in finding an alternative to the wooden ribs. Patrik Widerönn, project manager at NCC, concludes:“Ordinary wooden ribs had become costly and difficult to maintain. So, we looked for alternatives. In the end, we chose Rockpanel, because it was a flexible material that could be cut and milled. The boards were also pre-cut on delivery, so installation was quick and easy. We are very happy.”