Sustainability Report

Sustainability information provided by Fredrik Haukeland, Associate Partner at Nordic Office of Architecture.

Embodied carbon overview

• Environmental systems include low-carbon concrete, while the use of materials with low greenhouse gas emissions contributes to reducing resource use and emissions over the New Government Quarter’s lifetime.
• Targets have been set for greenhouse gas emissions for the New Government Quarter’s buildings — they are measured against comparable office buildings with a similar security level. Energy use over the buildings’ lifetime is converted into greenhouse gas emissions and is included in life-cycle greenhouse gas accounting.
• The use of locally sourced and natural materials contributes to reducing embodied carbon through shorter transport distances and material selection.
• The project references extensive use of Larvikite on facades and public surfaces, as well as locally sourced timber from Nordmarka within the interiors.
• Birch timber from Nordmarka is supplied by Vyrk and used across interior applications. Flooring at Level 1 includes “Ice Green” granite supplied by Rennebu Granitt, while the plinth is formed in Norwegian Larvikite. The facade is clad in Iddefjord granite, supplied and fabricated by Overhalla.
• Additional materials include Nordic birch elements fabricated by Risør Båtbyggeri in collaboration with Biko, terrazzo flooring provided by Elingaard, timber slat ceiling systems supplied by Mondalen, wood panelling and fixed furniture delivered by Hoff, and Norwegian oak interior elements supplied by Hamran.

Operational emissions overview

• Environmental systems include seawater-based heating and cooling and building envelopes designed to reduce operational energy demand.
• The buildings are designed to meet BREEAM-NOR Excellent standards.
• Requirements have been set for passive house–level performance of the building envelopes and for the buildings’ energy rating, both of which are measurable. The requirements for the building envelopes are at passive house level, meaning an energy strategy for reduced energy consumption has been established, a renewable energy source has been incorporated, and energy use during the operational phase is reduced. This is expressed through the buildings’ energy rating, which has been calculated for construction Phase 1.
• Høyblokken has a shallow depth of 16.5 metres, allowing daylight to pass through the building and creating long sightlines within the office spaces.
• Glazed walkways between buildings at first-floor level allow views into interior activity, while generous ground-floor spaces with large windows provide visual connections into the Collaboration District. Lighting in these areas contributes to street illumination at night.
• The A-block includes two 50-metre-high glass facades facing the Pyramid Hall and the 700-square-metre wooden artwork AAhkA. The space is shaped as a tetrahedron and receives changing light and shadow throughout the day, while at night it emits light into the surrounding area.
• In the D-block, the two lowest floors include large glazed facades facing the Collaboration District, which runs through all buildings as a continuous interior space. Glass bridges at second-floor level connect shared functions across the government quarter.