Campus Ullevål – NGI’s New Headquarters

World-class laboratories

A defining characteristic of NGI is the close integration of laboratory work, field investigations, instrumentation, and numerical modelling. This means that the laboratories are not merely test facilities, but an integral part of our knowledge development and advisory services.

NGI’s laboratories are considered among the most advanced of their kind, both nationally and internationally. At Campus Ullevål, these facilities will form the very core of NGI’s premises. Here, laboratory work will be visible in practice, both from street level and from within the building.

A warm interior with historical character

In designing NGI’s premises at Campus Ullevål, emphasis has been placed on reflecting the institute’s identity, history, and professional activities. The open, modern spaces feature warm earth tones, light surfaces, wood, and stone. Reuse of materials and repurposing of furniture have been key principles, and several historical elements are being preserved.

Outside the building, an inviting outdoor area will be established with greenery, benches, and paved walkways. The ambition is for Campus Ullevål to be an open and accessible place also for those just passing through—whether to have a coffee, visit one of the restaurants in the building, or use the open workspaces.

Foundations as an energy store

Several research and innovation projects have been carried out in connection with the construction of Campus Ullevål, including research aimed at improving geotechnical design by developing more sustainable and cost-effective methods for building in urban areas. One of these projects is a new solution for storing thermal energy in the ground, where the retaining structure surrounding the building itself functions as a heat exchanger.

Using the ground as an energy store is not new in Norway, but this is the first time the technology has been implemented using sheet piles in soft ground. Surplus heat from the ventilation system and other building activities is transferred into the ground around the building via a piping system attached to the sheet piles. Both heat and cooling are stored and can be used when needed.

The project has received support from Enova through the Full-scale Innovative Energy and Climate Technology programme. Calculations show that the solution can cover approximately 5–8 percent of the building’s total energy demand. The remainder is supplied by district heating. Campus Ullevål is therefore a highly energy-efficient building, classified in energy class A for heating and operation.

Focus on sustainability and reuse

Within the BREEAM-NOR environmental certification system for new buildings, Campus Ullevål has achieved an “Excellent” rating. This demonstrates that the project exceeds the minimum requirements of building regulations and addresses all key aspects of sustainability.

More than 90 percent of the waste from demolition has been reused, and materials from NGI’s former buildings have been given new life. The steps from the old staircase in NGI’s previous building at Sognsveien 72 are planned to be reused, as are parts of the balustrades that surrounded the mezzanine and laboratory areas in the old building. Furniture from NGI’s temporary premises at Sandakerveien 140 will also be reused at Campus Ullevål.

Campus Ullevål will provide 500 bicycle parking spaces and is located close to the Ullevål and Forskningsparken public transport hubs, thereby supporting Oslo’s strategy of densification along metro lines.

Welcome to Campus Ullevål

Campus Ullevål marks an important step for NGI as a research institute, as a collaborative partner, and as part of a broader knowledge community in Oslo.

Welcome!