Norwegian construction company Veidekke has been appointed by Akademiska Hus to carry out renovation work on the Zoologen building in Gothenburg, Sweden.  

The design-and-build contract is valued at approximately Nkr315m ($31.59m).   

Akademiska Hus, a Swedish government-owned enterprise, develops properties for educational and research purposes.  

The renovation project is set to transform both the exterior and interior of the building.  

Upon completion, the structure will feature 15 laboratory and office spaces, varying in size from 100m² to 850m², complete with full laboratory infrastructure.  

Additionally, the building will house a lunch café with a communal dining area, meeting rooms, and a gym, catering to the diverse needs of its occupants. 

The project includes sustainability-related measures, with materials from the old structure repurposed by local educational institutions.  

The Zoologen building, located near Gothenburg University and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, will form part of the wider group of facilities in the area connected to life sciences. 
 
The initial phase of the project, valued at Nkr112m, was entered into Veidekke's second-quarter (Q2) 2025 order book, with an additional Nkr200m to be included in Q3 2025. 

Completion and occupancy are expected by late 2026. 

Akademiska Hus project manager Martin Dahlberg said: “With Zoologen we are creating modern and sustainable premises for life science companies, in the middle of a research and education environment.  

“Through our solid collaboration with Veidekke, we are not only developing a building but also enriching the campus with new possibilities.” 

Veidekke spokesperson Christer Carlberg said: “We are proud to be entrusted by Akademiska Hus with another project - to transform this 1960s building into a stylish and modern laboratory and office property.” 

Last month, Veidekke received a contract from the Swedish Transport Administration to build the Stora Hamnkanalen tunnel, a component of the West Link Project in central Gothenburg. 

With an initial contract value of Skr280m, the project involves the creation of a tunnel comprising both concrete and rock sections, measuring approximately 54m and 16m in length, respectively. 

This tunnel will traverse the Stora Hamnkanalen near its outlet into the Göta älv.