What’s new

Architect Julie Gedde-Dahl, Lillehammer, comes from the position of project manager and partner at LPO Arkitekter. She has a master’s degree in architecture from NTNU and has solid experience in project management and process management from large complex projects such as airports, schools and office buildings.

Julie Gedde-Dahl has worked closely with developers, contractors and technical disciplines, and has been responsible for teams, budgets, progress and implementation. She has also worked extensively with design concepts and the use of materials. She will now bring this experience into the cluster.

Likes interdisciplinary approach

– Even though I’m happy where I work today, I’m now motivated to move into a new role. I really like the cluster’s vision of providing the world with innovative and sustainable building solutions in wood and would like to contribute to that process. I experience the vision as both forward-looking and meaningful,” says Julie Gedde-Dahl.

She has 21 years of experience in the architectural industry and has solid expertise and experience that will be useful for Norwegian Wood Cluster. She is currently heavily involved in New Airport Mo i Rana. She has led the interaction phase, pre-project and sub-project and has been project manager since 2022.

– “I enjoy working across disciplines so that we can benefit from each other’s expertise in projects. I think this will fit nicely in the role I’m about to take on at Norwegian Wood Cluster,” says Julie Gedde-Dahl.

Strengthening the focus on wooden structures

– “I’m very pleased that Julie has agreed to become our new project manager. She has strong expertise and relevant experience. In addition, she has a personal drive that fits very well into the job of project manager with us,” says cluster manager Berit Sanness.

– “We want to promote our work in timber structures. After all, this is the core of the tasks of the specialist group “Future building solutions”. With Julie’s expertise and experience, we will significantly strengthen this focus. I therefore have great expectations that we will get a boost in this area and warmly welcome Julie to the cluster,” says Sanness.

The new project manager will join Norwegian Wood Cluster on January 1, 2025.

Joint boost for moisture-proof solid wood buildings

The two clusters are now joining forces to apply for funding for a new industry guide – an important initiative to reduce the risk of moisture damage in solid wood buildings. Moisture can be a demanding challenge that in the worst case leads to costly repairs and weakened structures.

– We see that demand for solid wood is increasing in line with the green transition. So it’s crucial that we build with quality and longevity. This guide will help the entire industry to prevent moisture in a comprehensive way,” says Niklas Pedersen, project manager at CCC.

A guide for the entire value chain

The planned guide will gather experience from both Norwegian and international players and provide practical advice for everyone involved in building with solid wood, from architects and consultants to contractors and developers. The aim is to create a common understanding and methodology for how moisture can be prevented throughout the building’s life cycle, from planning and design to operation and maintenance.

– “We want to make it easy for everyone in the value chain to make the right choices. With this guide, we can avoid expensive mistakes and at the same time raise the quality of solid wood buildings in Norway,” says Berit Sanness, cluster leader in Norwegian Wood Cluster.

The work so far

Throughout the spring, CCC has arranged three initial meetings with members. 15 different companies – including architects, consultants, contractors, fire consultants and building physicists – have shared valuable input on what the guide should contain. Among the topics highlighted are the need for clear understanding of roles, better interdisciplinary collaboration and concrete measures for quality assurance in all project phases.

Bringing the industry together

The two clusters are now applying for innovation funding from Akershus County Council, with a deadline of September 1, 2025. In this connection, members are invited to join an interdisciplinary reference group that will provide input to the guide along the way.

– “This is a unique opportunity to share experiences and help lift the industry together. We want a reference group that represents the entire breadth of the professional environments,” says Niklas Pedersen.

Aanesland Treindustri specializes in turning and milling large items, but the factory has very varied production, including flagpoles. Exports account for about 25%, mainly deliveries of playground equipment and masts for boats. The factory moved into new wooden premises in 2022.

– Naturally, we chose wood for the new industrial building. This reduced CO2 emissions by 42%, so even though the building was about 10% more expensive, we made a conscious choice here. It’s positive for employees to work in an environmentally friendly building and many people come to see the building,” says the chairman, who explains that all building components are labeled to enable future reuse.

– We have experienced that wooden hubs meet resistance from engineers, but these types of solutions were made by our ancestors, so it must be possible now too. Aanesland Treindustri is one of the partners in the “SirkTRE” project, and we are keen to develop new solutions that can also be dismantled. In order to deliver to the new Viking Museum, we developed a new solution for the roof, with a large number of different parts. It was fun to develop and deliver that solution,” says chairman Gunnar Adolf Aanesland.

The webinar was organized by the project “Inno4Tree – Climate change with innovation in the forest-based industries” where Norwegian Wood Cluster is part of the reference group.

The meeting was opened by deputy head of research Håkon Endresen Normann from NIFU, who talked about the Inno4Tree project (see fact box). Among other things, he referred to the challenges that arise due to a lack of coordination between policy areas – something the Office of the Auditor General of Norway has also pointed out as a challenge in combating climate change.

Eivind Selvig, partner at Civitas, was then invited to talk about the climate and environmental requirements and the exemption rule that makes it possible to go from award criteria to requirement specifications. He talked about what the requirement means for buyers and suppliers, and showed what procurement documents and supplier documentation can look like in practice. He also painted a picture of the future, where we can expect regulations that set limits for greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, as has already been introduced in Denmark.

Lise Dufset Urset is head of environment and climate in Hamar municipality, and she shared experiences from the municipality’s market dialogue with contractors and recycling companies. Hamar municipality has entered into a dialog with the players to establish criteria for climate and environment in procurement of buildings and facilities – to find the best solutions and ensure that local businesses can participate in the competitions.

Over the course of 2024, our project team has traveled around Inland Norway and held countless meetings with players in the construction industry. We are undoubtedly an industry with a great responsibility for the climate and nature, and we know that the most climate-friendly building is the one that is never built. At the same time, we need buildings to live, work, learn, be cared for, be healthy, meet and thrive in.

Share, learn, inspire

So how can we build what we need in a way that has the least possible negative impact on nature and the climate? The picture is complex, and there is no recipe or formula. So the prescription for this project has been to SHARE knowledge and experience, and INSPIRE to change, and to try and fail.

And it is precisely this willingness to learn and share that has made the biggest impression throughout this year of webinars, professional gatherings and meetings. Builders, contractors, consultants, architects, building product manufacturers and recyclers have willingly shared their knowledge and practical experience of processes and materials. And the participation in the professional webinars and the response to the newsletter has shown that people want to learn more.

Some experiences and thoughts we have had throughout the year:

o There is a great deal of interest in and search for knowledge, especially about reuse and rehabilitation, greenhouse gas calculations and material knowledge.

o Collaboration throughout the value chain is crucial to speed up sustainable construction processes. We need regular meeting places to share good and bad experiences, discuss solutions, opportunities and risks.

o The myth that building climate-friendly is more expensive is still alive. We need to share the good examples that this is not always true – and take operating costs and lifetime into account (Life Cycle Analyses LCA and Life Cycle Costs LCC).

o Many businesses, especially smaller developers and municipalities, may find it difficult to take financial risks. That’s why we need good incentive schemes for risk relief, so that more people dare to take the lead and try out new solutions and establish new and more climate-friendly practices. At present, there are few such schemes.

o Property developers in the rental market often choose certification because they believe it will pay off in a future rental market. On the other hand, public sector developers building and renovating purpose-built buildings such as schools and nursing homes (which will not be rented out) can achieve just as good results without certifying the building. By taking the right steps in terms of reuse, use of materials and construction solutions that make the buildings last longer and can be adapted to future uses.

o Developers and tenants have great power in their orders. By expressing clear requirements for sustainability in the projects at an early stage, there is a great opportunity to influence the end result.

o Many municipalities have good climate plans and, in accordance with the procurement rules, must weight climate and environmental considerations by 30%. Here it is important to include local suppliers in the dialog to ensure that they are able to deliver.

o In order to succeed with the reuse of building materials, the Inland Region needs to build systems in the form of reuse centers and resource databases.

2025: Meeting places and more knowledge

We are following up on our own promise to establish a regular meeting place for the construction industry in Inland Norway, twice a year. The first meeting will take place on April 2 in Hamar and will focus on reuse and greenhouse gas calculations. There will be professional presentations, but also collaboration and plenty of time to mingle and talk during the breaks. Because we know that change and development require collaboration. The second professional gathering will be held in October, time and place not yet determined.

In early February, we invite you to a webinar on how new forms of collaboration in the early phase can make a big difference to the achievement of goals in projects with specific objectives.

Last but not least, we would like to thank you for your cooperation in 2024 and wish you a happy new year!

Greetings project Climate friendly buildings Innlandet v/ project group

Eivind, Marit, Christopher and Mari

The new project manager will be a key member of the cluster and will be responsible for the “Future building solutions” subject group. She will also be project manager for the acoustics project “3LYD”, which has many participants and relates to an important area for strengthening the competitiveness of wood construction.

More company visits are coming up. As are meetings at NMBU in Ås and at NTNU and SINTEF in Trondheim.

Forward-thinking Hunton

The first stop on the “get to know you” tour was Gjøvik, where Julie got to know Hunton Fiber AS. The company has been an active member of the Norwegian Wood Cluster since its inception in 2017, participating in all of the cluster’s specialist groups and in several of the cluster’s projects, including the “3LYD” project.

At Hunton, Technical Manager Thomas Løkken gave an interesting review of some of Hunton’s products.

– Acoustics is one of the areas we focus on. We achieved fantastic sound measurements for Hunton’s wood fiber insulation. A sound wall insulated with Hunton Nativo wood fiber insulation attenuates noise far above the requirement that applies between residential units. We are proud of that. But there are several challenges related to acoustics, so we look forward to the implementation of the “3LYD” project,” says Thomas Løkken.

Hunton Fiber was recently awarded more than NOK 14 million in funding from Innovation Norway to develop its new circular growth medium, Fibergrow®.

– Fibergrow can be used for cultivation in most vegetable productions, such as cucumber and tomato, berries, herbs, flowers and shrubs in nurseries. Fibergrow can fully or partially replace today’s less sustainable alternatives for cultivation,” says Løkken.

– “I’m already looking forward to getting an in-depth tour of both the old and the new Hunton factory. This is a company that is constantly striving for new products and sustainable solutions, which is very inspiring,” says Julie Gedde-Dahl.

Building at height is an interesting way of reducing the degradation of land and thus reducing the pressure on biodiversity, among other things. Companies in the Norwegian Wood Cluster have identified acoustics as an important area for strengthening the competitiveness of wooden buildings, including in the 4-6 storey segment. The cluster has now set up a project that will collect and make available sound measurements for floor partitions in wooden buildings with a view to producing several preaccepted solutions and providing the basis for a guide.

Well anchored

– “The idea for the ‘3LYD’ project came up in a working meeting with key people from our members NTNU, Norconsult and Sweco,” says cluster leader Berit Sanness. She says that the project idea then received full support from the cluster’s specialist group “Future building solutions”.

– That’s why we went ahead and planned the project. A number of member companies, NTNU and SINTEF actively contributed to finalizing the project plan. With support from Innovation, the three-year project is underway, and we have had the first meeting of the project group,” says Sanness. She is now handing over responsibility for the project to the cluster’s new project manager Julie Gedde-Dahl.

Gladsak from NTNU Gjøvik: This fall, a new 2-year Master in Building Informatics and Timber Structures (MIBIT) is offered. Through this master’s program, students are trained as civil engineers with knowledge in building informatics, sustainability and wooden structures.

The application deadline is April 15.

Important expertise
The new master’s programme focuses on building informatics and how digitization is becoming increasingly important for the industry, as well as the use of wood in building structures and how digitization and proper design can facilitate more efficient production.

At the heart of the program is the challenge of how to exploit the opportunities offered by digital information to build sustainable buildings with efficient processes from design to production. Wood as a building material can help to reduce the environmental impact in several areas, but requires good expertise in material properties, design and production.

Both compulsory and elective courses

The program consists of compulsory and elective courses based on the choice of specialization. You can choose a specialization in digitalization, or sustainable and circular use of wood, or a combination of these. The specialization starts with a specialization course in the second semester, followed by a project in the third semester and a master’s thesis in the fourth semester. The specialization can take place in collaboration with a company.

More information

The basis for admission is a completed bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent education.
The program can be combined with e.g. work, as much of the teaching can be followed digitally and the study plan can be adapted to your life situation.

For more information: https://www.ntnu.no/studier/mibit/

Application deadline: April 15

If you’re curious about the new program, we recommend taking a look at this video:

The administration of the Norwegian Wood Cluster recently visited cluster member Sweco in Lillehammer for inspiration on modern timber construction and high-rise extensions.

– “It is well known that Sweco has cutting-edge expertise in wooden structures. For us, it was very valuable to be updated on Sweco’s work related to tall wooden buildings and extensions,” says cluster leader Berit Sanness.

Sweco’s list of achievements includes Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal, where Sweco delivered the detailed design of structural engineering, building physics, acoustics, fire and project management on assignment. Sweco was also responsible for the detailed design of glulam and solid wood as well as global statics and dynamics for the structure for Moelven Limtre AS. The Mjøstårnet project is a good example of innovation in wooden high-rise buildings. Sweco’s 30 “wooden shells” are distributed among the offices in Lillehammer and Oslo.

– “It’s right that Sweco has tried to streamline the wood environment at these two offices, which take on assignments all over the country. At the same time, we are concerned with the correct use of materials, and not wood at any price,” says Sweco Innlandet Regional Manager Asgeir Kvam. He explains that the consultancy covers all disciplines within architecture, construction, infrastructure and project administration.

– “Sweco has a wide range of expertise overall. We also have a separate department for building rehabilitation at the Oslo office, utilizing expertise and capacity across regions,” says Kvam.

High-rise extensions in Oslo

At present, high-rise extensions are one of the relevant areas that have been put more strongly on the industry’s agenda. This is a necessary consequence of the ambition to reduce floor space and extend the life of existing buildings. Among the members of the Norwegian Wood Cluster, ARE Treindustrier AS and Landheim AS, for example, are suppliers of roof trusses that are interesting for extensions. Moelven Limtre AS is another key manufacturer and supplier for high-rise extensions.

When Øvre Vollgate 11 in Kvadraturen in Oslo was to be renovated, developer Anthon Eiendom AS was clear that they wanted a sustainable solution. The brick building from 1875 was five storeys high. The load-bearing capacity of the existing structure cannot withstand much extra load, so the choice of material was simple. Sweco was brought in together with Moelven for a turnkey contract for a two-storey high extension. The extension, which will have a usable area of 300 square meters, will house offices for around 35 workplaces. The building is expected to be completed in 2025.