Lively construction start for Gothenburg’s major new hotel Draken
The construction of Gothenburg’s major new hotel, Clarion Hotel Draken is now underway, a 35-floor high sensation that signals the city’s spirit of new building and also strengthens the Järntorget district’s position as a centre for meetings, entertainment and culture.
Instead of a traditional turf-cutting ceremony, the construction start of Draken was celebrated by a sparkling spectacle at Olof Palmes Plats, where the hotel king Petter Stordalen ignited the spark for a dazzling and fire-breathing dragon. The link to the classic Draken (the Dragon) cinema is central to the entire project, and is further underlined by symbolically casting a film reel in a round tin box into the property's foundation.
“Clarion Hotel Draken is a prestigious project in our portfolio. I am extremely proud to be able to participate in managing such an important landmark as the Draken cinema. Gothenburg is a growth city with fantastic potential and Nordic Choice Hotels has an ambition of doubling the number of hotels in the city. This journey has only just started,” says Petter Stordalen, founder Nordic Choice Hotels.
Apart from Erik Selin and Petter Stordalen participants in the ceremony included Mats Arnsmar, CEO of Folkets Hus and Hampus Magnusson, Chairman of the Building Committee in Gothenburg.
Clarion Hotel Draken is a collaborative venture involving Balder, Nordic Choice Hotels and Folkets Hus. The new hotel is linked to existing buildings and will form an overall structure containing about 470 hotel rooms, several restaurants and conference facilities. The two top floors will be a restaurant and sky bar commanding a magnificent view over the city and harbour entrance. With a total height of just over 100 metres, Draken will also be Gothenburg’s tallest hotel building.
“It feels great to part of such an exciting and important project,” says Balder’s CEO Erik Selin who kick-started the construction together with the others involved in this spectacular project. “I am convinced that this will be good both for those who live and work in the area but also for the city as a whole.”
The hotel is part of the zoning plan for Masthuggskajen, which shall be developed into a lively and culturally dynamic area with international influences. The old and the new are being brought together here. In the area between Järntorget, the Långgatorna streets and the harbour 1,300 homes, 5,000-6,000 workplaces, restaurants and hotels will be developed. The area has high sustainability ambitions and Draken will be a classified as an environmental building, which aligns with the Choice chain’s high sustainability ambitions.
Social sustainability is also built into the Draken project, with a focus on contributing to more street life in an area that is often perceived as deserted, dreary and unsafe. Having Draken as a cultural and creative hub will help promote a lively and vibrant urban environment, which will strengthen both the neighbourhood and the city as a tourist destination.
For further information, please contact:
CEO Erik Selin, tel +46 706 074790
Head of Communications Sandra Nilsson, tel +46 31 109580
In the picture from the left: Petter Stordalen, Erik Selin, Hampus Magnusson and Mats Arnsmar.
Visualization image: Adore Adore / Erséus Arkitekter
Fastighets AB Balder is a listed real estate company which shall meet the needs of different customer groups for premises and housing through local support. Balder's real estate portfolio had a value of SEK 129.2 billion (109.7) as of 30 June 2019. The Balder share is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap.
Fastighets AB Balder (publ)
PO Box 53 121, 400 15 Gothenburg
Tel: +46 31 10 95 70
Corporate Identity No. 556525-6905, Registered office Gothenburg
balder.se
