Sara Cultural Centre named Europe’s best tall building by CTBUH
At CTBUH 2023 International Conference, that took place in Singapore this year, White Arkitekter received two Awards of Excellence for the design of Sara Cultural Centre in Skellefteå, Sweden. The 75-metre-tall timber building was also named the final winner in the Best Tall Building Europe category after presenting the project in front of a live jury and international audience.
The CTBUH Annual Awards program recognises projects and individuals that have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level.
With its pioneering design Sara Cultural Centre has set a new standard for timber construction and sustainable architecture. The double recognition and category win in the CTBUH Awards 2023 is a clear testament to that.
– We are very excited about these awards from CTBUH. It validates our strong commitment to pushing boundaries of possibility and challenging conventional norms. With each innovative design, we have the potential to transform the way we inhabit our urban environments and create a more sustainable future, said Robert Schmitz and Oskar Norelius, Lead Architects at White Arkitekter.
Sara Cultural Centre houses Skellefteå Art Gallery, Museum Anna Nordlander, Västerbotten Regional Theatre, the new city library and The Wood Hotel, complete with restaurant, spa and conference center. By bringing these functions together under one roof, the culture venue promotes collaboration and conversation, and has become a new landmark and public living room for the citizens as well as tourists from all over the world. In fact, Times Magazine named Skellefteå and The Wood Hotel one of the best places in the world in 2022.
White Arkitekter’s ability to seamlessly integrate design and sustainability has been an international success factor for the Swedish-founded architectural firm. With projects ranging from Montreal's new sustainable neighbourhood Le Hippodrome, to the award-winning Nuuk Psychiatric Clinic in Greenland and the World Bank-funded Panzi Hospital in Congo, White Arkitekter has notably expanded its international presence. And with the completion of the Sara Cultural Centre, the company's place on the international stage has become increasingly clear.
For more information:
Louise Lundberg, Head of Public Relations, White Arkitekter
+46 73 722 51 69
louise.lundberg@white.se
About White Arkitekter
Founded by Sidney White in 1951, White Arkitekter is Scandinavia’s leading architectural practice. We work with sustainable architecture, urban design, landscape, and interiors to create lasting value for current and future generations. We are an employee-owned collective of about 700 employees with a presence in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, UK, Germany, Canada, and East Africa. As architects, we have a responsibility to take action against climate change and by 2030, we aim for all our projects will be climate neutral. To that end, we have strengthened research and design skills that focus on timber technologies. Our Roadmap 2030 sets out White’s direction for how it will contribute to the transition required in society to achieve national and international climate goals, as well as our own. From relocating the Arctic city of Kiruna two miles east, to empowering women at Panzi Hospital, we put people, planet, and local economies at the forefront of design.
Connect with us to learn more: www.whitearkitekter.com or @whitearkitekter on social media.
