BMC, which is located in the southern parts of central Uppsala, was built in stages from the late 1960s until 1985. The building has since been equipped with several extensions and today consists of over 105,000 square meters, which predominantly contains laboratory and teaching premises with associated offices and student areas. Approximately 1,500 employees and 4,500 students are active here.
"Together with Uppsala University, we want to ensure that the physical environment will maintain high quality for many years, and that BMC continues to be an attractive campus. A large part of the work is about making the building even more energy efficient, something that is of the utmost importance to us and our goal of becoming climate neutral," says Ali Ranji, Project Director at Akademiska Hus.
Energy savings of over 3 GWh
BMC currently has about 10,000 windows that are almost 40 years old and thus need to be improved for increased energy performance and indoor comfort. Instead of switching to new windows, Akademiska Hus has chosen a method where the old windows are retained but supplemented with extra energy glass, in cases where this is missing. Over a 30-year period, reuse generates a lower climate impact comprising over 650,000 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) compared to if new windows had been purchased.
The outer roofs have also been overhauled and given new coating and insulation. The roofs are also equipped with solar cells and a total of almost 1,200 panels are installed, which are estimated to produce 440,000 kWh of sustainable electricity annually. A laboratory building like BMC has high ventilation flows and is ventilated around the clock to maintain the right levels. An airflow optimization has been made that aims to reduce the ventilation's "stand-by losses" when the premises are not used during nights and weekends. All in all, all the energy optimisations carried out in BMC contribute to reducing the need for district heating by almost 3.2 GWh per year, corresponding to the heating needs of approximately 320 detached houses.
More attractive public corridors and greener environments
The biggest visual changes are taking place in the central and public areas where most students and visitors move. Here, the entrances will be made more welcoming and the study places that are currently on two floors will be refreshed. The building's bicycle parking spaces will be restructured and allow for green spaces that will be equipped with plants and furniture. The investment in outdoor environments contributes to increased biodiversity and at the same time strengthens the opportunities for a healthy life by making it easy and tempting to choose the bike or take a break outdoors.
New clinical training centre
To meet Uppsala University's need for premises in connection with the start of a completely new degree programme in autumn 2024, BMC will also be equipped with an approximately 1,600 m2 clinical training centre on the initiative of the university. The premises will be an important part of the training for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and doctors. Here, learning will be able to take place through training and role-playing in environments and contexts that are reminiscent of the actual situation in working life.
"Since its inception more than 50 years ago, BMC has been one of the largest facilities for biomedical research in Europe. I think it is extremely commendable that Akademiska Hus and Uppsala University are now jointly investing in upgrading this unique building instead of building a new one, not least from a sustainability and renewables perspective. With these investments, BMC will continue to be a landmark in life science and we will be able to conduct cutting-edge research and high-quality education in the future as well," says Pontus Aspenström, Director of the Biomedical Centre.
The work to develop and modernize BMC is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.