FACTS Energinet.dk Ballerup, Denmark Client: Energinet.dk ...

FACTS
Energinet.dk
Ballerup, Denmark
Client: Energinet.dk
Architect: Henning Larsen Architects
Partners: Dahl Entreprise A/S, Schul Landscape Architects
and Hansen, Carlsen & Frølund, Consulting Engineers
Gross floor area: 4,000 m2
Type of assignment: First prize in competition
Project team at Henning Larsen Architects: Anders Sælan (project
manager), Signe Kongebro, Marie Frederiksen, Erik Holm-Hansson,
Peter Krogtofte and Greta Lillienau
Quote from the jury’s statement:
“The proposal has a functional and beautiful location on the site, it is
thoroughly prepared and meets the architectural wishes of the client.”
Description
The new office building of Energinet.dk in Ballerup will house the approx.
105 employees today working in the company’s present office in Ballerup.
The building will be located in a business area situated by Pederstrupvej
in Ballerup.
Dahl Entreprise A/S and Henning Larsen Architects won the turnkey
contract with an office building in the lowest energy class possible
achieved exclusively by means of optimising the design and building
geometry. The building has an annual energy consumption of only 48,8
kWh/m2. Incorporating solar panels, ground water cooling and heat
pumps in the project would further reduce the annual energy
consumption to only 35 kWh/m2.
By means of a simple architectural design, the new office building of
Energinet.dk in Ballerup is divided into a public and non-public space.
The ground floor comprises the public facilities of the building while the
first floor houses all the offices – placed in a flexible and sustainable
layout. The top floor floats above the landscape.
A uniting atrium welcomes everyone to the building and its light and
open design provides a good overview of the various functions. The open,
dynamic and active design of the atrium reflects the values of
Energinet.dk.

Side 2/5
The building is situated on the highest point of the ground. This ensures a
beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and brings the
slightly sloping ground into the building.
The structural floor of the building follows the varying levels of the
ground and gives a good experience of the surrounding landscape. The
varying levels and stairs provide the framework for temporary activities,
meetings and social intercourse. A long view through the cafeteria to the
outdoor space unites the landscape and building in the atrium.
The use of simple and few exterior materials contribute to creating a
powerful contrast between the building and landscape. The building has a
clear and elegant design.
The high floor space ratio ensures that a number of rooms can be used for
several purposes. The open layout, light walls and floors of the first floor
will make it easy and problem-free to change the office layout in the
future.
The large, open spaces and simple, reusable elements make the building
adaptable to changes. In addition, the light and reusable materials ensure
a minimal waste of resources in connection with possible conversions in
the future.
Sustainable architecture
The design of the new office building of Energinet.dk has been based on
three overall environmental objectives:
1. Local disposal of rainwater (LAR) resulting in a reduced load on
the sewage system and reduced water consumption.
2. Making use exclusively of materials that ensure a good indoor
climate, small environmental impact and a minimum of
maintenance.
3. Low energy consumption and reduction of CO2 emissions.
Henning Larsen Architects has designed a low-energy building solely by
means of optimising the design and an geometry – resulting in an office
building in the lowest energy class possible. The building has an energy
consumption of only 48,8 kWh/m2 a year. Incorporating solar panels,
ground water cooling and heat pumps in the project would further reduce
the annual energy consumption to only 35 kWh/m2. The building meets
the requirements for low-energy class 1 according to Danish building
regulations without the use of energy producing technologies.

Side 3/5
The design is based on the integrated energy design concept where the
building is designed to achieve the lowest energy class possible – and
thus the lowest possible maintenance and operation costs. In order to
reduce the energy consumption of the building, the design team has
focused on:
Shape and orientation: A compact building (large volume compared to
surface area) reduces the heat loss and use of materials
Functional positioning: The energy consumption can be reduced
significantly by means of a proper positioning of the various functions of
the building. Permanent workstations are placed to the north-west and
north-east to avoid overheating and blinding.
Daylight optimisation: By testing different daylight scenarios, the use of
light and heat from the sun is optimised and the use of artificial lighting
is reduced. Tailoring the light to the specific needs further optimises the
use of artificial lighting. In the design process, light simulations have
been applied to optimise the design and reduce the energy consumption
for artificial lighting and cooling.
In the design process, a comfortable inflow of daylight has been ensured
by means of the following:
�� Permanent sunlight protection on the facades to avoid a
direct inflow of daylight and overheating.
�� Indirect inflow of daylight from overhead lights in the
atrium.
�� Direct sunlight from the west in summer in the cafeteria
and conference rooms. During the rest of the year, the
rooms are in shadow.
The offices feature three-layer low-energy windows and, in some places,
north-facing overhead lights. The offices only have direct sun from the
west in summer. For the rest of the year, the rooms are in shadow.
The building has a green roof serving several sustainable purposes: It
reduces the load on the public sewage system by means of slow
percolation and evaporation. In addition, the collected rainwater is used
for flushing the toilets and watering the garden, which contributes to
reducing the overall energy consumption for cooling.

Side 4/5
Energinet.dk
Energinet.dk is an independent, public undertaking owned by the Danish
state as represented by the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy.
Energinet.dk is the result of a merger between Eltra, Elkraft System,
Elkraft Transmission and Gastra. The merger took place on 24 August
2005 with retrospective effect from 1 January 2005.
Energinet.dk employs approx. 500 employees and its headquarters are
located in Erritsø, Fredericia.
Energinet.dk owns the Danish gas transmission grid and the 400 kV
electricity transmission grid and is co-owner of the international
connections between Denmark, the Nordic countries and Germany.
Furthermore, the company has at its disposal the 132 kV and 150 kV
electricity grids and has access to natural gas storage facilities.
As the owner of the overall infrastructure, Energinet.dk maintains the
security of supply and ensures the smooth operation of the market for
electricity and gas.
Henning Larsen Architects
Henning Larsen Architects is the most international architectural
company in Denmark. The company was founded by Henning Larsen in
1959 and today occupies 140 employees.
Henning Larsen Architects attaches great importance to developing
environmentally friendly and integrated, energy-efficient solutions. The
company’s projects are characterised by a high degree of social
responsibility – not only in relation to materials and production but also
as regards good social spaces encouraging intimacy and community. This
value-based approach is the foundation of all designs – from complex
masterplans to successful building icons all over the world.
As an architecture company, Henning Larsen Architects engages in
research and the dissemination of knowledge across professional fields.
Energy efficiency should be implemented in the design from the first
sketches of the creative process. Last year, Henning Larsen Architects
received the Climate Cup Strategy Award in connection with the Nordic
Climate Solutions conference for its efforts to implement sustainability in
building projects.

Side 5/5
Henning Larsen Architects is managed by CEO Mette Kynne Frandsen,
Design Director Louis Becker and Design Director Peer Teglgaard
Jeppesen.
Henning Larsen Architects A/S
Vesterbrogade 76
1620 København V
Denmark
Tel: +45 8233 3000
Web: http://www.henninglarsen.com/
E-mail: info@henninglarsen.com
Contact person:
Communications Manager Farid Fellah
Tel (dir): +45 8231 3160
Mobile: +45 6035 2160
E-mail: ffe@henninglarsen.com