Dalarna University – Campus Borlänge

Designed around reuse

Circular thinking was central to the project from the outset. The ambition was clear: reuse as much existing furniture and fittings as possible. Together with the university, a sustainability strategy was developed in which long-term design, circularity and CO₂ impact all carried significant weight. Through inventory surveys, CO₂ analysis, trial renovations and close collaboration with local joiners and suppliers, a large proportion of the furnishings have been given a second life. Where new functions were needed, these were met with new circular furniture.

Book veneer from existing pieces became a recurring element throughout the interior, and the colour palette was adapted to bring old furniture back to life. The circular approach reduced both carbon footprint and costs, while giving the interior a distinctly individual character.

Active cost management underpinned decisions throughout, making it possible to deliver quality within a tight budget.

Built for hybrid learning

The campus is designed to support hybrid teaching and digital ways of working. Meeting rooms, study environments and teaching spaces are all equipped to enable equal participation whether people are in the room or joining remotely. This placed high demands on technology, acoustics and lighting – all developed in close collaboration with specialists in each field.

The spaces support contemporary teaching methods and address the need for concentration, collaboration and rest. They include fixed workstations alongside activity-based areas – from quiet rooms and digital meeting spaces to open-plan offices and rest zones.

Lighting for learning and spatial quality

The project’s lighting design has been nominated for the Swedish Lighting Prize for its innovative and sustainable approach, closely integrated with the architecture, materials and colours. White joined the project at a later stage to rework the original lighting concept. Our aim was to create varied lighting environments that are beautiful, sustainable and energy-efficient, while meeting the demands of contemporary teaching.

By working with different lighting principles and flexible scenarios, we designed spaces that support lectures, group work and hybrid teaching alike. In classrooms, pendant fittings combine direct and indirect light with vertical wall lighting and accent lighting to create both function and atmosphere. In open study areas, track-mounted spotlights allow for a calmer feel, with identity-forming pendants and lighting that draws attention to art and walls. In the quiet reading room, wall fittings are complemented by green globe pendants that give the space its own character and a particularly restful quality.

The result

The finished environment reflects the university’s ambitions: a sustainable and attractive place for learning that supports both current and future ways of working. Campus Borlänge is not just a building – it is a hub for learning, collaboration and confidence in what comes next.