Oskar Norelius appointed CEO at White Arkitekter

Oskar Norelius is an architect, partner and currently Managing Director of our Stockholm studio. He has led internationally recognised projects, including the Sara Cultural Centre, where he was one of the lead architects, and Stockholm Wood City – two of the most ambitious timber developments globally, noted for their architectural quality and material innovation.

His work has received multiple international awards, including the WAF Awards and 40 under 40 Europe, and is widely recognised for advancing large-scale architecture and low-carbon design. Throughout his career, he has combined a strong architectural vision with a collaborative and values-driven approach.

Founded in Gothenburg in 1951, White Arkitekter have grown into one of Scandinavia’s leading architectural practices, with over 500 employees, studios across Northern Europe and projects spanning multiple continents. As an employee-owned practice, we are known for our holistic and collaborative approach, consistently combining design excellence with social and environmental responsibility. Our work is shaped by a human-centered and research-driven approach, where design decisions are grounded in both evidence and lived experience.

This includes a strong focus on social equity, collective well-being and the long-term impact of the built environment – recognising architecture as a driver of change. In recent years, this has led to commissions in Canada, the US and the Netherlands, further strengthening our international portfolio. These projects span large-scale timber developments, public spaces and healthcare environments, where architectural quality is closely linked to climate performance and long-term value.

For Norelius, the role is as much about people and culture as it is about direction and leadership.

– The boundaries between disciplines are becoming less defined, as decisions about materials, climate and urban development increasingly overlap. At the same time, architecture is ultimately about people – how we live, work and come together. Our task is not only to respond to the challenges we face, but to do so in a way that creates places that people cherish and want to be part of over time. That requires both knowledge and courage, and a strong sense of responsibility for what we leave behind. I see this role as an opportunity to build on our strong culture, values and collaborative spirit, and to continue developing an architecture that is both ambitious and deeply grounded in human needs, says Oskar Norelius.