Færder Technical College

The three existing buildings have been integrated alongside other activities. The spatial plan is based on a vertical sequence. A main large multifunctional space functions as an entrance lobby, dining hall, auditorium and gallery; somewhere the entire school can gather under one roof. This was in stark contrast to before, where students were restricted to allocated, separate school buildings. Four levels of glazed workshops and rehearsal rooms sit adjacent to this core space. Instead of being hidden away in dark rooms, their activities are visible to the students inside, as well as the world outside.

The Hangar

The Hangar is a semi-enclosed superstructure at the heart of the college, where student and public walkways converge. Bridging the main entrance, its vast proportions emulate the shipbuilding facilities that once stood on the site. This covered outdoor space can host student and public concerts and exhibitions, anchoring the college within Tønsberg’s community life. Above The Hangar, the library offers students a tranquil place to read and study, with views across the water and town centre.

Open access

Faerder Technical College has an open-access policy; anyone that wants to learn here can enrol. Inclusivity was therefore essential; the campus was designed to be fully accessible throughout and transparent in its activities, encouraging an interplay with the wider community.