Henning Larsen Architects recently released a short film on the IT University in Ørestad City, Copenhagen. The film focuses on the main ideas of the architectural design and describes the synergy created when the students and external users are brought together in the central street of the building. At the same time, the film addresses the university users: Today, six years after completion, how is the building experienced by students, professors and administrative staff? The film casts Vice-Chancellor Mads Tofte, architect Søren Øllgaard and students Isaac Dart, Frederik Meisner and Line Thorup.
The IT University is arranged around a large central atrium. In the atrium space a number of group and meeting rooms, designed as corbelled boxes, are placed in a dynamic composition – like extracted drawers of various sizes. The ground floor comprises the common facilities; lecture halls, students’ café, canteen and library. All research and teaching areas are located on the upper floors. Teaching facilities in open study areas surrounding the atrium and research departments in the calmer zones at both ends of the building.
The building stands elevated above terrain. A metal clad frame folds around the entire volume in one singular dynamic movement. The glass facades inside the frame are divided into horizontal ribbons of glass of varying colour and character – powerful green-coloured glass, translucent glass and clear glass.
