Sara Cultural Center Skellefteå, Sweden. 2021.

In 2021, a new cultural center opened in Skellefteå in Northern Sweden. Sara Cultural Center brings together Västerbottensteater, Skellefteå Art Gallery, the Central Library, and MAN - Museum Anna Nordlander, and a high rise hotel under one roof. The entire complex utilized locally sourced timber for both its’ structural system as well as its’ architectural expression.

Sara Cultural Centre in Skellefteå is one of the world’s tallest timber buildings to date. Two different construction systems have been developed: one for the cultural center, and one for the high-rise hotel. The high-rise is constructed of pre-manufactured modules stacked between two elevator cores. Thanks to the placement and design of the cores, these could be entirely made from CLT. The low-rise programs consist of a timber frames with pillars and beams made of glue lam, and cores and shear walls in cross laminated timber. The construction of the cultural center helps redistribute loads and enhances structural stability from the high rise.

The characteristic trusses above the grand foyers are composed of a GLT and steel hybrid that enables a flexible, open-plan space that can host a range of activities and functions within. Flexibility of use guarantees the building’s long-term sustainability by allowing it to adapt to future demands. The glass façade wrapping the building reflects the sky while revealing the spectacular exposed timber-framed ceiling inside. The wood construction is designed to endure Skellefteå’s harsh weather conditions, while also remaining energy efficient. The green roof contributes to thermal insulation, as well as absorbing noise pollution, enhancing biodiversity and delaying rainwater run-off.

Architect
White Arkitekter
Photographer
Ake Eson Lindman
Patrick Degerman