Programme Implementation Group Meeting

Key Takeaways from the Latest Nordic Sustainable Construction Team Meeting

Publiceret 09-12-2025

The work packages leaders and the secretariat in the Nordic Sustainable Construction programme met up in Copenhagen the 4th of December for a status meeting, marking half a year since the programme began. We have gathered the key points from the day and the most existing developments presented for the next phase.

The meeting was hosted in Copenhagen and welcomed representatives from Iceland (Climate work package), Sweden (EU work package) and Denmark (Circularity work package and secretariat). Anders Vestergaard Jensen from the Nordic Council of Ministers also participated. The day included a site visit to the ongoing transformation of Frederiksberg Hospital and a sector presentation from Kim W. Bitthcen from BUILD on the impact of climate change on building physics.

Climate Work Package

The Icelandic team presented the progress of the Climate work package, focusing on climate change and the associated adaption and mitigation methods. They are currently mapping practices and gaps within the climate adapt regulations and practices across the Nordic countries, including the regulatory framework. Contacts have already been made with other Nordic countries to gather information on current practices and gaps in relation to climate adaption. The next step will be to compare the responses and produce an output.

The team also received valuable input from the Nordic Climate Forum for Construction, where Life Cycle Assessment and the digitalisation hereof were discussed, which directly supports the targets of task 1 in the Climate work package, which concerns LCA and making the implementation of climate regulation more efficient. Read more about the tasks in the work package here.

Circularity Work Package

The Danish team presented the circularity work package, highlighting the completion of the first task, task 1.1. This involved aggregating existing inspirational examples of how to maintain, renovate transform, and utilise the existing building stock efficiently and attractively. You can read the news on the task here and the related LinkedIn post with a lot of good examples in the comments here. We are still open for more cases in the comments.

The work package also gained valuable insights from the Nordic Climate Forum for Construction, where optimisation and utilisation of the existing building stock was also on the agenda. Read more about all the tasks in the work package here.

EU Work Package

The Swedish team, responsible for the EU work package, reported on EU-level developments. They are currently in progress with a preliminary mapping of the conditions for Nordic cooperation on EU initiatives. Expected outcomes of this in the beginning of the new year, laying the groundwork for future decisions within the work package. You can read more about the work package here.

Stakeholder presentation

Kim B. Wittchen from BUILD presented a report on how climate change will impact the Danish building regulations. His talk focused on the most significant expected climate changes in Denmark, which are rising average temperatures, more severe precipitation events, rising sea levels, increased groundwater levels, more frequents storms and changed precipitation patterns.

The report highlights that the main challenges for regulations of new and existing buildings are linked to increased precipitation, rising groundwater, warmer summers, more storms and the risk of extreme weather event. Wittchen explained how climate change will affect building physics in many areas, including access, drainage, construction sites, energy use, moisture, structural integrity, light and view, indoor climate and ventilation. The report details measurable requirements in each of these areas to ensure buildings remain safe, healthy and energy-efficient under changing conditions.

Site visit: Transformation of Frederiksberg Hospital

In the afternoon, participants visited Frederiksberg Hospital, which is being transformed into a vibrant urban housing area. The development plan, titled “Grow New from the Old”, builds on the site’s cultural heritage, introducing various forms of housing and green oases with room for life and rest. The plan adopts circular principles by preserving buildings and materials while ensuring durable and reasonable solutions. It exemplifies how circularity principles can be embedded in urban development, directly connecting to the tasks of the work package Circularity in the programme and linked to the work on LCA regulation in the Climate Work Package.

Citizens were involved early in the process and asked questions such as how to create a new sustainable urban district and which physical, cultural and historical elements should be preserved. This participation helped determine which buildings and green structures should be kept. The project was sent to tender, where three groups presented proposals, and it became a competition to preserve more and be the greenest solution. The decision making included a panel of 30 citizens and the solution, proposed by the architecture office Effect, taking the area back to what it was what won the people and politicians hearts.

An Urban LCA calculator was used in the planning phase to support decision making and providing valuable results. The studies carried out in the plan shows that transforming an existing building results in a CO2 saving of 55% compared to demolition and rebuilding. It was also concluded that there is a significant economic, architectural and environmental potential in optimally utilising the existing building stock. The plan will preserve 80% of the area while also building 80% more square metres by building upwards.

The site carries more than 100 years of history. The development plan aims to reflect the spirit of the place and demonstrate how the potential of building heritage can be used in developing a historic area, described as a piece of living cultural heritage that recreates itself. Based on a concrete valuation of each building, the preserved structures are divided into three overarching strategies: full transformation, transformation and extension, and careful renovation.

With the hospital’s history as foundation, historic buildings and green features are preserved, while space is created for new construction at an adapted scale, activities and climate adapted urban spaces. High ambitions for a green, circular and resource conscious approach ensure new sustainable opportunities for Frederiksberg and those to come. The new district is envisioned as a green lighthouse.