The new SIMAC (Svendborg International Maritime Academy) in Svendborg will be Denmark’s largest maritime education institution. Today, the industrial area south of Nyborgvej is a secluded and unused part of town, but the new masterplan will transform the area into a vibrant and innovative environment. The masterplan links the surrounding neighborhoods and establishes meaningful transitions from the city to the historic building structures of the harbor.
The new SIMAC is integrated into the course of the harbor promenade and the surrounding urban spaces. The building’s floor plan is designed as a cross that forms a corner to four squares, opening up to allow public access to the communal facilities. The quay itself becomes an outdoor laboratory that highlights the school’s work and maritime successes.
The architectural design is based on a modular construction grid that maximizes openness and flexibility in the physical framework of education. The construction is flexible, allowing for reconfiguration of the layouts for workshops and teaching rooms, without disturbing the load-bearing structure and logistics.
In the center of the building is an atrium that connects the building both visually and logistically across floors. Around the atrium, there are four double-height spaces that mark both the interior and exterior of the facade towards the city and the harbor and contain central functions such as a canteen, auditorium and special workshops. The staircase in the building follows these spaces, and culminates in a communal roof terrace with views of the harbor, Svendborg Sund and the city.
The interior construction is of exposed bare concrete, and the building’s floors have a robust surface that can withstand heavy use, particularly on the ground floor and in the workshops. The interior walls between the atrium and the teaching rooms include glazed sections to enable visibility and dialogue. Overall, the building has a simple and honest expression based on functionality and utilization.
The quay, the water and the adjoining urban areas invite a host of activities for both the city’s residents and for students at the new SIMAC which, together with the existing historic buildings, constitutes a new waterfront landmark in Svendborg.
