For the past few years, work has been underway to develop the operational facilities in the Western Node. The aim of the project is to create opportunities to bring SLU's operations in Alnarp closer together and to enable better exchange and collaboration in research and education. Feasibility studies and planning work are ongoing, with the actual renovation and expansion work scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2028.
A key objective is to create functional and representative facilities with a healthy and attractive working and study environment in the Western Node.
In addition to bringing operations closer together, the project aims to increase space efficiency, enhance shared use of laboratory areas, and contribute to other synergies by facilitating mobility, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration within the complex and other nodes on campus.
The outdoor environment will be well integrated with the facilities, supporting activities in the Western Node by providing spaces and areas for lunch, meetings, study places, and more.
Sustainability is a central focus throughout the project's implementation.
The Western node encompasses the buildings Vegetum, Horticum, Articum, Navet, and Biotronen. Both the renovation of existing spaces and the addition of new facilities are planned here.
In the renovated and extended Western hub, the following institutions will be located:
The project is governed and managed by various groups, including internal SLU teams as well as teams consisting of participants from both SLU and Akademiska Hus.
Information about the groups and participants (in swedish)
An early-stage feasibility study was conducted in 2023. This study included proposals on how to design the interface between the Western Node and the new railway stop, how Vegetum could be updated to establish stronger connections with other buildings, and the size and location of a potential new building. The proposal was then circulated for consultation within the organisation.
The feasibility study aims to establish a more detailed vision and objectives, identify project prerequisites, and include an overall analysis of project feasibility, as well as technical building conditions and risks. The feasibility study is ongoing from autumn 2024 into early 2025.
From November 2024 to May 2025, work is being carried out to develop a workplace strategy and laboratory assessment for the Western Node. The strategy is a long-term plan describing how workplaces should be designed, organised, and managed to support operational goals and employee needs.
The strategy work is led by an external consultant, WeOffice, which will deliver a detailed report outlining how future workplaces can be designed, including concrete proposals for solutions. This material will serve as a basis for decisions regarding the future design of our facilities.
Employee and managerial participation is central to the strategy development.
The work is divided into two parts:
All employees affected by the project will be invited to workshops and surveys to share their needs, experiences, and ideas.
The process in brief:
1. Initial meeting with the client
2. Vision workshop with the management team or project steering group
3. Information meeting for operational managers
4. Focus group interviews with department heads and possibly other managers from affected institutions
5. Workshop "My Day at Work" with employees
6. Distribution of the Workplace Adequacy Survey to map operational needs, collaboration patterns, hybrid working methods, mobility profiles, and work patterns
7. Ongoing dialogue with representatives from the organisation
8. Presentation of a draft workplace strategy to the client
9. At the end of the assignment, an oral presentation and a final report will be delivered
Read more about WeOffice on their website.
After the detailed feasibility study, decisions will be made on programme work, pre-project planning, and implementation.
At each stage, the project will become more clearly defined in scope, with cost estimates prepared as a basis for rental and investment costs and future decisions.
More information about the campus development in Alnarp you will find on this page at the staff web.