A school for the future in Trollhättan

A light and modern state school with lots of space for play, sport, concentrated learning and teaching. This is an apt description of the new Sylteskolan in Trollhättan, which includes pre-school and years 1-9, special-needs classes, a school club, sports halls, outdoor play areas and a library.

The old Sylteskolan was worn down and had room for only 750 pupils. The school buildings have now been redesigned and renovated – and an extension has been added to make room for up to 1,000 pupils.

The renovation project started in May 2017 and was completed before the start of the school year in 2020. Covering a total of 18,400 square metres, Sylteskolan is now Trollhättan’s largest integrated school. The newly built Sylte Library was completed in September 2021 and functions as both a school library and a public library, where the locals can borrow books, read newspapers and attend events.

Contekton Architects designed the new Sylteskolan and library for the property development company Kraftstaden Fastigheter. The main contractor was the construction company Serneke.

Light and natural design

In the planning phase, children in years 4 and 5 were invited to come up with ideas for the design of the schoolyard. The result is a larger schoolyard, more playing fields, covered seating areas and a drinking fountain.

As you walk up to the school, what you see first are the welcoming façades of the sports hall and the library.

Aesthetically, the interiors are dominated by light, soft and natural colours and the use of natural materials. All the classrooms have been designed individually, based on the specific needs and requirements that each room must cater for. Moreover, unique classroom designs have been created for each year group. The same design is repeated in Sylte Library, with light colours and lots of daylight from the high windows. 

Eco-friendly materials

It was essential that Sylteskolan should be built from approved eco-friendly and non-toxic materials. The building has therefore been certified by the Sweden Green Building Council in the Silver category.

Troldtekt acoustic panels were installed on the ceilings of the school and the library. In terms of their design, they are fully aligned with the natural colour scheme chosen for the school, and fully meet the client’s wishes for a healthy indoor climate and sustainable solutions. At the same time, they contribute to a good acoustic environment at the school. In several places, the walls are also covered with collages consisting of Troldtekt acoustic panels in custom colours.

The acoustic panels are manufactured in Denmark, based on the sustainable design concept Cradle to Cradle. The engineering company Ramboll has documented that Troldtekt makes a positive contribution to 20 per cent of the Sweden Green Building Council’s certification criteria (Miljöbyggnad).