Glostrup Forsyning selects team for new waterworks

The new waterworks will supply softer water to residents and businesses in Glostrup. It brings process plant, operations and staff facilities together in one building, designed both for efficient day-to-day operation and to give something back to the neighborhood.

"We are building on many years of experience designing waterworks that blend harmoniously into their surroundings and are fully functional, with the best possible conditions for the process plant," says Christian Rebsdorf-Ranneries, Senior Project Leader at PLH Arkitekter.

He is joined by Maria Tranebæk Lindstrøm, lead architect and Project Leader at PLH, who is behind the architecture of the new waterworks: "Glostrup Forsyning asked for our proposal for an ambitious project, and it clearly shines through that this project is close to their hearts. It has been a pleasure to respond to, and as a consultancy team, we have been able to bring all disciplines into play and achieve an optimized, well-functioning waterworks where the inner qualities match the outer ones."

Arkil and Envidan are consortium partners, with PLH Architecture & Design, Sweco, 2Water and DI-Teknik as close collaborators. PLH is responsible for architecture and interior design, Arkil for the building contract, Envidan for process plant design, Sweco for engineering services inside the building, 2Water for process plant installation and DI-Teknik for electrical work. The team has worked together on Antvorskov waterworks, which has just been handed over to Envafors.

Dan Kornbek Christiansen, Chairman of the Board at Glostrup Forsyning, highlights the importance of a strong partnership throughout the project.

"We have focused on finding the solution and the partners best able to help us realize a modern and future-proof waterworks. The winning consortium presented a strong bid, and we look forward to an open and trusting collaboration in which we together create a facility that benefits the people of Glostrup."

A waterworks that gives back to the city

The building is divided into three volumes, each adapted to the process plant inside. This keeps both the footprint and the built volume to a minimum. The façades are clad in charred timber with vertical and horizontal bands: a light façade on a heavy base, drawing on the tradition of larger technical facilities. Round windows in the concrete base and large glazed sections on the visible corners give passers-by a view into the filter hall and the clean water tanks. The entrance faces outwards towards the surroundings and can accommodate visitors, who are guided naturally through the process. The layout follows the water's path through the plant, so the building can also be used to show how drinking water is produced. With a good working environment in mind, the layout of the building and the process plant has focused on making operations as efficient as possible. An installation opening to the south makes it possible to add further process equipment in the future and to replace even the largest filter tanks.

Solar panels will cover 60% of the roof, and the structure is built from proven precast concrete elements with a long lifespan and low maintenance costs. The outdoor areas will feature a woodland path around the waterworks, standard oak trees and planting with native species. Because the building has a smaller footprint than in the tender design, there is now room for more greenery to the south.

"Glostrup Forsyning has high ambitions for the architecture, and throughout the three bidding rounds we have received positive feedback on how we have resolved it, both in terms of the challenging site conditions and the integration of a complex process plant," says Maria Tranebæk Lindstrøm.

Softer water for Glostrup

Envidan is responsible for the process plant design that will deliver softer water to Glostrup:

"Together with Arkil, we look forward to bringing our skilled specialists into play and creating a modern, future-proof waterworks for Glostrup Forsyning. With responsibility for the process and mechanical plant, we at Envidan look forward to combining different treatment technologies: in addition to conventional water treatment, activated carbon will remove micropollutants, while ceramic membrane filtration will keep water loss from production to a minimum. One of the major tasks I look forward to is integrating a softening plant together with Veolia, which will ensure softer water for the people of Glostrup," says Jens Dyrberg Nielsen, Head of Department at Envidan.