Student accommodation with sea views

With Limfjorden on their doorstep, the new residents at PFA Dorm in Aalborg have an unusually attractive home address. At the same time, in designing the student housing, considerable emphasis was placed on creating a strong learning environment while supporting a sense of community.

A former office building in Nørresundby near Aalborg in northern Denmark has been transformed into a modern student housing complex with 220 rooms. The entrance and many of the communal facilities are found on the ground floor, while the accommodation is distributed across five floors, while a penthouse and adjoining roof terrace occupy the uppermost floor.

The building has been revamped, and its ‘office feel’ replaced with a more varied look, with external fibre-concrete ‘shelving’ supporting balconies in varying depths to give the building a greater diversity of scale. The students have their own room and bathroom, and some of the rooms have balconies, while the kitchens are shared by 9-12 residents. It is in the kitchens that the students meet spontaneously, and informal communities emerge.

Arkitema Architects were responsible for the conversion work and the interior design of the complex and have expertly created a both welcoming and robust feel. In the communal kitchens and corridors, Troldtekt acoustic panels in natural wood have been installed, and blend in beautifully with the other materials and colours.

Ceilings Ensure Good Acoustics

In celebration of the PFA Foundation's 100th anniversary, PFA Pension has initiated the construction of student housing in four Danish cities, including Aalborg. Across all projects, learning, community, and the green transition are key priorities.

During the conversion of the office building into student housing, materials with long lifespans, minimal environmental impact, and a positive effect on indoor climate were prioritized. PFA Kollegiet has been awarded a DGNB Silver certification, partly for its focus on materials during the conversion.

In the high-ceilinged ground floor, all ceilings are fitted with Troldtekt in grey natural finish, ensuring excellent acoustics in study rooms, the laundry area, and the music room.