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CONSTRUCTION CITY

DATE

2025

COUNTRY

Norway

CATEGORY

Offices

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Precision, design, and wood: our role in Construction City, Oslo’s new construction hub

Construction City: a new corporate landmark in Oslo

Construction City is one of Norway’s most ambitious commercial projects: a 103,000 m² business complex accommodating 4,500 workstations, designed as a collaborative hub for developers, contractors, consultants, suppliers, and academia.

The building combines flexible workspaces, open collaboration areas, educational facilities, a conference center, a gym, and social zones, fostering innovation and interdisciplinary exchange.

In this project, Frapont played a key role in creating wooden interiors for the main atrium, staircases, and structural beams, providing tailored technical and aesthetic solutions for a highly complex construction project.

Our role in Construction City

Frapont was involved in every phase related to the wooden finishes, from technical design and detailed engineering to the supply, manufacturing, machining, fireproofing, varnishing, and installation of each element.

Our key tasks included:

  • Cladding of the atrium’s metal beams, precisely integrating adjustable LED diffusers with millimetric accuracy.
  • Fabrication and installation of modular ceilings in the common areas of all buildings within the complex.
  • Design and execution of curved and sloped slatted railings and claddings in the atrium and staircases, customizing each piece to complex geometries and structural movements.
  • Close coordination with architects, contractors, and suppliers, applying advanced CNC machining techniques and customized solutions to ensure quality, precision, and durability.

Technical solutions and mock-ups

Desde el inicio, Frapont desarrolló un mock-up a escala real del sistema de techos y revestimientos, validando las soluciones constructivas junto a la dirección facultativa y la constructora.

Representatives from OBOS, AF Gruppen, Betonmast, and architects from Link Arkitektur visited our workshop in Barcelona, seeing and handling the prototypes before installation, ensuring that every detail met expectations in both aesthetics and functionality.

Being able to see and feel the materials and experience the physical model gives a real sense of how it will appear in reality. Therefore, we also test the lighting behind the plexiglass in the trusses to create the correct effect throughout the building. This is an important process for refining the details and enhancing architectural quality, and, above all, for taking full advantage of the excellent collaboration with Frapont in bringing Construction City to life.

Silvia Valeri, Link Arkitektur

Challenges and Solutions During Execution

The project presented significant technical and logistical challenges, which Frapont addressed through innovation and coordination:

  • Structural movement and wood behavior: full-scale studies and mock-ups allowed the definition of expansion joints and ensured material compatibility.
  • High-altitude installation: fitting ceilings and claddings in confined areas using specialized equipment and strict safety protocols.
  • Structural compatibility: custom frames and metal systems that absorb deformations without compromising aesthetics.
  • Cross-industry coordination: thorough planning with lighting, metal structures, and other subcontractors, optimizing both timing and quality.

 

Innovation and Added Value

Frapont combined craftsmanship, technology, and custom solutions, delivering distinctive elements:

  • Removable dovetail fastening system, allowing future adjustments without compromising aesthetics.
  • CNC machining of large components, achieving millimetric tolerances in complex geometries.
  • Advanced technical joints, controlling wood expansion and hygroscopic behavior for enhanced durability.

Our in-house workshop enabled the fabrication of prototypes, assembly testing, and machining adjustments, ensuring that every piece met the highest quality standards.

Materials, Sustainability, and Aesthetics

Construction City showcases a Nordic material palette, featuring spacious areas, high ceilings, and abundant natural light. Wood brings warmth, naturalness, and sustainability, meeting BREEAM-NOR Excellent standards.

Frapont contributed by selecting FSC and PEFC certified woods, with high-quality finishes and construction solutions that blend craftsmanship with advanced technology.

 

 

A Result of Precision and Harmony

The final project combines technology, craftsmanship, and design, creating a large-scale interior ensemble with exceptional aesthetic quality.

The warmth of the wood, the precision of the joints, and the seamless integration of lighting enhance the contemporary and welcoming character of this new architectural icon in Oslo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography by Anne Bråtveit for Link Arkitektur.