World-class robotics research
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute (MMMI) is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). MMMI was among the first to start robotics research in Denmark and has been the foundation of a cluster of more than 130 robotics companies. The original institute building was commissioned in 1999 and the new extension was completed in 2023. Both projects have received support from A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til Almene Formaal.
A new dream lab with plenty of room for creativity
The expansion of MMMI consists of a new building directly connected to the university's technical faculty. The building is connected to the existing institute and the rest of SDU via a footbridge and an underground connection. The center of the building is a creative "dream lab" where the students can work on their projects with plenty of space and high ceilings. The building also contains group and project rooms with space for a total of 500 students as well as workplaces for approx. 100 employees.
The new dream lab is open all the way to the roof of the building, and from all sides of this atrium, cantilevered spaces and walkways jut in, creating an exciting and asymmetrical space.
Optimal process for reinforcement design
KI has been the section designer on concrete elements on the project. Including design of massive decks, walls, beams, columns and stairs. In the design phase, there is a differentiation between elements with simple loads and geometry and more complex constellations of geometry and loads. This has optimized the process for detail-reinforcing the elements, so that time and quality are linked to the production and assembly of the elements.
The simple elements are calculated using Excel spreadsheets and hand calculations, while the more complex elements are calculated with OPTUM CS in order to utilize the optimized distribution of loads through the elements. Thus, an equal balance between time, quality and resources has been created in the reinforcement design.
More concretely, this means reduced reinforcement, production of elements with a constant flow, optimal time spent on design and repetition effects of reinforcement principles which facilitate the workflow in relation to drawings and production.
Sustainable and future-proof construction
The new MMMI building has been designed with flexibility in mind in order to future-proof the best possible way in relation to changing requirements for study environments and facilities. In addition, the material, structure and surface solutions used are well tested on campus, where they have shown good durability over a long period of time. The construction is aiming for DGNB gold.
The involved
Cubo arkitekter was the overall consultant, Architect Kristine Jensens Tegnestue was the landscape architect, EKJ was the structural designer and KI was the section designer on concrete.
Photo credit: Cubo arkitekter and Bygningsstyrelsen.
