Partners
GRID-Arendal's activities are nearly always a cooperative undertaking
made possible through collaboration with partners and donors.
GRID-building in Arendal is centrally located in the idyllic area called Tyholmen, known for its old wooden houses. Built in 1965, the building was originally an administration building for a local hydropower company, but was completely renovated in 2006 with the goal to emerge as a future-oriented environment construction. The building only has selected energy efficient solutions for lighting, heating and ventilation, and is built of materials that can be recycled. Additionally, the building is close to bus and ferry, carpark with charging stations for electric vehicles and a large indoor bicycle parking.
The building is approximately 2,200 square meters spread over 5 floors. The largest tenants are CSUB AS, Arendal Kommunale Pensjonskasse, Tyholmen Tannlegesenter and the Foundation GRID-Arendal, which is the largest tenant. The GRID-building is organized as a corporation, Teaterplassen AS, which is almost fully owned by the Foundation GRID-Arendal with the Municipality of Arendal as co-owner. The general manager of real estate is Eivind Halaas who is also CFO of the foundation.
The GRID-building is a sustainable building. As a result of good environmental solutions, the power consumption is low, with approximately 100 kilowatt hours per square meter per year. Space efficiency helps energy efficiency. Large window-areas provide a high degree of daylight intake and reduces the need for heating during the day. Walls and ceilings are extra insulated and without thermal bridges. Double facades consisting of a special box construction contributes to heating or cooling. Automatic control and motion detectors allow for individual heating, ventilation and lighting in individual rooms.
The building has hydronic heating linked to a seawater-to-water heat pump.
The heating and ventilation system is computerized and interact with the special
double box facade. The building has a balanced ventilation with individual and
automatic control of the zones. Offices that are not in use are given reduced airflow.
The ventilation system is rotating with recovery and heat pump used
cooling during summer.
Status: In progress