Sustainable solutions for a new nursing home
As part of a joint project with NCC and Hemsö Fastighets AB, Bravida is helping to ensure that a new nursing home in Västerås will be sustainable and energy efficient, so it will last for generations to come.
The new nursing home being built in Västerås comprises a total of 60 self-contained flats along with communal areas, staff facilities and a garden for residents. The home will be certified to the Sweden Green Building Council’s 'Miljöbyggnad' Silver and Gold standards, which guarantee a high level of energy efficiency and sustainability. Bravida is responsible for providing the electrical, ventilation, plumbing, sprinkler, security and automation installations.
Madeleine Lundsten is a project coordinator for electricity work at Bravida in Västerås and has been involved in the project since the start. She explains that the scheme to build this care home involves a unique collaboration between Bravida’s branches in Västerås, Örebro, Falun and Hudiksvall, with the technical installations being coordinated jointly. This kind of an approach could have posed a major challenge, but in this case it has worked incredibly well.
“This is the first time I’ve worked with so many different disciplines from different locations at Bravida and it’s been a fantastic experience. The benefit of doing this is that we have been able to solve problems internally before passing them on to the developer, NCC, which is a huge advantage,” says Madeleine Lundsten.
The challenge of keeping costs down without compromising on quality has been a critical factor in this project, and this has been achieved thanks to the tremendous efforts of all parties involved. Throughout the planning stage and the ongoing construction process, cooperation has been crucial.
“The cooperation between the client, the developer and Bravida has genuinely been incredible, and together we have found solutions that satisfy both the budget and quality standards. We have been working as a team every step of the way”, says Björn Löfling, project manager for electricity work at Bravida.
Conscious selected materials
One key aspect of the project is the building’s environmental certifications, with a particular focus on energy efficiency. Solar panels will be installed on the roof to supply the building with renewable energy, while conscious selected materials and climate-improved concrete will be used to minimise the building’s environmental impact. The indoor climate system and outdoor lighting have also been designed with great care. Bravida came up with a different solution for this than the one originally envisaged, which again demonstrates just how well this partnership has worked.
“The original plan was to install bollards with lighting along the outdoor walkways. However, to avoid glare for wheelchair users, we suggested installing post-top lighting with dark sky certified luminaires instead. These reduce light pollution and have an effective night-time dimming function for saving energy. This solution offers more even and pleasant lighting,” explains Björn Löfling.
Innovative solutions
The ventilation system is also energy-efficient and includes integrated cooling, so there is no need to devote extra resources and space to things like pipework and insulation. These innovative solutions ensure that the building not only fulfils current environmental requirements, but is also equipped to meet future needs.
Just under 30 Bravida employees are involved in the project and, given the excellent teamwork between the various disciplines, the developer and the client, hopes of a successful outcome are high.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the end result and seeing how together we have contributed to creating a modern and sustainable nursing home,” says Madeleine Lundsten.
Mårten Nordh, the site manager from NCC, is also pleased with how the collaboration has panned out.
“Bravida has been responsive to what we and Hemsö have asked for in terms of accounting, and the production process has gone well,” he says, “I think everyone involved in the project has worked well together”.
The nursing home is expected to be completed in September 2025 and represents yet another project in which Bravida is focusing on sustainable, future-proof installations, where the environment and cooperation play a crucial role.
Facts: Nursing home in Västerås
Client: Hemsö Fastighets AB.
Bravida’s assignment: Electricity, ventilation, plumbing, sprinkler, security and automation installations.
Schedule: February 2024 – September 2025.
Number of employees from Bravida: approximately 30.