The Greenlandic energy utility of Nukissiorfiit and Pihl have signed a contract for a new hydro power station to supply Ilulissat with electricity and electrical heating. The station will be producing about 65 GWh and will thereby be the country’s second largest station.

Experienced contractor in the construction of hydro power stations
Pihl has since the 1950’s built a number of hydro power stations in Iceland and Greenland and is presently building one in Panama also. For Nukissiorfiit, Pihl has built hydro power stations in Tasiilaq and Qorlortorsuaq in Greenland, and in November 2009 Nukissiorfiit began supplying electricity from a completely new hydro power station in Sisimiut.  

‘Construction of hydro power stations is one of our earliest specialties, and Pihl employs a number of well qualified engineers and craftsmen with much experience in the field of construction of hydro power stations and tunnels. Many of them have worked in Greenland or in Iceland for many years and are accustomed to the extraordinary challenges that the Greenlandic climate and landscape pose for a contractor,’ says Kurt Carlsen, E. Pihl & Søn A.S.

‘ If you are in need of a particular spare part, you can’t just get it around the corner. Planning and logistics are therefore of vital importance. When unexpected situations occur on the site, the people working there must be able to improvise and be able to handle many different kinds of situations,’ adds Kurt Carlsen, who is looking forward to continuing the good cooperation with the energy utility on this new project in Ilulissat.

Apart from constructing hydro power stations in Greenland, Pihl has also carried out a number of building and civil engineering tasks, e.g. airports in Sisimiut, Qaanaaq and Paamiut, the University Park in Nuuk, offices and housing units in Nuuk and numerous ports in e.g. Ilulissat, Upernavik and Aasiaat.

Good for the environment and the energy budget
The new hydro power station is to supply electricity from a turbine as early as from 1 November 2012; and when the entire station is running in 2013, Ilulissat can “put its present oil-heated combined heating and power station on the substitutes' bench” and introduce green energy.

The station will be situated about 50 km north-east of Ilulissat. On this site it will be possible to take advantage of the drop height from a water reservoir which is 187 m above sea level. The seawater is led through an approx. 6 km long tunnel to a subterranean power station where three 7.5 MW turbines with generators are to convert the hydro power into electricity. Apart from the power station and blasting of the necessary tunnels, Pihl is also to construct a transmission line to Ilulissat, incl. sub-station.

Commencement of the works are planned to take place in June 2010.

For further information, please contact one of the below persons:
Project Director Bjørn Stefansson  
Pihl & Søn Grønland ApS                      
bjs@pihl-as.dk                          
Tel.    +45 4527 7200                                                         
Mobile +45 5137 6056                                                         

Director Kurt Carlsen 
E. Pihl & Søn A.S. 
Nybrovej 116
2800 Kgs Lyngby
Denmark
Tel. + 45 4527 7100

www.pihl-as.dk

The beach was established before Christmas last year and it took much sand – 23,000 m3 – which was taken from Vedbæk Harbour and transported by ship to Svanemøllen non-stop five times a day for a couple of days.

To protect the new beach from erosion, Pihl has also constructed a 138 m long pier of FSC-certified azobé wood. The pier is being filled with sand to make it stable, but it will also be forming part of the recreational area from where it will be possible to enjoy the view of Øresund.

Pihl is establishing the beach and pier under a main contract for the client; Københavns Kommunes Teknik- og Miljøforvaltning (the Department for Technical and Environmental Services of the Municipality of Copenhagen). The client’s consultant is Rambøll, and White arkitekter A/S and Landskabsarkitekt Thing & Wainø have been responsible for the design.

Se pictures of the work in progress

8 January 2010

The various energy and indoor climate solutions have been incorporated right from the design phase of the project which gives the best result in respect of the building’s appearance and the actual energy saving.

The building’s partition walls, back walls and roof will be carried out in concrete, which has the facility to retain the heat. The concrete back wall will be insulated with mineral wool completed by a climate envelope. Solar cells will be installed at the back of the building’s large skylights.

Contrary to very compact structures where the surface is reduced and where energy is often used for artificial light, ”Paletten” will have a larger surface. This will make it possible to allow a lot of daylight into the building via skylights and windows placed high in the walls or moderate glass sections - all of which ensure optimum utilisation of passive solar energy.

The kindergarten is planned to open in 2010 when 112 children at the age between 0 and 6 can move into the building. 

In the kindergarten the children can be inspired by the works of the artist ”HuskMitNavn” (RememberMyName) to add their own creative decorations to the house or they can explore the exciting possibilities of inventive outdoor playing.

Read more here or here

11 December 2009

With its slight curve and triangular form Aller Press’ media house emphasises the point of the narrow island of Havneholmen in the middle of the Port of Copenhagen.

The facades are coved with glass and Norwegian granite. The building stands on a plinth covered by granite which forms a terraced square in front of the building and on the building’s ground floor.

It is difficult to disregard this project. With artistic power, the building seems to balance on a knife's edge creating a convincing illusion of the stern of a ship.

The building is a “Gesamtkunstwerk” - carefully thought out in every detail. It does for instance meet the strict energy and ecological requirements of the new building regulations.

The atmosphere inside the offices is cosy and warm - and it lives up to high standards. The building is full of Scandinavian sensuality. It stands firmly on the ground and the lines form a synthesis at ground floor.

The building is seen as one of the most exciting in the area.

Diploma and 10,000 DKK to the architect (PLH A/S)
Diploma and 10,000 DKK to the engineer (Soren Jensen A/S)
Diploma and bronze to the building owner (Carl Aller Etablissement A/S).

Pihl has constructed the Aller building under a turnkey contract.

Photos and facts

The other winners:

“Sluseholmen”, Copenhagen SV – one of the most successful new residential areas in Copenhagen. Pihl has built two of the blocks named Egholm and Askholm.

“Metropolis”, Copenhagen SV – dwellings – the landmark of the "Sydhavnen”.

“Metropol”, college in Copenhagen N – the new landmark in this part of the town.

“Åbuen”, Copenhagen N – bridge for cyclists and pedestrians – function and form comes together. Pihl has built the concrete foundation for the bridge.

Old warehouses for ships’ masts and “Mærsehuset”, Copenhagen K – rehabilitation with genuine commitment and romance.

"The Mountain" - dwellings - a peerless sculpture.

"The DR Concert House", Copenhagen C - the most interesting house ever built in Denmark. Pihl took part in the partnering project.

4 December 2009

Our strong wishes for the house to signal life and hospitality have certainly been met, and we are already experiencing how the building inspires to knowledge sharing and casual encounters. We are very proud of our new head office – it is full of light and offers a nice atmosphere,’ says Jens Jakob Bugge, partner and internal project manager on the building project in Horten.

 
The large building covering an area of almost 8,800 m2 on the historic Tuborg site in Hellerup near the harbour of Hellerup, Copenhagen, is constructed as an X with a large atrium in each end of the building. Both atria rise all the way up through the building’s six stories, one of them accommodating the law firm's canteen from where there is a beautiful view of the channel. The x-shaped building enables the residents to follow the life in most of the building no matter where they are, and from the roof terrace they can enjoy the view of Oresund and the towers of Copenhagen.

Geometrical challenge
Not only the shape of the building is unique; also the faceted façade with travertine and the built-in glass bays are very special. The bay is placed in such a way as to ensure a controlled view and to screen off against the sun which gives the façade an unusual three-dimensional shape.

The construction has been a challenging task which Pihl and Skandinaviska Glassystem AB have performed together by making the façade elements of fibre glass on which travertine and glass have been placed mechanically and by the use of silicone.

Award winner
The special shape of the façade gives two entirely different impressions, depending from where you look at the building. Viewed from one side, the building appears to have a façade that is basically a glass wall. Viewed from the opposite side, it appears to be completely finished in travertine. The effect is quite unique, and Skandinaviska Glassystem AB has been awarded the JEC Paris 2009 Innovation Award for a façade with an innovative modular system using to a large extent sandwich composites to support both glass and marble elements.

Out-of-the-way corners and telescope linkages
The geometrical challenges continue inside the building where the front-hanged wall cladding has the same shape as the façade. Due to deformation of the facades when subjected to large wind loads, it has, for the window recesses, been necessary to develop and install a telescope linkage between the façade and the front-hanged wall cladding allowing the façade to work independently of the interior walls.

Focus has also been on solutions for the vapour barriers in the walls’ many out-of-the-way corners and joints. We have carried out quality control tests on a regular basis and partial blower door test early in the execution phase in order to achieve a good level of airtightness of the building in accordance with the building regulations.

Throughout the design and execution phases we really have had to put on our thinking cap in order to find solutions and new methods, and the carpenters from Lindner, who have carried out most of the interior installation works, have used their rulers more than usual.

Conference room suspended from the room in steel bars
Another challenge is the building's largest conference room of 125 m 2 located at the fifth floor. The room is suspended from the roof in eight steel bars, about 20 metres above the ground - and allowing a view of the canal and the coast, it certainly meets the requirements of a room in a building with the X factor.

20,000 tubes of silicone
183 concrete pillars, 334 concrete walls, 393 facade elements, 20,000 tubes of silicone and 150 – 250 skilled craftsmen are some of the constituents of the mix for the unique building, which was handed over after a building period of only 17 months. Pihl has built the house as turnkey contractor for Carlsberg Properties with Rambøll as consulting engineer.

See the unique building from the topping-out ceremony to completion

November 23, 2009

The building's facades are a light glass and alu construction installed as a slanting ribbon around the building. Inside the building two cores constitute the boundaries of the building’s atrium, which rises all the way up through five of the six stories with a green flight of stairs as the visual attraction.

The upper storey and roof terrace – which offers a view to the fjord of Horsens - are carried out as steel structures, and basement and foundations are constructed from in situ cast concrete with load-bearing structures of concrete elements. The building is constructed next to the campus’ existing building and connected via a steel corridor.

Pihl’s turnkey contract includes planning and construction of the building.

2009 11 11

Pictures and facts

Vitus Bering Innovation Park

The new circular teaching building of 2,500 m2 and building with dormitories for 88 students constitute a good environment for learning and development. The science center accommodate modern laboratory facilities, auditorium, etc. and both the actual center and the building with dormitories represent excellent and innovative workmanship, and they interact architecturally with the existing historic buildings of Sorø Akademi and the preservation-worthy surrounding green areas.

The parties  behind the project is the Danish Ministry of Education, the institution Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi and the foundation A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal.
 
E. Pihl & Søn A.S. was management contractor on the project. Read more

For further information about the Science Center, please visit www.sciencetalenter.dk.