Topping-out ceremony at Denmark's new national archives

On 3 July, 2008 OPP-Pihl Arkivet A/S will be celebrating the topping-out for Denmark’s new national archives (Rigsarkivet)

2008 07 01  Press Release

On 3 July, 2008 OPP-Pihl Arkivet A/S will be celebrating the topping-out for Denmark’s new national archives (Rigsarkivet)

Since the Danish state entered its first public private partnership-contract in June 2007 for the building and operation of new modern storage buildings for Denmark’s national archives in Copenhagen, the highest point of the new buildings has been constructed and building-owner OPP-Pihl Arkivet A/S wishes to thank the workers on the project for their efforts.

Offers advantages to the public client

The archives are built and operated in a so-called public private partnership (PPP). The private partner, OPP Pihl Arkivet A/S, formed by Danish contractor E. Pihl & Søn A.S. and Dutch Infrastructure Fund, has undertaken to finance the building costs, to build and to operate the archives for a period of 28 years.

"Public private partnerships offer many advantages and is a gain in terms of socio-economy compared to similar public projects carried out according to traditional contracts. In public private partnerships the public client, most typically a national body, a ministry or a local authority, draws up the requirements for the new facility or building. The private partner, the PPP company, is responsible for the technical design, construction, financing and operation and maintenance," says Flemming Bækkeskov, director of OPP Pihl Arkivet A/S.

Apart from Denmark’s national archives, Pihl is a partner in the 3Rs PPP schools project in Aberdeen, Scotland, and in a public private partnership infrastructure project in Norway.

Gigantic archives

The project comprises the construction of two 15-m high storage buildings and a lower intermediate building providing a total area of 13,000 m2. Apart from the new buildings, the project comprises the fitting out of an existing building. The storage buildings are fitted with modern technical installations, ventilation systems and a total of 370 km of shelves and will provide safe storage for Denmark’s culturage heritage, which is to be removed from the old archives to the new buildings in 2009.
Apart from the workers, partners, consultants, public partners, neighbours and other guests are invited to participate in the celebration of Denmark’s new national archives.

Further information:

Flemming Bækkeskov
E. Pihl & Søn A.S.
Nybrovej 116
2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Denmark
Tel 4527 7200
Fax 4527 7100
www.pihl-as.dk