The story behind the glass roof at Teknostallen
Designing and constructing a glass roof of over 2,200 square meters is not just a technical challenge – it’s a collaboration across disciplines, people, and details.
In the NCC project Teknostallen in Trondheim, an impressive glass roof is now rising— inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, but adapted to Norwegian conditions and modern requirements for functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability.
A Roof That Demands Its Due
The glass roof covers a tropical atrium in the heart of the building and is a central feature of Teknostallen – a 47,250 m² office building developed by KLP Eiendom. With a protected facade and limited building site, the project has presented several challenges. But it's precisely in such projects that collaboration and attention to detail truly matter.
NCC has had a dedicated team of 7–8 people working on the glass roof together with architects, suppliers, and KLP for over six months during the collaboration phase. Weekly theme meetings were held during the planning phase to ensure progress and quality.
Collaboration in Practice
The planning has been characterized by close cooperation between NCC, Glassbygg, Contiga, TFS Entreprenør, and several other disciplines. The collaboration and trust established during the planning phase have carried over into the execution phase. There have been daily rounds at the construction site, weekly meetings with project management, and dedicated working meetings — all to ensure every detail is correct, from geometry and light intake to drainage and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment).
Facts about the Glass Roof
- Area: 2,200 m²
- Steel: 120 tons delivered by Contiga
- Glass and aluminum profiles: Delivered by Procural Group, an international manufacturer of glass and aluminum elements, and installed by Glassbygg AS, a local company in Trondheim
- Span width: Up to 32 meters
- Gutters: 600 meters integrated into the roof
- Installation: Started in November 2024, to be completed before Easter 2025
- People involved: Over 40 people
Technical Complexity
Achieving the correct slope on the roof within the constraints of the cornice, while also ensuring daylight reaches the offices and tropical plants, has been a balancing act. Glass tolerates very little deformation, and the long spans of the trusses required precise planning and stiffness in the structure.
Daylight simulations in Building Information Modeling (BIM), snow and water calculations, and adjustments for building settlement have been critical. Additionally, early-stage leaks had to be addressed. These were quickly identified and resolved thanks to a dedicated and solution-oriented team.
Challenges and Solutions
- Light and geometry: Simulations were used to ensure sufficient daylight so that the plants have optimal conditions to thrive.
- Logistics: 6–8 glass panels were delivered and installed daily – high activity in the garden created demanding conditions for crane lifting, lift work, and transportation. This significantly impacted the number of panels that could be installed per day.
- HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment): Working at height with safety harnesses, ongoing Safe Job Analysis (SJA), cordoned-off areas as needed, and active administrative follow-up on site – this has been particularly challenging due to the many contractors working in the garden at the same time, often above and below one another.
- Coordination: Close follow-up and daily on-site presence at the construction site. Weekly meetings with all involved parties have been key to aligning both HSE and logistics, as well as ensuring that the progress plan stays on track. In addition, daily safe job briefings have been conducted with everyone working in the garden to make sure all were familiar with the tasks being carried out.
A Learning Journey
For me personally, this has been a unique opportunity to learn – about logistics, collaboration, and how important it is to stay closely involved. Contributing to such a complex operation has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and it has certainly given me many valuable experiences that I hope and believe will be useful in future projects.
Things always take a bit longer than you expect – but when you stand under the glass roof and see the light pour in, you know it was worth it!