The work to create a single, unified campus for Chalmers has now taken an important step forward with the approval of the final report for the pre-study “Förstudie Campus”.
On 22 November, the steering committee headed by President Stefan Bengtsson gave the go-ahead to the proposal that concretises the vision for the development of campus, which Chalmers University Board decided in February 2021. This is an important component of realising the university's 20-year vision.
“This does not mean that a decision has yet been made, but a milestone on the way has been reached,” says Fredrik Nilsson, Vice President of Campus and Sustainable Development, who led the pre-study.
Relocation to Johanneberg
Essentially, the recommended alternative calls for Chalmers students and employees to relocate from Lindholmen to Johanneberg. Chalmers will still have operations at Lindholmen, with a strengthened profile towards cooperation in research centres, research infrastructures, collaborations with companies via Lindholmen Science Park, as well as course elements and education conducted in research infrastructures or in collaboration with companies. Lindholmen will then transition from being a campus to becoming a so-called node for Chalmers.
“It is solid and extensive work done by the four working groups and in the feasibility study as a whole”, says Stefan Bengtsson. “This provides a suitable basis for now taking the process further towards decisions about implementation and realisation of the vision of a unified campus.”
Campus Johanneberg will be Chalmers' primary academic base for the development of world-leading research, education and utilisation. Node Lindholmen will be an important arena to showcase and perform innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as a place for interaction and further development to ensure the relevance of research and education at Chalmers.
About 250 employees and around 2,500 students will be affected by the move. According to the proposal, the relocation should be done in two steps, with phase 1 expected to take place in 2024/2025 and phase 2 in 2028/2029. This is in order to have time to adapt existing premises at Johanneberg, so that they are used better across the entire campus, as well as to get some new purpose-built premises in place.
The Student Union wants to bring all students together
“The pre-study and its recommendations show that a unified campus providing a high-quality campus environment and gathering all students can be achieved,” says Isac Stark, President of Chalmers Student Union, which is part of the steering group. “This will help build a stronger and more unified culture for Chalmers' students, faculty and employees. It is something that the Student Union thinks is very positive.”
Nicklas Arfvidsson, CEO of Chalmersfastigheter, is also part of the steering group and he fills in:
“The fact that the vision for Chalmers’ campus is now being further concretised is excellent. The direction that is pointed out will mean intensive work in the coming years, not least for us at Chalmersfastigheter, but it will also be fun to work together even more in line with our vision to create a world-class campus for Chalmers.”
Consultation round prior to the President’s decision
What is happening now is that the final report of the feasibility study will be sent on a short referral internally to all Chalmers departments, to the areas of advance, the educational areas and to the central operations support, as well as to Chalmers Student Union, Lindholmen Science Park, Johanneberg Science Park and to the management team of the University of Gothenburg. The final report will also be collaborated with the trade unions.
After this referral, the final report will be adjusted to form the basis for the President’s decision, which is planned to be taken in late January or early February 2023. Then, the next phase will begin, which involves planning for implementation and an even more direct dialogues with operations through the involvement of additional roles and people.
Background facts: This is how the pre-study was performed
The pre-study has been conducted in four working groups led by Vice President Fredrik Nilsson. The working groups have included a total of over 40 people in different roles and from different operations internally at Chalmers. This is to capture relevant perspectives and input, in addition to all the dialogues held with many external actors.
A number of possible scenarios have been tested in the feasibility study both against practical needs, conditions and actual opportunities, as well as against Chalmers' decided vision and new strategic direction. Two alternative scenarios have been identified that are well in line with the university's intentions and that are realistically feasible. The study makes an overall recommendation of one of them.