Client projects: The new Westerlundska upper secondary school

A warm, welcoming living room

Every day, students at the newly built Westerlundska Gymnasiet upper secondary school in Enköping are welcomed to a school where nothing has been left to chance. Martina Ericson, Programme Director, and Maria Johansson, Head of Administration, have been managing the process for many years and have done everything to create an inclusive, creative and safe learning space.

Is it really necessary to be so thorough, to find out so much, to test every decision in practice and to involve both students and staff so early in the process? If you ask Martina Ericson and Maria Johansson, the answer is clear. “Yes, if you want to achieve a really good outcome, the process of building a new school simply has to be as long and as meticulous as ours was. By making study visits, listening to experts, trying out furniture and letting our young people and employees put forward their views, the end result has been so much better than it would otherwise have been,” says Martina Ericson.

The previous Westerlundska Gymnasiet was built in the 1970s. In 2017, Enköping Municipality decided that the building had come to the end of its useful life and that a renovation would not be economically sustainable. Planning for the new school began in 2020, including a series of study visits, workshops and other activities with those involved – everyone from White Arkitekter, Kinnarps and other furniture suppliers, to teachers and student councils. “We tried out ideas on-site in the old school. For example, we set up a test classroom with interior furnishings from different suppliers, textile flooring, whiteboard wallpaper and various IT solutions, to investigate what works best over the course of a year," says Martina Ericson.

The new upper secondary school has been built right next to the old school, close to the centre of Enköping. It consists of three interlinked buildings with a wooden frame, and a large, open entrance hall with a library that serves as the school’s hub. The vision of creating a warm, welcoming living room is realised through a layout featuring open lines of sight, natural materials such as wood and stone, and colours in earthy tones. “The interior design from Kinnarps complements the architecture and contributes to our educational concept of inclusive learning with the watchwords ‘see’ and ‘support’. We want a calm and distraction-free environment that does not disturb or trigger students in a negative way,” says Maria Johansson.

There was close contact with the Kinnarps team in Västerås, among others, and Maria Johansson and Martina Ericson say that the process has been invaluable. “The collaboration has given us the opportunity to see and test the interior design aesthetically, ergonomically and in terms of wear. It’s also been incredibly valuable to have access to Kinnarps’ expertise and experience from other assignments," says Maria Johansson.

Martina Ericson adds: “When we visited their showroom, they gave us solid background facts and ideas about what works best in educational environments. This meant that we not only received important answers, but also understood which questions we need to ask.”

One challenge was to draw up an inventory of the furniture that the school could bring along from the old premises and reuse, and to harmonise it seamlessly with the new interior design. “Kinnarps helped us with both aspects, and created clear and creative design proposals in which everything came together as a whole in the tender. They interpreted our ideas about colour, shape and materials, and then implemented them in a concrete interior design solution,” says Maria Johansson.

In parallel with discussions with Kinnarps and other partners, the project worked on internal processes that influenced the end result. One example is the design of the toilet areas, which provides enhanced safety and is based on a workshop with students. Among other things, it emerged that it is beneficial to locate the toilets close to where staff are available. It should also be easy to enter and exit, while the doors are concealed so that no one can see which toilet space a person chooses.

Another example is the positioning of bar tables alongside the window in the school cafeteria, which both contributes to a cosy atmosphere and creates a space where students feel comfortable to sit alone and eat.

A vibrant meeting space for the whole community

Martina Ericson and Maria Johansson agree that school life at Westerlundska Gymnasiet has never been better. The new educational environment has not only improved working and studying conditions, but also contributed to a strong sense of pride and well-being among both staff and students. It is clear that the extensive investment in the school’s development has borne fruit.

At the official opening, the high level of interest was evident at a well-attended open house event, which attracted no fewer than 5,000 visitors. The positive response has not subsided – the school continues to arouse curiosity and admiration, and there are regular study visits from other municipalities, seeking inspiration from the new environment and way of working.

Westerlundska Gymnasiet is more than just a school; it is a vibrant meeting space for the whole community. The school is designed to be accessible and active around the clock. The assembly hall is used for external events such as lectures, concerts and sports camps, where classrooms are used as school rooms. The school cafeteria canteen opens its doors to others, including pensioners, who can enjoy lunch there.

This open, inclusive philosophy makes the school a central part of the community and strengthens the bonds between students, staff and local residents. Westerlundska Gymnasiet is therefore not only a place for learning, but also an inspiring arena for community and collaboration.