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Modernization of the old gym hall at Skolen ved Søerne in Frederiksberg

published in sb magazine 1/2025 

Frederiksberg has gained a modern sports facility at Skolen ved Søerne (The School by the ­Lakes) – a valuable addition in a densely populated municipality where space for leisure ­activities is in high demand. The gymnasium has been transformed to better ­accommodate teaching, recreation, and after-school programmes during the day, while also serving as an ­attractive ­meeting place for local sports clubs in the afternoons and evenings. Owned by Frederiksberg ­Municipality, the project was designed by NERD architects, Matters, and ­ArkitekturLab.

The transformation is part of the initiative ‘Old Sports Halls – New Opportunities’ by DIF (The Danish Sports Confederation), Dansk ­Skoleidræt (Danish school sports), and LOA fonden (The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities). The classic old gymnasiums are Denmark's most widespread indoor sports facility, but they were designed in a different time, and many of them are worn out and do not have the features needed today. The campaign was launched in 2020, and it aims to improve the quality of gymnastic halls in public schools across the country. The initiative also focuses on promoting a cultural shift in the use of gym halls, emphasizing sustainability, capacity utilization, and connections between school and leisure activities.