3XN has won a competition to design a new building for Uppsala University in Sweden.

The Danish practice beat three Nordic rivals to land the job at one of Sweden’s oldest universities, which can trace its history back 500 years.

The 13,000sq m building will house the university management, administration, restaurant and a small study hall and will include natural ventilation and a facade that allows in light but is protected from solar heat gain.

3XN partner and head of competition Jan Ammundsen said: “The building concept is a simple construction of overlapping office wings placed on top of each other. The result is an open atrium which unites the building.

“The atrium serves as the backdrop for the staircase, which not only connects the floors but also provides mezzanine areas in connection with the atrium.

“The design of the floorplate gives a dynamic and variation to the whole building. The open spaces increase the experience of being a part of the same environment, while the small and large plazas create the feelings of intimacy and community.”

The upper floors open up with a treetop view over to the 16th century Uppsala Castle, a botanical garden and the whole university campus.