Heartwood facade lifts Oslo Cancer Cluster

Oslo Cancer Cluster is a non-profit member organisation focused on cancer research. Its 
purpose is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing new diagnostic methods and therapies. The organisation currently operates from three buildings completed in 2012, but it was always planned to eventually supplement these with a fourth section. Ground was broken on the new building in 2023 and work is expected to be completed in the autumn. The 12,000 square metre building will be seven storeys high with an additional two basement levels. It will house offices, laboratories, a staff restaurant and conference centre. 

A warm, soft feeling

The three existing buildings are clad in white sheet metal, but both the architect and the developer were keen for the new section to give a softer impression. It was also important for the facade to be maintenance-free. Based on this specification, the first two floors have a glass facade, while floors three to seven are clad in heartwood pine panels. 

“Externally, the building is already finished and it turned out great. Not only is the building beautiful but the timber cladding also gives the whole area a warmer and softer feeling. It’s given the whole area a lift,” says Stein Andre Vestskog.

Impregnated by nature

The fact that the facade is maintenance-free is due to the unique attributes of pine heartwood, which comes from the innermost part of the tree. Heartwood accumulates extractives such as resins and fatty acids that naturally impregnate the wood, making it more water-repellent and resistant to moisture and rot, a valuable property for wood products exposed to the elements. 

“When the time came to choose a supplier, our key concern was to identify an exterior panel with a high percentage of heartwood. The fact that SCA was able to guarantee at least 99 per cent was one important reason for choosing them. Of course, there were several other aspects that played a part, such as the reliability of deliveries, price and the fact that we already enjoyed good collaboration,” says Kenneth Kvebek, Sales Director at Viken Element, the company responsible for delivering and installing the facade.

Beatuiful raw material from the north

The timber used in SCA’s products comes from the forests of northern Sweden, forests that are ideally suited for the manufacture of heartwood products. 

“There is correlation between a tree growing slowly and a high percentage of heartwood. Growth is slower here in the north, so we obtain a really nice raw material. We are also meticulous when it comes to sorting, including x-raying all of the timber so we can state exactly how great a percentage of heartwood our products contain,” explains Lars Nilsson, salesperson at SCA Wood Scandinavia.

While heartwood pine products do not need to be painted or otherwise treated to stand up to the elements, in the case of the cladding for the Oslo Cancer Cluster, the customer chose to order painted panels in a silver-grey colour.

“Untreated heartwood pine panels change colour over time, starting as a warm wood colour before gradually silvering. This process takes many years, but in this case it was requested that the building have its final colour from the start,” says Lars Nilsson.

Prefabricated panels

To ensure that the installation of the facade was as efficient as possible, prefabricated panels were used. 

“This was particularly practical given that the building site was cramped and the schedule tight,” says Kenneth Kvebek.

The facade panels, which are nine metres high and two and a half metres wide, were delivered complete with windows and insulation. Installation started in October and was completed in December.

“It was fast work considering that it involved 3,000 square metres of facade. Everything went smoothly,” says Kenneth Kvebek.

High environmental abitions

Choosing timber cladding is in line with the generally high environmental ambitions of the 
project. Among other things, Strøm Gundersen has the stated objective of sorting at least 90 per cent of waste and keeping waste down to no more than 20 kilos per square metre.

“Building with heartwood pine is both environmentally friendly and climate-smart so, as far as we’re concerned, it’s ideal,” says Stein AndreVestskog, who adds that it is not only the 
choice of materials that makes this project special, but also the purpose.

“The work that will be performed in this building will mean so much to cancer research for years to come. Perhaps it will even play a part in solving the cancer riddle. Obviously, it’s especially enjoyable to work on a project like this.