Rebuilding is underway in the D-building. Photo: Margareta Ohné.

Now construction workers have moved into BIG's premises again. This time it is being rebuilt on floor 3 in the D building. North of BIG's lunchroom, there has been a row of small rooms - labs, offices and storage rooms - which in recent years have not been used optimally. Now walls have been knocked down, the premises are blown out and the new use is beginning to be felt.

Two new halls

First of all, there will be a long-awaited large lecture hall with at least 36 seats. As can be seen in the picture, it has terraces (ledges) and will be furnished with loose tables and chairs, which provides a flexible teaching environment.

Very close by, a new large seminar room has been created by removing the wall between an office and a smaller seminar room.

Anki Östlund, head of BIG, is satisfied that the rebuilding work has gone so quickly, thanks in large part to a good and constructive collaboration with Akademiska hus. She expects that the premises will be able to be put into use during the spring semester, but it takes time to get both furniture and all technical equipment home, so it will not be ready by the start of the semester.

Increased need for premises

Someone who is also looking forward to a reinforcement on the local side is Rumi Engman, who manages all local bookings at BIG. There is a lot of pressure on all types of teaching premises, she says, lecture halls, seminar rooms and course labs. Something that has increased the pressure recently is that after its move from Kräftriket to Albano, SRC no longer has its own teaching premises, but needs to use BIG's premises. This means that several new – and large – student groups have been added.

Examination rooms are also in short supply. That is why it is so welcome to have new premises that can be furnished flexibly: close between the students during lectures but sparsely between them during exams.