– We have chosen a very solid contractor. In addition, it is a bonus that Strøm Gundersen has a local connection, says managing director Gøril Bergh at Drammen Helsepark AS.
There is a lot of construction activity on Brakerøya, where Norway’s new health district is being built. A new hospital in Drammen will open in 2025. The first construction phase of Drammen Health Park, which will be built right next to the hospital and Brakerøya train station, is now underway.
Soon, both a hotel and offices will be built in Drammen
The projects will be part of the upcoming health park on Brakerøya.
It was in March that it became known that AF-owned Strøm Gundersen had secured the construction contract.
In September, the first part of the parking basement in Drammen Health Park will be completed. At the same time, Strøm Gundersen starts assembling the rig for the first construction stage.
– The first construction stage consists of a hotel with nine floors, 220 rooms and a large conference department. In addition, there will be a new eight-storey office and treatment building. In total, the buildings will be close to 20,000 square meters. We are very much looking forward to the opening in 2026, says Gøril Bergh.
Urban development
Over the past 30 years, Drammen has undergone extensive urban development. The Mjøndalen company Strøm Gundersen, with its 60 employees, has been highly visible in the region since its inception 39 years ago.
– We are proud to have taken part in the development in Drammen. It has given us solid expertise in urban development, which we are now taking with us into the development of Brakerøya and the new health district, says managing director Arne Riise in Strøm Gundersen.
In Drammen, Strøm Gundersen is behind signal buildings such as Drammensbadet, Papirbredden, Øvre Sund bridge and Energibygget.
– With our local roots, we naturally want to be visible in the region. The assignments for Drammen Health Park fit very well with our profile and drive. Here we are talking about solid and fine buildings at a junction that get good exposure. They will be seen and experienced by many, says Riise.
New city floor
Brakerøya will change from industry to a new healthcare district with over 6,000 skilled workplaces, when the hospital and Drammen Health Park are completed. With employees, students, patients and visitors, over 9,000 people will visit the district daily.
Drammen Health Park consists of seven buildings, over four construction stages. Construction phase one consists of the Hotel and Trekkeriet, which will house, among other things, the conference department, offices and patient care, but also shops and catering.
– At street level, we are building a new urban floor. The first two buildings will include, among other things, a restaurant, coffee concept and trade. It is an important goal for us to create a district with a good and pleasant environment, for everyone who will work in and visit the district, says project manager Ann-Elin Thunhaug in Drammen Health Park.
516 million
Strøm Gundersen has won the overall contract for the first two buildings. The contract sum is NOK 516 million.
Bane Nor Eiendom swallows Drammen Health Park
Have bought out the partner in the large project at Lierstranda.
– We invited six highly qualified contractors to submit offers for the job. In addition to quality, competence and price, experience in building hotels was an important criterion, says Gøril Bergh.
Strøm Gundersen has, among other things, built Comfort Hotel Union Brygge in Drammen and Son Spa.
– We have done it before, and we enjoy it. In addition, we think it is good that it is built centrally and visibly, says Riise.
Local businesses
Strøm Gundersen is known for solid relationships with its own subcontractors.
– Choosing subcontractors is not just about price. For us, it is important to ensure good quality. We are keen to put together good teams, says Riise.
To the health park, Strøm Gundersen brings subcontractors they have worked with on other assignments, including from the Heggedal Torg project. There, the company is in the last phase of the billion-dollar project in the form of several buildings in the city centre.
– We have a well-coordinated team from there. It will form the basis for the mission for the health park, says project manager Cato Brunstad in Strøm Gundersen.
150 employees
From late summer 2025 until handover of the buildings in summer 2026, Strøm Gundersen will employ around 150 construction workers at the construction site on Brakerøya.
– It will be the most intense period for this mission, says Brunstad.
The buildings must be certified according to the environmental certification system BREEAM NOR with the classification Excellent.
– We have done a number of projects with high environmental certification. We have been involved since the start of the certification race. It is a strength for us, says Riise.
Full thrust
Times are tough in construction. Four out of ten companies in the industry take a dark view of the outlook, shows a recent NHO survey. At the contracting company Strøm Gundersen, there is nevertheless optimism. The signing of the assignments with a new hotel and a new office building creates a good basis for the wholly owned AF company, which in 2022 had a turnover of NOK 900 million.
– We have managed well and now the assignments for Drammen Health Park also contribute well. Our order books are relatively full for the next two years, says Riise.
Tags: contractor full order books
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