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The Salvation Army's new community center will be open to everyone

The project is located right next to the subway station at Ensjø and includes both renovation and new construction. Trond Magne Hognestad Petersen is the project manager for what will become the Salvation Army's new headquarters. The new building, together with the renovated structure, will function as a single unit.

A picture of the connection between two large buildings

Local meeting point

The Salvation Army aims for the headquarters to serve as an open house for the local community, offering activities such as having a cup of coffee with a friend, playing floorball in the activity hall, participating in church and cultural events, and having lunch with friends or colleagues. 

– The goal is for this to become a meeting point and a natural place for everyone living in Ensjø, states Frode Åsenden, General Manager of the Salvation Army Properties. 

In May 2025, the Salvation Army plans to open its new premises in Ensjø. Höegh Eiendom currently owns Ensjøveien 23B and has developed the building in collaboration with the Salvation Army and AF Byggfornyelse. Once the building is completed, the Salvation Army will also take over the portion that Höegh currently owns. 

Ensjøveien 23 B - rehabilitering for Hoëgh og Frelsesarmeen
CLOSE COLLABORATION: – Having a contractor who understands our goals and what we want to achieve is essential for us, says Frode Åsenden, General Manager of the Salvation Army Properties (in the middle). Here he is on an inspection with project managers Trond Magne Hognestad Petersen (AF Byggfornyelse) and Øyvind Meyer Kristiansen (Höegh Eiendom).

Understanding the goals

Åsenden states that the Salvation Army and its user groups have actively participated in the process to support local community activities.

– This is something else. We have premises for all types of activities. It's crucial to have a contractor who understands our goals, how we use the space, and what we want to achieve, he says.

– The support from AF in designing effective solutions before our contract was invaluable, says Øyvind Meyer Kristiansen, project manager at Höegh. 

– During the execution phase, AF demonstrated exceptional performance. We are highly confident that the outcome will be promising, he stated.

Ensjøveien 23 B - rehabilitering for Hoëgh og Frelsesarmeen
MEETING POINT: The new building will be open to everyone at Ensjø.

Environmental profile

Höegh Eiendom and the Salvation Army have emphasized the environmental profile of the new center from the very beginning. The building will be environmentally certified according to BREEAM-NOR v. 6.0 at the Very Good level. It will be constructed with steel and prefabricated elements from the ground up and clad with facade bricks. Examples of good environmental solutions include the use of environmentally friendly concrete, district heating as an energy source, and awareness around the use of chemicals.

The new building is being constructed according to the latest BREEAM manual. The project has focused on good and modest qualities. The Salvation Army views the building with a 50-year perspective. For the Salvation Army, it is important to make good choices so that the building becomes durable and pleasant to be in.

Picture of the green roof that is both better for insects and helps holding back rain water

Built on clay

Building a two-story basement with a sports hall on volatile quick clay presented a challenge.

– We began construction on a parking lot, needing to dig two floors down for the gym. This required sheet piling and stabilizing the ground with lime cement piles, says Trond Magne.

After excavation, steel core piles were driven to bedrock for the foundation. Waterproof concrete and membrane were used in the basement’s construction.

The Salvation Army's new main hall, covering 6000 square meters, is set to open in spring 2025.

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The Salvation Army's new community center

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