Sustainable Urban Development, Norway

Bane NOR Eiendom AS, a state-owned and commercial property operator in Norway, is a key player in sustainable urban and regional development. Their mission involves transforming former railway stations, train workshops, and adjacent properties into vibrant urban areas. One remarkable case is the Sundland Jernbaneverksted in Drammen, Norway, which was initially completed in 1911 and served as one of Drammen's major workplaces. Today, the area combines railway workshops with various businesses, industries, cultural spaces, and educational facilities.

Objective:

In pursuit of their commitment to community well-being, Ms. Tone Mjølnerød, Property Manager for Bane NOR Eiendom, initiated a project to activate the Sundland Jernbaneverksted area for the benefit of its residents, tenants and their employees. Recognizing the responsibility of companies like Bane NOR Eiendom towards public health, the objective was to develop a self-organized training area. The focus was on creating accessible sports and activity spaces, including the installation of an Omnigym outdoor gym, with the key criterion being to provide a free weight training facility for anyone at any time.

Outcome:

The outdoor gym was successfully installed in July 2023, marking a significant step in transforming Sundland Jernbaneverksted into an active and attractive district center. The gym has become a popular spot, utilized by various segments of the community, including parents who bring their children to hobbies to the area, personal trainers, tenants, residents, and PE teachers with pupils from nearby schools. The feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the success of the initiative.

Future Plans:

Looking ahead, Sundland Jernbaneverksted is poised for further development, with plans to incorporate more leisure activities, workshops, production premises, offices, retail spaces, and cafeterias. The vision is to honor the unique history of the area while creating a dynamic and inclusive urban center. This multifaceted approach considers both the business and social aspects of development, reflecting a commitment to giving back to society.

To strengthen the feeling of a community Bane Nor Eiendom will host on the 8^th of February an opening event to the launch of Sundland Verk.

Sundland Jernbaneverksted are being transformed into a new and vibrant urban area in Drammen. Join the launch and get to know more about the history of Sundland, the offers that already exist here and the future vision for the historic building mass that will now become Sundland Verk.

Sundland Verk will also host an activity day later in summer this year.

Conclusion:

Ms. Tone Mjølnerød considers this project a prime example of a development initiative that seamlessly integrates business and social considerations. By actively contributing to the well-being of the community through accessible amenities like the outdoor gym, Bane NOR Eiendom demonstrates that investing in societal health can yield returns in the form of happier and healthier people. “We want to offer something for everybody. It means we wanted to create a self-organized training area for people living and working in Sundland Verk for free. Now it is our turn to give back to the community.” comments Ms. Tone Mjølnerød.

Sundland Verk stands as a model for sustainable transformation, aligning with the business strategy for the Drammen municipality and setting a precedent for future urban development projects.