Thousands of tons of concrete frames, steel beams and facades made of glass and aluminium have been transported from factories in Latvia and Estonia to the construction site in Lund. One by one, floor by floor, they have been assembled with greatest precision.
During the summer the site has transformed into what can actually be recognized as a new building. Even the twisted design of the upper floors of Forum Medicum is now visible.
“The geometric construction has been a challenge, although we like challenges”, says Edgars Klava, site manager for UPB and the one responsible for steel and concrete.
The Latvian company UPB operates around the Nordic region where they construct hospitals, parking garages and residential buildings etc. In general they work on larger projects that lasts for a longer period, but which are usually more ordinary, “boxes-like”-projects.
Another challenge has been the heat that made the concrete harden faster when assembling the frames. For the last weeks the heat has no longer been a problem and in the upcoming week the very last concrete frame will be put in place.
No broken glass
The aluminium elements and the glass facade on the ground floor have already been mounted. Only a few elements remain. One could assume that one or two windows would have been broken during the transportation, but that is not the case.
“Only two pieces have been declined because of a visual defects”, says Ivo Rieksts site manager responsible for aluminium and glass.
Going back home
In mid-November the Latvian company will end their work at the site and the interior construction work continues.
Since April, 36 Latvian construction workers (of a total of 70) have been working on Forum Medicum. Three weeks of work and one week of vacation.
For Edgars Klava Malmö has been his home for the last months as he brought his family, wife and daughter with him. They have enjoyed their stay even though they have not been sightseeing a lot due to Corona.
“We have mostly spent our time in Malmö where we have our appartement. It has been very nice, he says”.
His colleague agrees:
“Sweden has been more modest in their restrictions during Corona and it’s been nice to have been able to go to the gym and do “normal” things, says Ivo Rieksts.
Fun facts:
So much has been shipped from Latvia and Estonia and used for the construction av Forum Medicum:
- 2 600 tons of concrete
- 400 tons of steel
- 4 824 m2 glass
Text and photos: Sara Liedholm