Beams-up! - World of Volvo is taking shape

On the night between Saturday and Sunday the 3rd of April, a part of southern Gothenburg was closed off for vehicles. Well, for all vehicles but one: the first delivery of the glulam heart beams for World of Volvo.

World of Volvo is a statement and an investment by Volvo Group and Volvo Cars.

This first gigantic piece of glue-laminated wood is 35 metres long, 1.8 metre wide and weighs 14 tonnes. For reference, it is so heavy and bulky that it will take two cranes to lift it in place. Soon it will be joined by two more heart beams of the same size. Once they are set, a steady stream of some 160 truckloads with beams will roll into Gothenburg over approximately six months’ time. Together they will shape the World of Volvo building.

Doing the maths, this means that 6,000 cubic metres worth of wood will be rolling in – as much as a football field covered in a one-metre-thick layer of wood.

As everything regarding the World of Volvo, the sheer size is impressive. The roof will then be covered with cross laminated timber sheets that form grassy hills, for a green roof scape. The sides of the building will be made up by glass sheets to create a light and airy atmosphere.

“We have created a building that captures the synthesis of the Volvo brand, so it is full of omtanke: open, warm and welcoming. And with roots deep in the Scandinavian design tradition,” says Martin Martin Stenberg Ringnér, head of the World of Volvo-design at Henning Larsen Architects.

So wood is a natural choice from many perspectives. In Sweden, we have a tradition of building in wood, and from a CO2 standpoint, it is the material of the future. Today, the construction industry stands for 39% of all CO2 emissions in the world, way more than the transportation industry. Using wood where possible makes an impact here.

“We have created a symbol for the future, both in material and architecture and we span the timber, as a structural material, to extreme lengths. It is the most advanced construction we at Henning Larsen has ever been part of creating. It will be a true landmark in Gothenburg,” says Martin Stenberg Ringnér.

Magnus Wrahme, CEO World of Volvo says: “This is a true milestone in the construction of our joint experience centre. All of us in the project are thrilled to see the beams being raised and the building taking shape.”

Welcome to World of Volvo in 2024!