Schmidt Hammer Lassen

Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is an international architectural firm founded by a group of Danish architects in 1986 in Aarhus, Denmark. It currently has three offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus in Denmark, as well as Shanghai, China. In 2018, Schmidt Hammer Lassen became part of global architecture and design firm Perkins and Will.

Notable projects include the national library of Denmark The Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek) in Copenhagen, the ARoS Kunstmuseum in Aarhus, DOKK1, the largest public library in Scandinavia and named by IFLA International Federation of Library Associations as Public Library of the Year in 2016, and Shanghai Library East, one of China's largest new library's which opened in September 2022. The studio is currently designing the tallest residential high-rise constructed primarily in timber, known as Rocket & Tigerli in Winterthur, Switzerland, and a new Opera House and Performing Arts venue, known as Green Heart Grand Theatre, in Beijing, China.

History


Schmidt Hammer Lassen was established in 1986 by Morten Schmidt, Bjarne Hammer and John F. Lassen. The current group of Principals includes Kristian Lars Ahlmark, Chris Hardie, Elif Tinaztepe, Kasper Heiberg Frandsen, Mads Kaltoft, and Sanne Wall-Gremstrup.

The practice had its first major project with the Katuaq Culture Centre in Nuuk, Greenland, completed in 1997. The project in Nuuk was followed by first prize in the international competition for the extension of the Danish Royal Library on the harborfront in Copenhagen. The library extension, also known as the Black Diamond, was completed in 1999.

Another major project is the ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark, which was completed in 2004. In May 2011 the art work Your rainbow panorama, by Olafur Eliasson, was officially unveiled on the roof top of the museum.

In 2010 Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects won the competition to design the first permanent premises for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. The project was completed in 2015.

In 2011 Schmidt Hammer Lassen established an studio in Shanghai, to serve their increasing client base in Asia. Completed projects include the Ningbo New Library in Ningbo, China (2019), China's largest new Library Shanghai Library East, (2023), the world's largest Waste to Energy Power Plant called the Shenzhen Energy Ring (2024). Projects due for completion soon include the Beijing Center for Performing Arts in Tongzhou, Beijing, China due for completion in 2024, and West Bund Grand Theatre in Shanghai (due late 2024).

Product design
The current product range includes light fixtures for Philips Lighting, Lampas and Focus, indoor furniture Piiroinen and DJOB Montana, outdoor street furniture for Veksoe. Designs include the Flakes chair, the Focus Lighting, Idea Water Fixtures and the Swan Neck. The design department also creates unique pieces such as the sculptural receptions desk at Danfoss.

Completed

 * 1997
 * Katuaq Culture Centre, Nuuk, Greenland (completed 1997)
 * 1999
 * Black Diamond, Danish Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark (completed 1999)
 * 2001
 * Nykredit Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark (completed 2001)
 * 2003
 * ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, Denmark (completed 2003)
 * 2006
 * Halmstad Library, Halmstad, Sweden (completed 2006)
 * University of Aberdeen Sir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen, Scotland (competition win 2006)
 * 2007
 * Performers House, Silkeborg, Denmark (completed 2007)
 * 2009
 * Scania and Blekinge Court of Appeal, Malmö, Sweden (completed 2009)
 * Thor Heyerdahl College, Larvik, Norway (completed 2009)
 * 2010
 * Amazon Court, Prague, Czech Republic (2010)
 * 2011
 * City of Westminster College, Paddington Green campus London, UK (2011)
 * The Crystal, Copenhagen (2011)
 * 2013
 * Cathedral of the Northern Lights, Alta, Norway (completed 2013)
 * 2014
 * Halifax Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (completed 2014)
 * 2015
 * Malmö Live, Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Malmö, Sweden (competition win May 2010, completed 2015)
 * International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands (completed 2015)
 * DOKK1 Urban Mediaspace, Aarhus, Denmark (completed June 2015)

In progress

 * Ningbo Home of Staff, Ningbo, China (expected completion 2017)
 * Konstitucijos Avenue 21 urban complex, Vilnius, Lithuania (competition win 2009)
 * Island School, Hong Kong, China (competition win 2014)
 * Ningbo New Library, Ningbo, China (expected completion 2017)
 * Skanderborg Sports and Administration Centre, Skanderborg, Denmark (competition win 2013)
 * Vendsyssel Theatre and Experience Centre, Vendsyssel, Denmark (competition win 2013)
 * Expo Green Valley, Shanghai, China (expected completion 2016)
 * Ningbo Daily Newspaper Headquarters, Ningbo, China (expected completion 2016)
 * Dream Theatre, Dream Dome and Dream Hub for Dream Center, Shanghai China (expected completion 2017)
 * CaoHeJing Innovation Incubator, Shanghai, China (expected completion 2016)
 * Sunbird Daxi Central Park Residences, Taipei, Taiwan (expected completion 2016)
 * Saltkristallerna, Helsingborg, Sweden (competition win February 2010))


 * Warsaw Office Tower, Warsaw, Poland (competition win, November 2011)
 * China Mobile Campus, Huaian, China (expected completion 2017)
 * China Mobile Campus, Luoyang, China (expected completion 2017)
 * New Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark (competition win, 2013)
 * Cultural Center and Library, Karlshamn, Sweden (competition win, January 2013)
 * Extension of Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden (competition win 2013)
 * Correctional facility in Nuuk, Greenland (competition win 2013)
 * New Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark (competition win 2013)
 * Christchurch Central Library, Christchurch, New Zealand (completed mid-2018)

Awards

 * 1997 Nykredit Architecture Prize
 * 2007 MIPIM AR Future Projects Award ('residential' category) for Skytthusbugten
 * 2008 LEAF Award, Grand Prix for Performers House
 * 2008 MIPIM AR Future Projects Award ('office' category) for Amazon Court
 * 2009 Construction and Investment Journal Award ('Best Office Development') for Amazon Court
 * 2009 MIPIM AR Future Projects Award ('mixed use' category) for Holbæk Harbour Masterplan
 * 2011 New London Award ('learning' category) for City of Westminster College
 * 2011 LEAF Award ('structural design' category) for The Crystal
 * 2011 Aarhus Municipality Award for Villa Busk/ Vibevej 27, Denmark
 * 2011 The Concrete Society Awards, shortlisted for City of Westminster College, England
 * 2011 ArchDaily Building of the Year Award for the Crystal, Denmark
 * 2012 Arne of the Year Award, shortlisted for The Crystal, Denmark
 * 2012 RIBA Award, EU category, shortlisted for The Crystal, Denmark
 * 2012 Civic Society Award for University of Aberdeen New Library, UK
 * 2013 IABSE Denmark's Structure Award for the Crystal in Copenhagen
 * 2013 RIAS Award 2013 for University of Aberdeen New Library, UK
 * 2013 RIBA Award 2013 for University of Aberdeen New Library, UK
 * 2014 Lieutenant Governor's Design Award in Architecture for Halifax Central Library
 * 2019 Urban Renewal GOLD Award, China Real Estate Design Award for Beijing Vanke Times Center
 * 2022 Fortune Magazine Design Award for Ningbo New Library
 * 2022 Shanghai Magnolia Award for Shanghai Library East
 * 2022 China Construction Luban Prize for Shanghai Library East
 * 2022 AIA Honor Award China Design Excellence Award for Shanghai Library East
 * 2023 AIA Honor Award for International Architecture, AIA International Design Award for Shanghai Library East