Custom weather protection for
cutting-edge wooden architecture
Växjö Station & Kommunhus
Project: Växjö Station & Kommunhus
Customer: Skanska Sweden AB
Contractor: Skanska Sweden AB
Part transport hub, part municipal office, part commercial centre, Växjö’s new central station and city hall combination promised to be a groundbreaking example of modern wooden architecture. However, given the sensitivity of timber to moisture and the nature of Sweden’s climate, the cutting-edge project called for special protection. Sitecover delivered a customised solution to enclose the seven-storey structure and ensure a dry environment for the construction of one of Sweden’s largest modern wooden buildings.
Project specifications:
- 129.6 m long
- 43.2 m wide
- 30 m height under the hook
- 2 cranes with combined lift capacity of 24 tonnes
In 2019–2020, Skanska led the construction of a seven-storey wood building in Växjö that would house the town’s main train station and town hall. Designed to reflect the city’s sustainability ambitions, the project was groundbreaking in its scale and material choice, as it would become one of Sweden’s largest modern wooden structures. However, building in wood also brought certain challenges.
Given that timber is highly sensitive to moisture, exposure to rain, snow and ice during construction posed the risk of diminishing the quality, safety, and long-term durability of the structure. Skanska therefore sought a reliable solution that would protect the structure from the elements without compromising safety or productivity.
To meet these demands, Sitecover provided a customised weather protection solution specifically designed for Växjö Station and Kommunhus. The cover solution featured customised, extra-long legs to create a clear height of 30 metres under the cover’s hook point.
The cover fully enclosed the worksite to shield the entire timber structure from rain, snow and wind, while a dual overhead crane integration streamlined material lifting and assembly within the covered area.
Once the Sitecover system was in place, Skanska noted that productivity rose sharply. Skanska’s press release in June 2021 stated: “Once the weather protection was in place, it turned out that the work went so smoothly that productivity increased by about an hour per day per employee.”
By using Sitecover, Skanska successfully delivered Växjö Station and Kommunhus on schedule and to the highest sustainability standard. The project became a benchmark for climate-conscious construction, showing that modern, large-scale timber buildings can be built efficiently and safely when fully protected from the elements.
We have not had any downtime due to the weather and have been able to lift all day. No time has been wasted covering the wooden structure and we have no lack of quality due to moisture build-up
Marcus Heiman, Skanska Project Manager