Building the tallest building in the Nordics was no ordinary project. It was a technical and logistical challenge that required collaboration at the highest level. Karlatornet, standing at 246 meters, is now complete and has become an impressive landmark in Gothenburg.
The construction challenged both the contractor and us as the supplier. Together, we managed to create a building visible from several miles away, which has also changed the city’s skyline forever.
A unique building with tough requirements
Karlatornet is not only the tallest building in the Nordics, but it is also one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe. The slender and tall structure demanded high standards for both stability and living comfort.
Jörgen Österlund, project manager for Karlatornet at the contractor, explains:
“The building’s slenderness is reminiscent of some of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers, such as the Burj Khalifa. To ensure stability, we have built outriggers on some floors that act as stabilizers. Just as poles help a skier maintain balance, the outriggers prevent the tower from swaying in strong winds, thus maintaining living comfort.”
For Thomas Betong, the challenge was not only to deliver tailor-made concrete but also to offer continuous advice and find solutions for the contractor throughout the construction process. All to enable the unique construction.
The collaboration that made a difference
A project of this size requires strong and well-coordinated work between all involved, and our close relationship with the contractor has been crucial to achieving a successful result.
“An important lesson from this project is that expectations and a clear organization are crucial – both to ensure quality and to maintain pace throughout the process,” says Tove Pettersson, Production Manager West at Thomas Betong.
Jörgen Österlund also emphasizes the value of early collaboration:
“We started working together long before we had a formal agreement, which created a good foundation for our successful collaboration. Weekly coordination meetings with key people from both parties were a success factor. It worked really well!”
The working method made it possible to quickly handle the challenges posed by the pandemic restrictions, the cement crisis, and the tight schedule. While the first apartments were being completed at the bottom, the casting of the frame was ongoing at the top of the tower. It was a logistical puzzle where our collaboration was crucial.
A source of pride
For us at Team Thomas, Karlatornet is an achievement that involves both engineering, innovation, and close collaboration. We are proud to have contributed to a spectacular building and to have shown what we can achieve together, as the Concrete Specialists. Being part of such a unique project is an experience that we at Team Thomas will carry with pride far into the future.
