Normally, you encounter the Swan label on dish soap in the supermarket or on a new pair of jeans.
But in fact, you can also come across the green label with the white swan when you enter a building.
And today, the country's first permanent Swan-labeled public school officially opens, namely Sundskolen in Sundby near Nykøbing Falster.
- I'm looking forward to showing the kids. I'm really looking forward to seeing them romp around in surroundings that are so much better than the ones we came from, says school principal Carsten Løye.
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Characteristics of a Swan-labeled building
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* Low energy consumption
* Good indoor climate
* Strict chemical requirements
* Strict requirements for certified wood
* High construction quality through control by an independent third party
* Good potential for reuse and recycling of building components
Source: The Swan label.
The school has received the Swan label because it meets a number of requirements regarding the environment, indoor climate, and energy consumption.
School principal Carsten Løye hopes that the move to the new school will be a significant improvement compared to their old school building from the late 1960s, which was dilapidated and had challenges with the indoor climate, among other things.
> I have followed the building closely over the past many years, so it will be incredibly wonderful to be part of opening the school today
> Louise Bay Nielsen, parent representative and chair of the school board at Sundskolen.
Louise Bay Nielsen, who is a parent representative and chair of the school board at Sundskolen, is also looking forward to finally being able to use the building.
- I have followed the building closely over the past many years, so it will be incredibly wonderful to be part of opening the school today. But especially Monday will be a big moment when all the children get to take over the school, she says.
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A construction project with bumps in the road
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Although the enthusiasm is great, the road to the new school has not been entirely easy.
The school building was originally supposed to have been ready as early as late summer 2022.
> There were areas in the school where you simply were not allowed to stay.
> At the same time, it would have cost a lot of money to bring the existing
> school up to today's standards. That is why I still believe it was the right
> decision.
> Simon Hansen (S), mayor of Guldborgsund Municipality.
But the construction has been hit by both bankruptcy and a bill that grew to 303 million kroner, which is more than double the original budget of 143 million kroner.
Read also: After nearly two years, construction of the country's first Swan-labeled school has now resumed ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/efter-naesten-aar-er-byggeri-af-landets-foerste-svanemaerkede-skole-nu-genoptaget )
However, it has been worth it and a better investment to build a new school than to try to save the old one, believes the mayor of Guldborgsund Municipality, Simon Hansen (S).
- We were faced with a Sundskolen that was not optimal for teaching. There were areas in the school where you simply were not allowed to stay. At the same time, it would have cost a lot of money to bring the existing school up to today's standards. That is why I still believe it was the right decision, says the mayor.
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More students than space
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The school opens with brand new facilities, but already faces challenges with space.
The number of students is so high that the municipality has had to rent two Swan-labeled pavilions for 5th and 6th grade, because there is not enough room for all students in the new school building.
Simon Hansen (S), mayor of Guldborgsund Municipality, participates in the inauguration of the new Sundskolen, which he calls a success despite challenges along the way. (Photo: © Jesper Nylander, DR)
Nevertheless, the mayor calls the project a success.
- That is just what can happen with a project that has been a long time in the making. The school was built for the number of students we expected when the project was started. Fortunately, many families with children have since moved to Sundby, and that gives us a positive challenge, says Simon Hansen (S).
According to the mayor, the pavilions are a temporary solution while the municipality waits to see if the rising student numbers are a permanent trend.
If that is the case, a more permanent solution to the space shortage must be found.
Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.