Tunbate
Illustrator: Majken Holm-Varsi
Tunbate
That parts of the Tower Building are being repurposed from lecture rooms into a hotel has been a well-discussed subject amongst the students at NMBU. Tuntréet thinks it’s time to have a proper debate on the matter. That is why we have invited two people from the University’s board to share their thoughts about the case. University Director Lars Atle Holm on why Tårn-hotel could be a good idea, while Kristine Lien Skog, Institution Leader for Urban and Regional Planning, explains why it is not. Let’s debate!
NMBU investigates renting the Tower Building as a hotel
The proposal to rent out the Tower Building as a hotel came in connection with feasibility studies for the development of Campus East and was a surprising suggestion from one of the architectural firms. Surprising, but nevertheless a proposal we want to explore.
The university campus covers a large area with ample space between the buildings, reflecting the site's history as an agricultural college. This will always give the campus an open and green character. NMBU wants to have plenty of life on our green campus. Today, the campus consists of 110 buildings, covering a total of approximately 215,000 square meters spread over a large area. To create more activity on campus, we need to ensure that students want to be here, while also inviting the public in.
The board has decided that NMBU will increase density by 5-10%. With increasingly tighter financial constraints and the need to reduce our carbon footprint, we must explore future solutions. At the same time, we must preserve history. Sometimes, creating new life in historic buildings can be a good solution (e.g., Sentralen in the old Kvadraturen area and Hotel Amerikalinjen at Jernbanetorget in Oslo). A campus hotel would support the activities we already have, such as hosting courses, conferences, and continuing education. It would also provide accommodation for those visiting students or bringing animals to the veterinary hospital. Moreover, a hotel could serve as a nice gathering place with food services for students and staff. The offices in the Tower Building were state-of-the-art at one time, but the wide corridors and closed doors do not suit today’s work methods as well as it used to do. The fact that the building is actually well-suited for hotel operations and can thus be rented for a purpose that also meets an important need at NMBU is a significant advantage.
There are some non-negotiable conditions for this to work: We need to find good alternative solutions for the classrooms currently in the Tower Building, as well as social areas for students and office spaces for the staff based in the building. We must ensure that the business school students get a new home.
A potential hotel operator would have to assess the profitability themselves and bear the cost of converting the building into a hotel. If leasing to Festningshotellene becomes relevant, they will cover all costs for remodeling and interior and exterior maintenance. NMBU must ensure that there is a solid, long-term lease agreement in place. The agreement should also account for future use of the building should the hotel operations cease. At that point, the use must be adapted to what the building is best suited for—perhaps student housing?
NMBU is investigating and analyzing all aspects of such a change in use. The students in the "Architecture and Sustainability - ARK 300" course are currently designing solutions for furnishing a hotel in the building. Student opinions are important to us, and we would love to hear from you.
Lars Atle Holm, University Director
Unwise to Have a Hotel in the Tower Building
NMBU has entered into a letter of intent with Festningshotellene AS to establish a hotel in the Tower Building. Rector Siri Fjellheim finds the proposal interesting, as there is a need for better accommodation in Ås. I completely agree with that. However, I am very critical of facilitating hotel operations in the Tower Building. There are many reasons for this.
Too Few Lecture Rooms
I often encounter concerns because we have classes scheduled until six in the evening to better utilize our classrooms. Students may then have classes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. I also have staff that cannot find suitable lecture rooms for large classes, and we cannot afford to upgrade the ones we have. The Tower Building houses 20% of NMBU’s teaching capacity. It is difficult to envision a solution that can replace these rooms.
Students and Staff Moved off Campus?
The Tower Building was approved by Parliament in 1919 and was intended to relieve the Main Building by providing additional teaching spaces. The Tower Building is centrally located on campus and houses both the Business School, NMBU's administration, and students. I believe it is very important that these continue to remain on campus; it would send a strange message if we have to move them out of this central location to make way for hotel guests.
Cultural and Historical Responsibility
NMBU has the most beautiful campus in the country, with parks and buildings for which NMBU has national responsibility. We must, therefore, do our utmost to preserve these buildings—both externally and internally. Since the Tower Building was specifically designed for teaching and remains vital for education today, is it right to replace lecture rooms with hotel rooms?
An Economically Risky Project
The profitability of the hotel business is to be investigated, which is good. Still, it is a highly risky project. The hotel is supposed to cover the cost of renovations and rent the premises from NMBU. But who will pay for students, administration, and staff to find other locations? NMBU must bear that cost. A bigger question is who will cover the bill if the hotel operation proves unprofitable after construction and has to shut down. This is a risk NMBU should not take. We should also not spend money on feasibility studies. Anything else would be tone-deaf at a time when we must make significant budget cuts.
The Hotel Should Be Closer to the Town Center and Train Station
Hotels located near public transport hubs are less car-dependent. The Tower Building is far from the train station, and it is difficult to imagine where the cars of hotel guests would park. A hotel closer to the station would also better connect the town center and NMBU. It is said that a campus hotel would create a meeting place with evening and weekend dining options. We already have that today—at Vitenparken.
NMBU should shelve the plans and collaborate with the municipality, Vitenparken, and other stakeholders to find a more suitable location. Anything else would simply be unwise.
Kristine Lien Skog, Institution Leader for Urban and Regional Planning
