The Campus Plan is aimed at everyone involved in campus development, from the University's own operations to property owners and urban planning offices in the municipalities concerned. It is intended to serve as a guide for future construction projects and development of premises and has been three years in the making. The Plan includes both long-term goals and specific needs from different parts of the organisation.
The Campus Plan helps the University stay proactive and ready itself for the long-term development of the campus and our premises. The Plan is a statement of intent that describes what the University needs in order to continue its positive development.
A pleasant and well-functioning campus is an important factor for the work environment of both students and staff. A well-maintained campus environment in the right surroundings is also something that attracts students and makes them feel at home here. Together with world-class research and teaching, this is part of Lund University's brand.
“In this Plan, we have tried to present a holistic view that strengthens the University’s identity. Our goal is for the campus to be the place where people choose to study or work, because it is pleasant, functional and safe,” says Madeleine Starck, project manager at the Campus Development Office at LU Estates.
A new model for campus development
The Campus Plan was developed by the Campus Development Office on behalf of the Campus Development Council, two new units that have only been in existence since 2021. Seen from a national perspective, the fact that the plan was developed independently by the University is unique. Work on the Plan has also seen important collaboration with property owners and other external parties.
The Plan has been developed through extensive work involving inter-faculty workshops, consultation rounds and dialogues within the organisation. The workshops laid the foundation, with staff and students sharing their needs, their everyday experiences and their views on the learning environments and workplaces of the future. During the consultation process (in spring 2025), several comments were also received, which led to adjustments and clarifications.
“The workshops have been crucial in identifying the needs of the various departments, something that we at the Campus Development Office cannot do on our own,” says Kaisa Diurson from the Campus Development Office at LU Estates.
Geographical workshops have also been held for each campus area, to which both the respective municipal urban planning offices and representatives from businesses and property owners in the area were invited to attend. The aim was to gather knowledge and facilitate meetings between various stakeholders with insight into the development of the area.
Within the Lund campus, which is long and sprawling, several important routes and hubs were identified to connect the campus area, particularly in view of the hospital relocation and the establishment of Science Village. In Malmö, there are plans to co-locate the Faculty of Fine and Performing Art’s three academies. In Helsingborg, investments are being made in a new centre for trade and logistics in the University's existing premises, while a new neighbourhood and innovation district are emerging around the campus, which could lead to major structural changes.
“The Plan highlights the fabric and routes between campus nodes. This is so that we can maintain the beautiful outdoor green spaces that we offer, not least on the Lund campus. How we design these routes will be particularly important in minimising the distances between different nodes, distances that may grow in future if we establish ourselves in Science Village. It is important that they are correctly positioned and planned for the right modes of transport to match the University's needs, so that the campus is easy to navigate and links our various locations,” says Madeleine Starck.
The Campus Plan interacts with Lund Municipality's Comprehensive Plan, in which the University’s campus is included in Lund Innovation District, which overlaps the Knowledge Highway. When the municipality abandoned the previous joint designation of the Knowledge Highway, parts of it became a new campus thoroughfare for the University. The corridors between the nodes form the fabric that binds the campus environments together into a whole.
“We have a fantastic campus network, located in well-functioning and strategic locations in municipalities with which we enjoy strong collaboration. Our campuses are also well integrated with the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Campus Plan demonstrates the value of everything being connected, and the Plan shows how the University's buildings and environments can be improved by strengthening the nodes that can share functions to make study and workplaces better,” says Madeleine Starck.
Five strategies
The Campus Plan is not a static document, but rather a framework that can be used over a long period of time. Updates will be made as needed. The Plan's division into sections also makes it easier to revise as needed, for example in the event of anticipated major changes in Malmö, Helsingborg or Science Village. However, the overall strategies and sustainability principles have been developed and designed to stand the test of time. They are intended to serve as a support for assessing whether new locations, premises or changes fit into the overall picture.
Based on the outcomes of the workshops and dialogue meetings, five strategies have emerged that form the core of the Plan's direction. The strategies in brief:
Campus throughout the day: Create environments with services, attractive workplaces, meeting places and informal areas that promote social life, collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange.
The University as an attractive urban environment: Develop activities and shared spaces that strengthen urban life and safety, and make the campus a vibrant part of the city's fabric.
Density and proximity through active nodes: Identify strategic locations as university hubs – representative and local – to create identity and living spaces on a human scale.
Architectural character and quality: Preserve and develop the University's buildings and outdoor environments with high architectural value from different eras.
Outdoor environment and greenery as a priority resource: Promote health, recreation and research through accessible green spaces that serve as social living rooms and test beds.
Six different sustainability principles permeate all strategies, with a particular focus on mobility, green environments and resilience.
“We decided not to propose large new constructions, but instead to focus on improving and refining what already exists. A good example is how the University has developed buildings such as SOL, LUX and Forum Medicum, where old meets new, which works well both aesthetically and functionally,” says Kaisa Diurson.
The Campus Plan also highlights the outdoor environments and the value of preserving the green and attractive environments of the campuses. On Lund's northern campus, the University is working to create denser pathways and nodes, reduce scale and bring activities out onto the street. These features are currently lacking along parts of Sölvegatan and within LTH. It is a challenge to work on a smaller scale within LTH, as the area is designed with buildings in a park setting, according to Anselm's vision. The goal there is to create a sense of movement, security and connection with what is happening inside the buildings.
“There was a clear demand for this updated Campus Plan. Akademiska Hus and the municipalities are acting and collaborating based on the Plan,” says Kaisa Diurson.
Any organisations wishing to learn more about the Campus Development Plan are welcome to contact the Campus Development Office.
- See The new Campus Plan: Campusplanen (PDF 12 MB, ny flik) (in Swedish).
- Campus development | lu.se
- On the Staff Pages: Campus and premises