Work is reported to have commenced on what will be one of the world’s largest indoor ski centres yet, if not the largest, in Norway, proposals for which were first announced in 2015.

Along with extensive alpine skiing facilities, the indoor resort, currently known as Vinterparken, will also have a cross country ski track more than a kilometre in length that is suspended above the downhill slope.

The new centre being built on to a hillside at Lørenskog 20 kilometres to the east of the centre of Oslo rises over six storeys and houses a snow-covered area of around 40,000 square metres.

The main downhill ski slope will be one of the world’s five longest and widest at 505 metres long and 100 metres wide at its widest point. The height difference of 90 metres will also be one of the biggest indoors yet.

The slope will be equipped with three ski lifts with a combined capacity of 5,000 skiers and hour.

Uniquely (in terms of holding downhill and XC facilities in one complex), the centre will also include a cross-country ski track of about one kilometre in length and five metres wide which will be suspended from roof structures at the lower end of the downhill slope. The ski track will comprise 120 components and weigh in at about 400 tonnes.

The centre will also feature a hotel, winter academy and additional accommodation.

The complex has been designed by the Norwegian architects office Halvorsen & Reine AS and the steel framed structure and load-bearing sheets have been designed and Finland-based Ruukki Construction, part of the Swedish company SSAB, which has a long and successful track record in the design and manufacture of complex steel structures.

“Over the past two years we have worked closely with the customer and taken the project forward. The design, manufacture and installation of the structures have all progressed to schedule,” said Petri Nieminen, SVP, Ruukki Building Systems.

The centre’s planned opening date is scheduled for early 2020.

Images copyright: Halvorsen & Reine