LAB Entreprenør to Overhaul Bergen’s Historic Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus in NOK 342 M Project

LAB Entreprenør to Overhaul Bergen’s Historic Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus in NOK 342 M Project

(IN BRIEF) LAB Entreprenør, a subsidiary of AF Gruppen, has been awarded a NOK 342 million turnkey contract (ex. VAT) to renovate Bergen’s neo-classical Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus. The scope includes interior demolition and refurbishment of 6,500 m², a new top floor with roof terrace, a courtyard staff restaurant with a glass roof, and façade restoration. The 1931 landmark overlooks Festplassen and Lille Lungegårdsvannet. Work begins in the third quarter of 2025 and concludes in the first quarter of 2027.

(PRESS RELEASE) OSLO, 15-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — LAB Entreprenør, part of the AF Gruppen family, has secured a turnkey contract worth NOK 342 million (excluding VAT) with Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus AS to refurbish the historic Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus in central Bergen. This substantial project encompasses the interior demolition and overhaul of roughly 6,500 m², the addition of a brand-new top floor complete with a roof terrace, and the installation of a glazed-roof staff restaurant within the courtyard. The existing façades will also be meticulously restored to their original grandeur.

Originally completed in 1931, the neo-classical landmark occupies a prime position overlooking Festplassen and Lille Lungegårdsvannet. For nearly a century, it has stood as a hub of commerce and a testament to Bergen’s maritime heritage. This renovation will not only modernize the building’s functionality but also safeguard its architectural legacy for future generations.

Gard Kvalheim, CEO of LAB Entreprenør, remarked, “We appreciate the trust Handelens og Sjøfartens Hus AS has placed in us and look forward to building on our collaborative planning efforts as we bring this landmark project to life.”

Construction is slated to commence in Q3 2025, with the project slated for completion in Q1 2027.

Media Contact:

Tormod Solberg
EVP Construction
email: Tormod.Solberg@afgruppen.no
Tel: +47 950 59 495

SOURCE: AF Gruppen