Ramboll uses One Click LCA to cut carbon by 60% and extend Bergen City Hall's lifespan by 50 years in a BREEAM-certified project

The main reason we implemented One Click LCA across Ramboll is that it covers more of our geographical business areas than other tools. The software allows us to standardize carbon assessments within the company globally and has enabled the creation of a carbon benchmarking database that allows input from multiple software providers. Using one tool across different regions simplifies our workflows. 

– Lucas van Laack, Sustainability Director at Ramboll Norway

Ramboll: Decarbonizing for net zero

Ramboll is an independent architecture, engineering, and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. Today, the company operates in over 35 countries worldwide, with a team of over 18,000 experts. Ramboll develops sustainable solutions across various sectors, including energy, real estate, transport, water, waste, industry, finance, technology, healthcare, and the public sector. As a member of the UN Global Compact, Ramboll is committed to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, and its climate targets are approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The role of LCAs in decarbonizing the built environment 

For early-stage construction and building projects, Ramboll works closely with clients to define the scope and sustainability goals of a project – whether it's achieving certifications like BREEAM or targeted carbon reductions.

Once the scope is set, Ramboll performs an inventory analysis, often using a 3D model to simulate the building, which is then translated into a list of materials. This data is imported into One Click LCA, and an initial life-cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to establish a baseline and explore the environmental impact of different design options. A follow-up LCA is conducted at the project's completion to document its carbon footprint and ensure that sustainability goals are met.

Case study: Rehabilitation of Bergen City Hall, Norway

Designed by architect Erling Viksjø in the 1950s and completed in 1974, Bergen City Hall covers 11,000 square meters spread across 15 floors and features facades made of the architect's patented natural concrete. When corrosion was discovered in parts of the building's structural reinforcement, employees were evacuated and relocated to other municipal sites. Alongside the client, Bergen Municipality, Ramboll was assessed whether to rehabilitate the historical building or construct a new City Hall. 

One Click LCA's Carbon Designer 3D helped us create reference buildings for both options, allowing us to compare materials, carbon emissions, and costs. The software's database also enabled us to evaluate different energy systems. The results showed that rehabilitating the City Hall would generate less carbon emissions than replacing the building with a new one.

– Vegard Selvåg Ulvan, Head of LCA at Ramboll Norway

Following this analysis, Ramboll was selected as the primary consultant for the building contractor, Constructa Entreprenør AS, to oversee most disciplines of the project. The main sustainability objectives were to preserve the building's heritage, secure a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 40% compared to constructing a new building. 

Using One Click LCA to gain BREEAM certification and streamline workflows

During the construction phase, One Click LCA was instrumental in creating a reference building in accordance with the BREEAM scheme. LCAs were conducted twice to ensure compliance with BREEAM criteria – once midway through the project and again upon completion. One Click LCA's reporting features simplified the BREEAM application by ensuring all required data was included.

A key challenge in every project is to get quality data that can be easily added to the LCA software. One Click LCA made it easy to import data from Excel, saving my team and the contractor a lot of time. My favorite feature is the combine function, which allows us to reconstruct data and make it more accessible. Generally, there were more options for data input which results in more precise calculations.

– Vegard Selvåg Ulvan, Head of LCA at Ramboll Norway

Achieving 60% carbon reduction and extending the building's lifespan by 50 years 

Completed in 2022, the rehabilitation of Bergen City Hall achieved a 60% reduction in carbon emissions compared to a new construction, along with a BREEAM 'Very Good' certification. 

The building’s façade was restored, the structural integrity was secured, and new technical facilities and furnishings were installed. Concrete rehabilitation was carried out for all façade columns. The building's lifespan is now prolonged for another 50 years. In 2024, Bergen City Hall was awarded the best rehabilitation project 2024 by BREEAM Norway. 

Conclusion

Using One Click LCA, Ramboll demonstrated that rehabilitating Bergen City Hall would result in significantly lower carbon emissions compared to building a new structure. The software allowed the team to conduct LCAs at various project stages, ensuring that carbon reduction goals were met and BREEAM certification was achieved.