The project forms part of the long-term development of the Paradis district and is intended to create even better conditions for the Faculty of Social Sciences’ activities in central Lund. With more study places, modern working and learning environments, and enhanced meeting spaces, students, researchers and staff will have new opportunities to meet, study and collaborate in one of the university’s most distinctive buildings.
– The Old Surgeon’s Building is one of Lund’s older university buildings and an important part of the city’s identity. Through this initiative, we are taking responsibility for our cultural and historical heritage whilst creating modern and attractive environments for the students and staff of the Faculty of Social Sciences. It is a project that strengthens the university, the city centre and Lund as a city of knowledge,” says Pontus Isaksson, Head of Property at Akademiska Hus.
Gamla Kirurgen, which covers approximately 4,600 m², was built in the 1860s and has been part of Lund’s history for more than 150 years. Initially it formed part of the university hospital and, since the 1980s, has been used exclusively as teaching premises. A careful refurbishment is now underway, preserving the building’s cultural-historical values and architectural character whilst adapting its technical systems, accessibility and functions to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. Gamla Kirurgen is a listed building and will be modernised without altering its character.
Proximity to the city is important
For the Faculty of Social Sciences, the development of the Paradis area is a key part of the long-term effort to strengthen the educational and research environments in central Lund. The faculty has strong links to society and public discourse, and proximity to the city’s pulse is an important part of the environment for both students and researchers.
– The redevelopment will help to create a vibrant and cohesive campus area where university life and city life converge. Gamla Kirurgen will become an open, welcoming and future-proof space for learning, meetings and the exchange of ideas. The vision is for the building to contribute to an attractive and vibrant Paradis area where students and staff feel at home and want to spend time, says Robert Holmberg, project manager for campus development at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Part of a wider initiative
The refurbishment is also part of the ongoing development of the entire Paradis area, where the refurbishment of Eden and Gamla Köket was the first phase, followed by the refurbishment of the Gamla Lungkliniken, whose modernised premises were inaugurated in autumn 2024. In spring 2026, Allhelgonaskolan was fitted with a new ventilation system and repainted. Akademiska Hus and Lund University are working together to create an attractive, sustainable and cohesive university environment where historic buildings and modern needs complement one another.
– The development of the Paradis quarter from a closed hospital environment into an open, city-integrated university environment demonstrates how the buildings, through their high degree of versatility and usability, possess long-term value. We have learnt that needs are constantly changing. Through a combination of larger projects, such as the current refurbishment of Gamla Kirurgen, and smaller adaptation initiatives, we have identified a strategy to follow. By focusing on spatial connections rather than on individual buildings, the Paradis quarter can continue to develop and provide a rich and inspiring environment for students, staff and the general public alike, says Ulla-Britt Persson, urban planner at LU Byggnad.
Construction work on the refurbishment of Gamla Kirurgen is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, with occupancy expected in 2028.