Ås gard 

Senter for husdyrforsøk, SHF, (The Center for Livestock research) is the national facility for conducting research and education in animal science, veterinary medicine, and feed technology. Their overarching goal is to ensure optimal animal health and welfare, and to offer optimal educational and research opportunities. They aim to create and develop healthy and safe food adapted to future climate challenges, and to maintain agricultural, forest, and cultural landscapes in close relation to sustainable food production.

Ås gard, Ås farm, consists of several buildings. Statsbygg erected nine buildings and a manure tank in 2014.

• Administration building  - 1000m² 

• Småfefjøset, the small livestock barn  - 1600m2 

• Grisehuset, the pig barn - 1750m² 

• Kalvefjøset, the calf barn - 630m² 

• Stoffskiftefjøset, the metabolism barn - 2000m² 

• Oppdrettsfjøset, the breeding barn - 1500m² 

• Melkekufjøset, the dairy cow barn - 2500m² 

• Fôrsentralen, the feed center - 550 m² 

• Traktorgarasjen, the tractor garage - 400m² 

• Gjødseltank, Manure tank  

2016 

• Plansilo  

• Redskapshuset, the tool shed - 960 m² 

• Fjørfehuset, the poultry house - 1400m²  

After it was decided that the Veterinary Education would be moved to Ås, the discussion began about where on campus the new facility should be located. Kjerringjordet and Søråsjordet were hot alternatives, but it was decided that the facility would be placed between Nordskogen and the Main Building. In this area, the Center for Livestock Research (SHF) had all its facilities, including the Barn, which many in Ås perceived as a landmark. Everything had to be demolished to make room for the Veterinary Building, and establishing a new farm became a natural first step in the Statsbygg project “Campus Ås.” 

Due to infection control regulations, it was important to keep healthy animals at a good distance from sick animals. When choosing the site, distance was discussed, and it was concluded that it was sufficient for the healthy animals to be about 1 kilometer from the Veterinary Building. This led to the establishment of Ås farm at Syverudveien east of Nordskogen. The project was carried out as a collaborative contract with Skanska. The project cost approximately 300 million kroner. Due to budget cuts, facilities for poultry research, silo facilities, and tool sheds were cut and therefore not built by Statsbygg.

32 Buildings Were Demolished

NMBU had 27 buildings operated by SHF before the construction. All were demolished.  

An old story associated with one of the sheds that was demolished was that everyone who got married while employed at the farm of the Norwegian Agricultural College had to spend the night in the shed before the wedding. This project finally put an end to that tradition.

The Metabolism Wing replaced the Metabolism Barn, used by the Faculty of Biosciences, which was located just above the Livestock Science Building. This area was added to Ås farm.

The Fish Laboratory, was re-established in “The New Pig Barn” in a separate contract with Sandli Bygg from Ørje. The project cost approximately 70 million kroner. The Faculty of Biosciences uses this facility, which is located southwest of the Veterinary Building.

Already in 2011, the demolition of areas began. In connection with Statkraft Varme establishing its district heating plant on campus, five of the buildings used in fur animal research were demolished, and one was moved to Syverud. In total, Ås farm was to replace 32 buildings.

List of Demolished Buildings

• 041 Stoffskiftebygningen (used by BIOTEK not SHF)
• 051 Driftsbygningen 
• 061 Gårdsverkstedet 
• 071 Sauefjøset 
• 172 (huset bak sauefjøset) 
• 081 Tallefjøset 
• 082 Fiskelabben (den gamle) 
• 083 Plateverkstedet 
• 101 Geitefjøs 
• 111 Husdyrfagbygningen 
• 112 Busehuset 
• 113 Redskapshus 
• 114 Øvre fjøs
• 115 Ventilasjonshuset
• 116 Redskapshus nye 
• 121 Kyllinghuset 
• 122 Slottet (nødstrømsaggregat)
• 133 Hall 2 Pelsdyrforsøksbygningen 
• 134 Minkhusene (Revet 2011-2013 i forbindelse med etablering av SVAS fjernvarmeanlegg) 
• 135 Revehallen (Revet 2011-2013 i forbindelse med etablering av SVAS fjernvarmeanlegg) 
• 137 Revehall 1 (Revet 2011-2013 i forbindelse med etablering av SVAS fjernvarmeanlegg) 
• 138 Revehall 2 (Revet 2011-2013 i forbindelse med etablering av SVAS fjernvarmeanlegg) 
• 139 Minkhall (Revet 2011-2013 i forbindelse med etablering av SVAS fjernvarmeanlegg) 
• 141 Sus Scofa 
• 161 Grisehus øst 
• 162 Grisehus vest 
• 163 Redskapshall 
• 164 Skur (på sauebeitet) 
• 171 Kaninhuset 
• 172 Søndre hønsehus 
• 174 Hønsehus nordre 
• 182 Redskapshus 

Some of the demolished buildings. Foto: Håkon Sparre.