Schmidt Hammer Lassen

Schmidt Hammer Lassen is a Danish architecture firm with offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Shanghai. Schmidt Hammer Lassen's design approach is rooted in the studio's DNA as a multicultural collective that works globally but has an inherent Scandinavian legacy. The tradition of human-centric architecture with social and environmental sustainability is ingrained in the work. It shapes architecture that values democracy, welfare, openness, equality, and influence beyond Scandinavian borders.

The studio provides skilled architectural services globally, with a distinguished track record as a designer of international, high-profile architecture. Educational, cultural, commercial, and office buildings are cornerstones of the firm's output. Our projects are often set within complex urban contexts and we pride ourselves on creating structures that symbiotically interact with their surroundings. The firm's innovative, sustainable, and democratic approach to architecture has attracted global attention, winning more than 100 national and international awards.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen is known for designing global projects that interact with their urban environments by emphasising the surroundings and social context. These include projects such as Malmö Live concert hall and conference centre (2015), Christchurch Central Library in New Zealand (2018), HU University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, The Netherlands (2018), Monroe Blocks master plan in Detroit (2022), and Commonwealth Pier mixed-use development in Boston (2024).

With over 30 years of experience, Schmidt Hammer Lassen is one of Scandinavia's most recognised and award-winning architectural practices. The firm was founded in Aarhus, Denmark in 1986 and is led today by partners Kristian Lars Ahlmark, Chris Hardie, Mads Kaltoft, Kasper Frandsen, Elif Tinaztepe, and Sanne Wall-Gremstrup. In 2018, the studio became part of global architecture firm Perkins&Will.