Vision and knowledge combined: Only Copenhagen can do that

Anyone wishing to make progress in school construction needs more than just good ideas, attractive designs, or the appropriate budget. It is also vital to master the challenges of implementation. To achieve this, it is helpful to connect with the right people, share ideas, and jointly develop visions for future-oriented educational architecture.

On June 2, 2026, inspiring, committed, and experienced figures will come together at the Think Tank in Copenhagen. This event will not only be the launchpad for new projects but is also a rare opportunity to establish the contacts that make visionary goals possible in the first place.

These speakers await you in Copenhagen:

Søren Ejlersen

Søren Ejlersen is the founder of Gardens for Maver—one of the world’s most widespread school garden projects. He is also a co-founder of Fælleshaven A/S. As Vice Chairman of Aarstiderne A/S, he works on innovation and business development. The associated BaneGaarden is an award-winning destination for organic food and culture in Jernbanebyen. Finally, he is also involved in Noon, a catering and canteen company that cooks for nearly 3,000 people daily at Pakhus 47 in Nordhavn.

Presentation Topic

Søren Ejlersen’s presentation will focus on green start-ups that connect people and nature. Who else could bring more expertise to this topic? Drawing from his own experience, he can explain the challenges and variables he encountered along the way and what needs to be considered when implementing such plans.

Rune Boserup

As an architect and project manager at Cobe Architects (Denmark), he is an expert not only in the design of buildings and public spaces but also in large-scale urban planning, both in Denmark and Germany. In Copenhagen, he will explain his approach to project planning and what must be considered to turn visions into reality.

Presentation Topic

His program title is “Urban regeneration with livability.” Using Nordhavn as an example, he will explain exactly how this goal can be achieved. Having been involved in the planning of Nordhavn as a project manager since 2008, he draws on a wealth of experience and is sure to leave no question unanswered.

Kerstin Niendorf

As a speaker, the Head of the School Administration Office for the City of Stuttgart will make an important contribution to the understanding of urban development and planning in Germany. With around 150 municipal schools, Stuttgart is the largest school authority in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Consequently, Ms. Niendorf has extensive insight and practical experience regarding the challenges of planning and managing educational institutions.

Presentation Topic

At the Think Tank, she will speak about her future visions for the German school landscape. The focus will be on the significant role of open learning spaces and the broader use of educational facilities. Combined with a well-thought-out digitalization strategy, a new level of educational quality can be achieved.

Read more

Kerstin Niendorf gave us an interview for SCHULBAU Magazine. You can read it in issue 3 | 2026. A summary is available beforehand here.

Mauritius Duarte

Mauritius Duarte is the founder of Kvartier Design and Kvartier Live. His mission is to create vibrant and livable urban neighborhoods for people and the environment itself. Furthermore, he aims to revolutionize the development of housing through co-financing. As a project leader for urban development, he stands out as a true visionary. Through his company, he shapes future-proof and sustainable neighborhoods and high-quality public spaces, which naturally include educational institutions.

Presentation Topic

The title of his presentation is “Urban Design for Quality of Life and Value Creation.” Mauritius Duarte is truly passionate about this topic and is sure to captivate the audience! As educational construction carries an ever-increasing responsibility in neighborhood development, this inspiring speaker will certainly ignite the imagination of the plenary session. His experiences and visions can be applied to many planned and future projects and will be an enrichment for every single one. The opportunity to ask him questions and discuss potential solutions is not to be missed.

Lene Bitsch Bierbaum

The special education teacher is not only a member of the Haderslev municipal council—where she serves as vice-chair of the Social Affairs Committee, a member of the Children and Family Committee, and a board member of Vojens Hallerne—but she is also vice-chair of the Disability Council, chair of the school board at Moltrup School, and a mother of four. With her project “Skakkens Hus,” she also promotes the mental fitness of children and young people through an exciting school chess project, in addition to the sport of chess itself.

Presentation Topic

Lene Bierbaum’s presentation also centers on “Skakkens Hus.” She presents the background of the project, its content, and particularly the goals it pursues. Described as a “gym for the brain,” the project represents mental education and further training for those involved. Added to this is the social training aspect resulting from the interaction during chess, and of course, the technical training itself. You can find out exactly how all of this works in Copenhagen!

James Dodson

As the founder of SPINN Arkitekter, James Dodson is an expert in the design of educational spaces. He has already played a formative role in shaping educational architecture in Norway. He has successfully created multifunctional centers that skillfully reflect the needs of the local community. In doing so, he follows a clear philosophy that views schools and their learning environments as vital community spaces. Innovative ideas that align with changing government client requirements and produce future-proof educational facilities are a key driving force.

Presentation Topic

In his presentation on Cultural Synergies, he can draw from a wealth of experience. He will answer all questions on this important topic in a practical manner using real-world examples. In an increasingly multicultural world, this subject is becoming more significant. Anyone who has not yet considered these synergy effects will see them vividly after his presentation. In this way, visions are developed that can be integrated into and enrich one’s own projects.

Christine Skovgaard Madsen

The Head of Department at the Danish Association of Construction Clients is involved in various development projects in the fields of welfare, construction, and client competencies. Furthermore, she is a member of the advisory board for the Client Academy association and the portfolio committee. Christine Skovgaard Madsen has worked for many years on the development and implementation of professional events in the construction industry. Her work focuses on learning success and the strategic importance of the client as a sparring partner.

Presentation Topic

Christine Skovgaard Madsen, together with Ulla Kjærvangs, conducted a study at 18 different schools in Denmark. There, they spoke with teachers, management, and students. The joint book SKOLENS RUM – hvordan vi skaber motiverende læringsmiljøer (SCHOOL SPACE – HOW we create motivating learning environments) presents the results in detail. She will present the most important findings derived from the study results. She will also discuss the experiences she gained during the implementation and evaluation of the data. Be inspired and learn how good educational building planning can strengthen communities, create better participation opportunities for all children, and foster closer relationships.

Marco Tschöp

Marco Tschöp is a team leader in the Project Management department for new buildings and extensions. Furthermore, he is responsible for general contractor projects at the School Administration Office of the State Capital Stuttgart. A trained carpenter and architect, he gained valuable practical experience in various architectural firms, including in the field of school construction, before joining the School Administration Office in 2011. He also serves as a school construction consultant for the Montag Stiftung Jugend und Gesellschaft in Bonn.

Presentation Topic

The presentation “NeckarPark Education Center” focuses on Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. This award-winning and sustainable project, featuring wood-hybrid construction, was realized as a turnkey development. The mix of uses—comprising an all-day primary school, a child and family center, an adult education center, and a double sports hall—is a prime example of modern educational infrastructure planning. His experience with the project is an eye-opener for anyone involved in such developments. Take the opportunity to speak with Marco Tschöp personally in Copenhagen about this exciting project and learn more about the details of its planning and implementation.

My Lunsjö

She works as an architect at 3XN, where she combines her architectural expertise in building architecture and urban planning with studies in environmental psychology. This allows her to integrate scientific findings on human environmental perception into her work. The understanding gained from the interactions between individuals and their environment noticeably enriches her projects. Her goal is to create an interdisciplinary symbiosis between research and practical application to optimize educational environments. For this, she also uses the GXN method for an evidence-based design approach.

Presentation Topic

My Lunsjö’s lecture explores how a bridge can be built between psychology and architecture. For her, environmental psychology is not merely a theory, but a kind of passion that also influences her day-to-day work as an architect. She will take the audience into the world of how different individuals perceive their surroundings and, based on the current state of research, explain why this is crucial for future-oriented planning of educational facilities. Even a technically and aesthetically driven field such as architecture benefits significantly from psychological understanding. Of course, the question of feasibility will not be neglected either. A perspective beyond one’s own horizon that you should not miss!