We have advised the partners at AART, one of the Nordic’s largest partner-owned architectural firms, on its sale to Verka Collective, a collective of independent architectural firms with offices in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany.
AART employs around 250 staff across seven offices and uses architecture as a lever to develop both organisations and society. AART currently has projects totalling more than two million square metres, ranging widely in scale and spanning various sectors. Among these projects are the new treasury at Rosenborg Castle, the Viking Age Museum in Oslo, the redevelopment of the University Quarter in Aarhus, and Grundfos’ global headquarters in Bjerringbro. Professionally, AART excels in architecture, transformation, conservation and urban development, and works systematically to document the added value that good architecture creates for people, organisations and society.
Verka Collective’s ambition is to build a prominent European community of architectural practices, whilst ensuring that the individual brands retain their independent strength and identity. With AART on board, the collective’s workforce doubles to over 500 employees, and the aim is to bring together more than 1,000 employees across Europe by the end of 2028.
AART will retain its name, identity, and professional standing, whilst gaining access to a broader European platform capable of investing in architectural quality, specialist expertise, and innovation. This will enable the firm to accelerate its strategy in the areas of green transition, the circular economy, and the use of AI and new technologies. At the same time, AART will have the opportunity to bring its expertise to bear in new markets.
The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
