Highlights for 2026

This year’s highlights include the inauguration of the Shanghai Grand Opera House, a new cultural landmark seeking to house both traditional and Chinese opera performances, classical concerts and more experimental performances.

Another significant landmark is the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, located in the Badlands of North Dakota. This highly ambitious library project, with interactive exhibition areas and a large theater, are joined underneath a landscaped roof, creating a central courtyard where visitors can take in the breathtaking landscape. 

Other cultural milestones for 2026 include the extension of the Théâtre des Amandiers in France with a third 200-seat theatre, as well as the completion of the Glasshouse Theatre in Brisbane/Meanjin in Australia, a space that blends traditional performance art with emerging theatre trends.

In Taichung, you can soon visit our interior architecture project for Good Finance, a people-centered, inclusive forum for learning, sharing, and socializing. Similarly, our transformation project in the Heyligenstaedt area in Gießen, Germany, highlights inclusivity and a focus on open urban spaces.

The new Sentry Bridge in Watkins Glen State Park brings together the material stories of the bridges gone before – assembling them into a construction rooted in both past and future. Further bridging past and present, Oxy in Brussels, a 62,000-square-meter landmark that has long been underutilized, is being reimagined into a contemporary mixed-use hub for the citizens of Brussels to enjoy.

The National Court of Asylum and Administrative Tribunal of Montreuil, in France, brings together two state institutions to site with a key focus on sustainability. Another project with high sustainability ambitions is Laerdal Medical, a new headquarters located in Stavanger, Norway.

Snøhetta's Product Design team can disclose that they have many interesting projects in the works, yet to be revealed.

These projects underscore Snøhetta's commitment to innovation and holistic design, creating spaces and objects to enrich lives and communities. With a diverse range of global initiatives set to unfold in 2026, we look forward to sharing these milestones and more in the months ahead.

Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers

The renovation of the Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers aims to strengthen the landscape integration, and open the building up to the city and the surrounding park. The intervention expands the site boundaries to connect the theatre with nearby public spaces and the future tramway station, reinforcing its role within the metropolitan fabric.

From the outset, the building was conceived as a tool for creativity and for the public, and the project seeks to preserve this spirit of openness and artistic research while adapting it to contemporary practices. The architecture, sober and functional, emphasizes spatial flexibility and mixed uses, with studios, restaurant, a bookstore and open hall. The use of raw materials (concrete, glass, wood) and the theme of transparency reflect the experimental nature of Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, and its commitment to making artistic processes visible.

The architectural ambition is based on targeted yet coherent interventions. The main glazed façade has been enlarged to reveal the theatre’s interior life, creating a “lantern effect” at night. The grand hall, redesigned as a versatile, open space, becomes the buildings pulse, and connects the building to the forecourt and the park.

The overall project follows an environmentally responsible approach, focusing on energy efficiency, natural lighting, and the full renovation of technical systems.

Opening: January, 2026

Good Finance, Taichung Branch

Snøhetta's design for Good Finance's Taichung branch reflects the company's mission to reshape the culture of finance into one that is open and nurturing. Reimagining the conventional financial consultant's office, Snøhetta has created a people-centered, inclusive environment. Spanning 800 square meters, the space encourages the free exchange of ideas while preserving professionalism and rigor.

Visitors enter through a long corridor that leads to the heart of the design—a central forum for learning, sharing, and socializing. This flexible workspace is organized radially around the forum, evoking the vibrancy of an urban square or city park. Bathed in natural light and complemented by integrated landscaping, the forum offers an inviting setting for individuals and groups to connect and collaborate.

In close alignment with Good Finance’s forward-thinking vision to nurture and realize clients' aspirations, Snøhetta has redefined the finance office typology for the 21st century.

Opening: Early 2026

Sentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen is a place for the senses. Its storied paths welcome adventurers of all ages to move through woodland stillness and into the roar of rushing water. 

Watkins Glen has hosted a collection of bridges spanning nearly two centuries of craft. The design of the new Sentry Bridge, created as a collaboration with schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) and New York State Parks, will be the most recent structure in a long tradition of pedestrian bridges, paths, and lookouts along the popular, waterfall-filled Gorge Trail. Learning from its predecessors, the New Sentry Bridge brings together the material stories of the bridges gone before – steel, concrete, wood, and stone – and assembles them into a construction rooted in both past and future.

The new 46 ft. long Sentry Bridge will span across the gorge in an arching steel-structured cantilever. The design is a lightweight evolution of the former arched bridge with the stronger rock of the gorge’s north side supporting its structure. Alluding to the curved form of the previous bridge, the half-arch design disappears behind the rocks, leading visitors into the park’s gorge.

To avoid disturbing the unique ecology and geology of Watkins Glen, the bridge structure will be fabricated entirely off site as a single span, and will then be lowered into place by crane. 

Opening: April, 2026

Gießen-Heyligenstaedt

The 23,000 square meters mixed-use development is located on a former industrial site in the Heyligenstaedt area of Gießen. Snøhetta’s proposal focuses on the diverse uses, the history and the characteristics of the public spaces in the new urban quarter. The design concepts for four different courtyard situations concentrate on specific atmospheres that inspire and define the architecture, the designs and the materials of the buildings, taking into account the adjacent uses. The three- and four-story blocks are predominantly built in timber.

The range of open spaces include a tranquil green oasis as well as a lively urban space with meeting points, event space, café terraces and restaurant gardens or an attractive atrium space for sports activities. The mixed-use development is currently under construction and will be completed in spring 2026.

Opening: Spring, 2026

The Glasshouse Theatre

In 2019, Snøhetta was announced the winner of the new Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) design competition together with local Meanjin based partner Blight Rayner. 

Now dubbed the Glasshouse Theatre, the performing arts center is a government funded project that will serve the QPAC for ballet, drama and opera, as well as amplified performances including Broadway musicals. 

The Glasshouse Theatre will also have flexibility to cater for new and emerging theater styles and trends. The project will provide a 1500 seat commercial theatre venue in the heart of Meanjin and is scheduled to open in 2026.

Opening: Spring, 2026

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is more than a building; it is a journey through a preserved landscape, punctuated with small pavilions providing spaces for reflection and activity. The building's location at the northeast edge of the butte preserves the landscape for conservation research while offering a setting for educational walks, leisure, and recreation. Through its ongoing maintenance and cultivation, the site landscape will act as a laboratory and biological repository for the flora of the Badlands.

Our design for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is informed by the President's personal reflections on the landscape, his commitment to environmental stewardship, and the periods of quiet introspection and civic engagement that marked his life. As visitors set out on the Library loop, they will encounter adventurous paths which connect to the nearby Maah Daah Hey Trail as well as several small pavilions. Ranging from contemplative nooks to expansive vistas, these pavilions invite visitors to experience Roosevelt's trials and triumphs in dialogue with the landscapes that shaped him. Visitors can ascend the accessible rooftop to discover commanding views of the National Park, including historical settings in the Little Missouri River valley, and the location of Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch far in the distance. The vista is a call to action, connecting today’s visitor to Roosevelt’s legacy.

At night, the roof provides an ideal location for stargazing. The design functions in harmony with the unique ecology of the region and expresses the conservation ethos for which Roosevelt is remembered. Inside the library, interactive exhibition areas will be complemented by a large theater. These two architectural elements are joined underneath the landscaped roof, which creates a central courtyard as well as verandahs where visitors can sit and contemplate the landscape. The library's construction will use locally sourced and renewable materials, including mass timber, while its sophisticated energy systems will set a new standard for sustainable design in the region. The design also mitigates the impact of wind and other climatic factors so that the Library will be accessible in all seasons. Drawing a continuum between past and present, our design captures the legacy of T.R., while also making a commitment to the longevity and health of the region.

Opening: July, 2026

National Court of Asylum and Administrative Tribunal of Montreuil

Together with Eiffage Construction and engineering offices OTEIS and AMOES, Snøhetta has been commissioned to design the new shared site for the National Court of Asylum (Cour nationale du droit d’asile – CNDA) and the Administrative Court of Montreuil, in the eastern suburbs of Paris.

Currently spread across several buildings, the two institutions will be brought together on a single site to share spaces, services, and green areas, offering a more welcoming, safe, and serene environment for visitors and 940 employees.

Snøhetta's scope covers architecture, landscape, interiors, furniture, and wayfinding, creating a unified project that embodies justice, transparency, and hospitality. The architecture is restrained yet open, promoting accessibility and calm through daylight, clear circulation, and a strong relationship with nature.

A 700 m² public garden at the heart of the site will provide a space of tranquility and biodiversity. The project also includes the rehabilitation of a 1963 modernist building, preserving its concrete framework and architectural qualities, alongside a new administrative court built with durable, low-carbon materials.

Sustainability is a key focus, with strategies to reduce carbon emissions, integrate bio-based materials, and produce renewable energy through photovoltaic panels.

Opening: July, 2026

Laerdal Medical

Laerdal Medical's new headquarters represents a bold and sustainable transformation of its existing facility in the heart of Stavanger. The company, a globally recognized leader in medical simulation and healthcare training products, employs more than 2,000 people across 26 countries—yet Stavanger remains its central hub.

Originally commissioned in 2020 as a new facility outside the city, the project shifted course to instead upgrade, expand, and reimagine Laerdal's current 28,000 m² facility. The design combines innovation with sustainability: the façade is constructed from prefabricated glulam and recycled aluminum modules, enabling rapid enclosure of the building while minimizing work at height. Vertical elements draw inspiration from the heartbeat curve, creating a dynamic play of light throughout the day.

The architecture bridges past and future, as most concrete structures are reused and integrated seamlessly with new mass timber components. At the heart of the building, a central atrium features a sculptural oak staircase that connects all floors. The new top floor offers ​ shared amenity space, a winter garden, seminar auditorium, and a roof terrace with sweeping views of Stavanger.

Opening: August, 2026

Shanghai Grand Opera House

Located in the World EXPO area along the Huangpu River, the Shanghai Grand Opera House is a significant cultural landmark within the EXPO Cultural Park, contributing to the urban renewal of the Pudong New Area in Shanghai. ⁠Connecting to the waterfront, the Opera House extends the landscape of the EXPO Cultural Park. The helical roof surface evokes an unfolding fan. Generating both surface and space, the radial movements of the roof form a spiraling staircase that connects ground and sky. ⁠

The ecological and low-carbon profile emphasizes the Opera House's mission of being a public and open venue that embraces the community and urban landscape.⁠ The Opera roof will become an accessible stage and meeting place. In celebrating both the collective and the individual, the plaza will allow visitor access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, engendering a sense of public ownership. 

Snøhetta has developed the architectural, landscape, and interior design for the Shanghai Grand Opera house, and the project is undertaken in partnership with East China Architectural Design&Research Institute (ECADI), Theatre Projects and Nagata Acoustics.

Opening: Late 2026/ Early 2027.

Climbing Center Völs

On the industrial site of former steelworks, Snøhetta has designed a climbing hall which will be run by the Österreichischer Alpenverein, the largest Austrian alpine association. The 3.070 square metre facility will offer rope climbing and boulder opportunities. Bouldering will be available in a generous gallery space and in the outdoor area on the courtyard like roof terrace. A 17-metre-high climbing tower will offer all kinds of rope climbing options, both indoors and outdoors. Overall, the Tyrolean climbing scene is gaining new large training opportunities, including a spacious entrance area and a café.

The overall structure consists of an elongated bouldering hall and the tower. The façade of the elongated volume is minimalist, simplified and clear. Strategically placed openings in the perforated trapezoidal sheet metal reveal the colourful interior to the outside. The rope climbing tower is the exact opposite: it is characterised by its climbing suitability and presents itself as a colourful structure. The opening of the new climbing hall is planned for autumn 2026.

Opening: Autumn, 2026

Oxy

Known for its iconic, cross-shaped form, the 1970's building Centre Monnaie/Muntcentrum in Brussels, Belgium, has been a physically present yet functionally underutilized presence at the heart of the city center, as an office building and commercial hub. By transforming the 62,000 m² structure into a unique, mixed-use complex, the building will offer the citizens of Brussels a renewed and contemporary space to enjoy.

As an energy-efficient retrofit, the design developed together with local partner Binst Architects aspires to sustain the future of the building in the widest sense: spatially, architecturally, economically and socially. By moving away from a mono-purpose function towards a more sustainable, mixed-use space with residential, commercial and leisure functions, the 63-meter-tall building will be better equipped to serve the city’s changing needs. The building is now named Oxy.

Opening: Autumn, 2026

You can find more Snøhetta projects here.

The Glasshouse Theatre. Image by: MIR/SnøhettaGood Finance, Taichung Branch. Image by: Snøhetta

Sentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State Park. Image by: PlompSentry Bridge at Watkins Glen State Park. Image by: Plomp

The Shanghai Grand Opera House. Image by: Yumeng ZhuThe Shanghai Grand Opera House. Image by: StudioSZ

The Shanghai Grand Opera House. Image by: Yumeng Zhu

The Shanghai Grand Opera House. Image by: StudioSZThe Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Image by: Plomp

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Image by: PlompThe Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Image by: Plomp

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Image by: Plomp

National Court of Asylum and Administrative Tribunal of Montreuil. Image by: Aesthetica StudioClimbing Center Völs. Image by Snøhetta

Laerdal Medical. Image by: Snøhetta

Laerdal Medical. Image by: SnøhettaLaerdal Medical. Image by: Snøhetta

Gießen-Heyligenstaedt. Image by: Moka-studio

Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers. Image by SnøhettaThéâtre Nanterre-Amandiers. Image by: Snøhetta

Morten Moum

Group PR and External Communication Lead, Snøhetta AS

• mortenm@snohetta.com
• +47 92 43 51 59

• www.snohetta.com