MT Højgaard is a company with a tradition for innovation. Over the years we have left our mark on a multitude of building projects in Denmark and abroad.
It all began shortly after the First World War. Europe was still in a state of turmoil, while in Denmark, reunification in 1920 gave rise to a mood of national optimism. The firms Monberg & Thorsen and Højgaard & Schultz were founded shortly before the reunification. The technical basis for both companies was the new era's building technology: reinforced concrete.
Milestones
Tracing the important events in our history, all the way back to 19182007
Yet another year with a very high level of activity, where we achieved the best result in the group's history. We also reached our objective in the working environment area and had our working environment certificate renewed.
MT Højgaard initiated yet another Public-Private Partnership project: the construction of a new registration court in the town of Hobro. We also built Copehagen Zoo's new savannah, Funen Arena, a motorway bridge across the Brande Stream, a completely new urban district in Valby, a commercial construction for Biogen Idec in Hillerød and a fish processing facility in Frederikshavn, to mention a few.
MT Højgaard achieved national coverage with its utility activities.
2006
3 new local offices are opened in Denmark. MT Højgaard now has 15 local offices spread across the country – in addition to the headquarters in Copenhagen. Denmark's largest contractor is now even better placed to offer solutions nationally and locally.
The Vildbjerg School Public-Private Partnership project was completed at the end of 2006.
2005
The residential building concept of the future is developed and the first project is started in Aalborg, northern Denmark, using the Basisbo model. 69 rental apartments are built, offering high quality at very competitive prices.
Graphics: The three concept models: Basisbo, Nærbo and Idealbo
MT Højgaard constructs the Landscape Channel in Ørestad. The channel, varying in width from 6 metres to 25 metres, forms a natural perimeter around the entire urban zone. Several bridges are incorporated to provide crossing points for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
Photo caption: Aerial view of the Landscape Channel
MT Højgaard begins Denmark's first Public-Private Sector Partnership, the construction of the 700-pupil Vildbjerg School in Jutland. After completion, the partnership comprising MT Højgaard, Dan-Ejendomme and Bank DnB NORD will run the school until 2036.
2005-2008
MT Højgaard is at work on a 4 km long district heating tunnel, the largest construction in Copenhagen since the Metro, linking a CPH plant with the supply grid in central Copenhagen.
Photo caption: District heating tunnel
1995-2005
MT Højgaard builds a new urban residential area on an old factory site in Holbæk, Denmark. 645 new dwellings of mixed types provide a new community setting to add further vitality to Holbæk's modern urban environment.
2004
MT Højgaard completes Field’s – Scandinavia's largest shopping centre – in Ørestad, establishing its credentials as the leading contractor in this area. This follows the construction of four other shopping centres across the country, as well as a large number of convenience stores.
MT Højgaard's core competence in coastal protection gets further international recognition, this time from Sri Lanka, where we carry out a very large coastal protection task. Our international portfolio previously included China, Lebanon and the Maldives.
2004 sees the launch of our slogan "We know how", reflecting our wealth of experience from a vast number of construction tasks, big and small, at home and abroad.
2003
MT Højgaard takes charge of the construction of the news studios for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation's new centre. We also begin the complex concrete and steel construction of an ambitious 1,800 seat concert hall designed by the internationally renowned architect, Jean Nouvel.
Graphic: The Danish Broadcasting Corporation's concert hall
2002
MT Højgaard designs a large part of Ørestad, Copenhagen's new urban enterprise zone. We start building Field’s (Scandinavia's largest shopping centre), a 21-storey headquarters for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the City Point office building and a number of residential buildings.
In Copenhagen's southern harbour area, MT Højgaard shows its wide range of competences by simultaneously constructing residential and corporate buildings, refurbishing warehouses, laying a new railway line, building a ferry terminal and roads, and carrying out a large sewer re-routing task.
In 2002 we also lead the construction of Hotel Mariott International in Copenhagen, which we deliver on a turnkey basis – even supplying the bathrobes.
In close collaboration with energy group SEAS, we install 2,000 km of overhead electric cables in Denmark, completing a 3 year project involving nearly 20,000 electricity customers.
Photo caption: Work in full swing
2001
On 2 May, Monberg & Thorsen and Højgaard & Schultz merge to form MT Højgaard a/s – thus becoming Denmark's largest contractor.
Photo caption: Monberg/Thorsen & Højgaard/Schultz become MT Højgaard
MT Højgaard gains a new headquarters in Søborg, Copenhagen – which we build ourselves.
Photo caption: MT Højgaard's new headquarters in Copenhagen
We also unveil a new logo. With our new identity, we have created a platform for developing far into the future.
Graphic: Our new logo
MT Højgaard's Overflow Regulation Module (ORM) plant wins the 2001 EU environmental award. Our ORM plant is more eco-friendly than traditional basin sewers because during unavoidable overflows caused by intense rain, only the purer water flows out into the surroundings, while the dirty water continues to the purification plant.
2000
MT Højgaard's key competence in off-shore wind turbine foundations begins with installing the foundations for 20 offshore wind turbines close to the entrance to the Port of Copenhagen.
Photo caption: Middelgrundens havmøllepark
1995-2000
Monberg & Thorsen and Højgaard & Schultz jointly construct the Øresund Bridge. The bridge, completed earlier than scheduled, was inaugurated on 1 July 2000.
1989-93
Construction of the Great Belt Bridge. Monberg & Thorsen built the tunnel, and Højgaard & Schultz the West Bridge.
Photo caption: The West Bridge
1980-84
Construction of the Faroe Bridges, comprising low-level and high-level bridges with a combined length of 3,322 m. Højgaard & Schultz built the substructure, including the characteristic pylons. Monberg & Thorsen built the superstructure. The southern bridge is a suspension bridge with a navigation span of 290m.
1952
Danish Arctic Contractors, known today as Greenland Contractors, is established as a partnership. The work focused particularly on the Thule Air Base, Greenland.
Photo caption: Radar station at Thule Air Base
Højgaard & Schultz is contractor for the high-rise buildings in Bellahøj, one of the first element constructions in Denmark, which were pre-cast on site. A total of 1,300 apartments were constructed.
1928-35
Construction of the Little Belt Bridge. The history of Monberg & Thorsen is similar to that of Højgaard & Schultz - first, a number of small projects. Then the Little Belt Bridge, which took seven years to build (1928-1935), and thereafter a number of other well-known and challenging projects.
Photo caption: The Little Belt Bridge
1925-35
After a number of small contracts in Denmark, Højgaard & Schultz was awarded one of Europe's biggest civil engineering contracts: the construction of the port of Gdynia. The project took almost ten years - from 1925 to 1935 - and led to many new contracts, both internationally and in Denmark.
Photo caption: The Port of Gdynia, Polen
1919
Monberg & Thorsen is founded by Axel Monberg and Ejnar Thorsen.
1918
Højgaard & Schultz is founded by Sven Schultz and Knud Højgaard.
Photo caption: Thorsen, Schultz, Monberg and Højgaard
