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If it werent for the white lines on the grass, you would be forgiven to think this building is a perfectly quiet hotel surrounded by a field of grass in the middle of the Norwegian forest. After all, most soccer training grounds are ugly structures whose sole purpose is to provide infrastructure for people to kick a ball around. But this isn’t just a place to kick a ball. These facilities, designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Snhetta, aim to redefine the very concept of a training ground, transforming it into a vibrant hub for the entire football community. Our approach to sustainability is deeply rooted in a holistic perspective that considers environmental impact and fosters community and inclusion, says Frank Denis Foray, Snhetta senior architect and project leader, about the philosophy behind the proposal for the Norwegian National Football team’s (NFF) stunning new training grounds. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] Snhetta, known for its ability to seamlessly blend architecture with nature, has conceived of two proposals for the NFF, located in the Norwegian cities of Asker and Ski, just outside of Oslo. Both designs pay homage to Norway’s rich Nordic heritage, drawing inspiration from traditional architectural forms like the Long House, a communal dwelling central to Old Norse villages. Over a thousand years ago, the Long House was the heart of the communitya gathering place where people from all walks of life, from kings to farmers, young and old, came together to share stories, experiences, and traditions, Foray tells me over email. This enduring spirit of unity and togetherness is at the core of our design, ensuring that the new facility is not just a sports venue but a meeting place for the whole football community. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] The Asker grounds renderings reveal three large terraced fields set over a gentle slope. At the top, a two-level glass and wooden structure appears to grow organically from the land. On the last levels grass roof, a large circular opening gives light to a giant tree that dominates a courtyard, allowing gentle sunlight and shade to get into the inner space of the building. The terraced fields are joined by large steps that serve as bleachers for spectators and allow people to move up and down with ease. The Ski grounds renders show the soccer fields on a level ground, flanked by a large long building that gently curves, made in renewable wood. Solar panels adorn the roofs, feeding the facility. Snhetta says that beyond the pretty and soul-calming zen, the grounds have been designed to be functional, state-of-the-art spaces for athletes of all levels. Foray explains that the facility will be a public space catering to athletes of all levels and backgrounds, from juniors to the elite, creating a new home for NFF that encourages sharing, inclusivity, and connection. Beyond these training centers, the facilities also incorporate administrative offices, a sports high school, and external offices for the Norwegian Football Association, consolidating the NFF’s operations into a single, cohesive campus. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] The collaboration between Snhetta and the NFF is not new. The firm previously worked with the federation on renovations to the interior of Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, the national stadium. Completed in 2022, this project included upgrades to the player’s dressing rooms, tunnel, and other key areas. As Snhetta describes it, the stadiums revamped facilities were designed as a journey through the emotions of a football player, incorporating elements of Norwegian football history and fostering a sense of team unity. This prior experience laid the groundwork for the current training ground project. Our collaboration with the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) stemmed from previous work we had done for them, Foray says. They approached us with three potential sites for a new facility. Our task was to analyze and refine the options to identify the most suitable location. Through a detailed evaluation process and creative workshops, Snhetta worked with the NFF to narrow the choices down to the two most promising locations: Asker and Ski. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] While the Asker proposal remains in the conceptual stage, the Ski facility is moving forward. The Ski facility is progressing steadily, with the first phase of the new regulatory plan already in motion, Foray tells me. While some details are still being finalized, the NFF anticipates the project will be completed within the next five years. These training grounds promise to be more than just a place where athletes hone their skills. They are envisioned as a symbol of unity, a celebration of Norwegian heritage, and a testament to the power of thoughtful, sustainable design. It doesnt hurt that they may just be the most beautiful football training grounds you’ll ever see.
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E-Commerce
Kai Cenat is launching a streaming university. Cenat announced his plans during a February 13 stream, explaining how he wants to help streamers both big and small learn from his success. Im going to rent out a university over a course of a weekend. It will be streaming university. Okay? Im going to rent it out, Cenat said during his Twitch stream. Im going to put out enrolls and applications of people to enroll into the university, no matter if youre big, no matter if youre a small streamer, you can stream the entire weekend. Cenat will install himself as school principal. Just like a real university, there will be dorms; unlike a real university, there are plans for major influencers to act as instructors. Cenat said during his February 13 stream that wants the likes of MrBeast and Mark Rober involved. In terms of the classes and sh*t, for example, I would love to do some sh*t where, science, Mark Rober is the professor for that day, and hes doing crazy experiments for everybodys stream, he said. Say there is a financial class, MrBeast in that motherf**ker. While anyone is welcome to apply, that doesnt mean admission is guaranteed. But those denied the first time round are welcome to re-enroll for next semester, Cenat said. While some online commenters were excited for the chance to learn from one of the most-followed Twitch streamers, others were dubious. Two-day crash course on how to break the internet and your sleep schedule.. . . . one person posted on X. So just a more expensive clown college? wrote another. Over the last few years, Cenat has become renowned for his record-breaking streams on Twitch and YouTube that reach millions of viewers. Cenat The 23-year-old ranked No. 24 on Forbess list of the top-earning creators in 2024, with estimated earnings of $8.5 million. The live-streaming space has been seeing significant growth in recent years, both in the format itself and the number of people tuning in. In the last quarter of 2024, live-streaming viewership reached 8.5 billion hours watched, a 12% year-over-year increase, as reported by marketing firm Stream Hatchet. Who needs four years of college and tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt?
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E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. When you factor in home, school, work, and other public spaces, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. Given this, its probably no surprise that the built environment is responsible for 42% of the worlds carbon (CO2) emissions. This number is too big and the likelihood of it increasing is high when you consider aging buildings, extreme weather, a rising number of powered devices, and the energy demands of AI and high-performance computers. One way for workplaces to lower it is to go back to school and take a page from todays campus IT leaders and administrators. In addition to monitoring energy consumption, shifting high demand processing needs to off-peak times, and taking advantage of government incentives including energy tax credits and grants, campus leaders have uncovered a new way to get a better handle on energy consumption. One that can potentially lower their buildings carbon emissions and be replicated in the workplace. The problem with estimating energy needs Energy consumption and distribution are often based on assumptions. For example, an ad hoc observation could tell you that sections of the library have fewer people on Saturday night versus Monday night. And that student projects and hackathons bring together clusters of people hovering over a table or in a lab. You can also assume energy consumption is higher in dorms on weekday mornings as students get ready for classes while administration buildings are still dark, therefore requiring less power in the administration buildings. Also, for university administrators, budgeting meetings require a larger conference room while one-on-one conversations are in private offices. For these different activities, energy needs vary. These assumptions may be helpful but are not entirely accurate; otherwise CO2 emissions would be decreasing. The HVAC and IT teams have likely already factored the ebb and flow of foot traffic and occupancy into buildings for heating and cooling systems. However, they cant know the frequency and timing of ad hoc meetings. Meanwhile, the time and cost of powering up an area for a short meeting can be untenable, which explains why a space is often set to a consistent room temperature regardless of usage. Our buildings today dont understand what users need or intend. Im sure you remember evenings when you were studying or working alone in a classroom or office, only to have the lights suddenly shut offforcing you to do a little dance to turn them back on. The situation is similar with HVAC systems. In many buildings, a single rooftop unit cools the entire space, so if one person feels hot in a room and sets the thermostat to “low,” the system might crank up the AC dramatically, wasting a lot of energy. These reactive responses are inefficient for building systems. The future lies in leveraging spatial intelligence to understand how users interact with space and to predict future needs and trends. Use AI to replace assumptions with actual data Little is known about understanding how humans use campus buildings and the office, yet that is changing. Instead of assumption-based decisions, campuses are tuning in to how students and staff use the buildings. For a while, the benefits of occupancy trackers, productivity tools, and cameras were touted, but those are incomplete at best and invasive at worst. This is why higher education institutions are tapping into newer technologies that combine AI and body heat sensing technology with anonymity to better understand how humans use indoor space. In addition to providing insight into foot traffic and occupancy, human movements can tell you the frequency of ad hoc meetings and the need for collaborative versus individual space based on how humans interact on a regular basis. The institutions and organizations using these newer technologies arent interested in who is in the space, nor are they capturing that data; they are focused on how the space is being used. Campus insights are transferable to the workplace Campus energy demands are not unlike workplace energy demands. In many instances, both have a mix of older and newer buildings, fluctuating needs for individual work and group collaboration, and fluid foot traffic and occupancy due to shifts in return to office policies. Additionally, each campus and company have distinct corporate cultures. When we have a complete and accurate picture of how indoor space is used by humans, it leads to a better distribution of heating and cooling systems to meet the needs of the people in them. As a result, we see: Fewer blackouts: Despite older infrastructures being retrofitted, the number of blackouts is steadily increasing. Data from Climate Central reports that the U.S. has experienced a 58% increase in weather-related power outages over the past decade compared to the 2000s. A better understanding of energy consumption and needs can help lower the likelihood of blackouts. Higher value from investments in retrofits: According to Professor Kent Larson, director of the City Science research group at the MIT Media Lab, one can lower a buildings carbon footprint by using deep energy retrofit with newer technologies in HVAC/building materials and building sensory systems, including heat sensing technology to understand the effects of movements in a space. More productive workspaces: Instead of expensive or one-size-fits-all campus and office designs, interiors can reflect the distinct culture of the institution or organization. Spaces that accommodate the people in them result in more productive, collaborative, and meaningful environments. These types of insights flow into cost savings on energy and maintenance, lower carbon footprints, greater return on technology investments, and higher retention. In the workplace, its clear that employees are now in the office more regularly. In a January 2025 report, JLL cites rental rates are trending upwards and leasing has cemented post-pandemic highs in the last three consecutive quarters. Whats more, Q4 volume was at least 92% of pre-pandemic averages. As organizations try to make the office a place employees want to be, it is worth taking a closer look at innovations on campuses that can make a difference in the well-being of employees and the planet. Honghao Deng is the CEO and cofounder of Butlr, an MIT Media Lab spinout.
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E-Commerce
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