Hjertnes Civic and Theater Center is a series of municipal buildings in Sandefjord, Norway, which houses the City Hall, city library and a movie theater. It is situated next-door to Scandic Park Hotel at Sandefjordsveien in the city center. It has three auditoriums and an outdoor amphitheater. Hjertnes also presents concerts, live theater, operas and other cultural events.[1] [2]
The city hall was dedicated by shipping magnate Anders Jahre (1891–1982) on June 21, 1975.[3] A bronze statue of Anders Jahre by sculptor Joseph Grimeland (1916–2002) sits by the City Hall's main entrance.[4] [5] [6] [7] The sculpture was unveiled on June 21, 1975.[8] A large stainless steel sculpture, the sea queen (Havdronningen), was made by Arnold Haukeland and is located outside the building.[9] The sculpture was unveiled on April 7, 1976, and it is nearly ten meters tall. It was a gift to the city from Lars Christensen Jr., AS Thor Dahl, and Framnæs Mekaniske Værksted.[10]
Hjertnes Civic and Theater Center was designed by architects Trond Eliassen and Birger Lambertz-Nilsen.[11]
When the Hjertnes Civic and Theater Center was completed in 1975, Aftenposten described its Hjertnes Hall as the best concert venue in Norway.[12]
The city hall was completed in 1975 and is built of red-brown brick. Anders Jahre raised a total of NOK 40 million towards the construction. As of 2000, it consists of a public library, administration offices, city hall, movie theater, and halls for concerts and theatrical performances.[13]