An architecture contest was held in order to design the fishermen's school, and was announced in the periodical Byggekunst. Three of the submitted proposals were awarded, without designating an individual winner. The commission went to one of those rewarded, architect Erling Viksjø. His design sketch was comprised of a one-storied square main building with an inner courtyard and a three-storied annexed wing, facing northeast towards the harbour - the school's residence hall. The entire complex was proposed to have a natural stoned pedestal, a "façade broken up by squares" and flat roof. All of the other awarded proposal designs had a more traditional character - a divided building mass with a saddle roof - typical for large reconstructed complexes, such as the Bodø Cathedral or the old fire station in Hammerfest.