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Finnish Nature Centre Haltia to pioneer a new generation of wood construction in Finland

Published 7.9. 2011

The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia will mark the beginning of a new era in construction in Finland by using large, prefabricated wood-based elements in a major public building for the first time. The construction contract for the centre was assigned today to YIT, and the building’s timber structures will be supplied by Stora Enso. Ecological considerations were a major factor behind the choice of the new construction method, which will enhance the centre’s energy efficiency.

The long awaited construction of the new Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, on the fringes of Nuuksio National Park in Espoo, just 25 km from the centre of Helsinki, can now commence. Haltia, which will be run by Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services, has been designed to give visitors insights into the best of Finland’s wildlife and natural scenery. The importance of cherishing nature will also be reflected in the construction of the centre using ecological building techniques. The centre will also form part of the City of Espoo’s contributions to the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 scheme.

The € 11-million contract for the construction of Haltia was today assigned to building contractors YIT, who were chosen through a public competitive tendering process. YIT are internationally renowned for their wide-ranging expertise in unique construction projects, and particularly for their experiences in constructing energy-efficient buildings. YIT have made an agreement with the Stora Enso subsidiary Eridomic to supply the wooden structures that will be used to build all parts of the building above ground level.

A truly unique building

The main framework of the building will consist of massive cross-laminated timber (CLT) boards, which will be used in Haltia’s walls, floors and roof. This means that Haltia will become the first large building in Finland to be made of CLT. 

The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia will also be unique among Finland’s wooden public buildings, in that all of its supporting structures above ground and various other key construction elements of the building will all be made entirely of wood.

CLT for economy and eco-efficiency

– CLT elements bind up more carbon than the pillars and beams used in conventional wooden buildings, and their environmental impacts are much more favourable than those of concrete elements, explains Timo Kukko, managing director of Nuuksiokeskus Oy, the property management firm responsible for building Haltia. – It is also airtight, and has favourable properties with regard to moisture, heating and acoustics. The building will additionally be cost-effective to construct, since its load-bearing structures and visible surfaces will be formed by the same massive elements. Doors, windows and insulation materials will all be prefabricated into the building’s elements in the production plant. 

The dropped ceilings inside the building will be made of thinner board, and aspen wood splinting will be fixed onto the building’s facades. These solutions have never been utilised on such a scale before in Finland. Tar will also be used to give a final traditional Finnish touch to Haltia’s exterior.

– Wood will form a natural part of the overall architecture of Haltia, where we are comprehensively applying the principles of sustainable construction, explains Haltia’s main architect, Professor Rainer Mahlamäki of Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Oy. – Haltia represents a new kind of Finnish environmentally aware architecture that can create a modern but intimate building. 

– It’s essential that the whole centre gives out the same message, adds Timo Kukko. – Haltia’s visitors will be experiencing Finland’s most wonderful natural settings from our Baltic archipelago national parks to the wilderness areas of Finnish Lapland. The centre will also play an important role in environmental education for local schools, so we want the construction of the building itself to reflect such environmental goals.

YIT and Stora Enso will also be providing more information today about their contributions to the construction of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia and the techniques involved.

For more information:
Timo Kukko, managing director Nuuksiokeskus Oy: tel +358 500 186 182
Päivi Rosqvist, communications manager, Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services: tel. +358 400 425 666
Tapio Salo, director, YIT Construction Ltd: tel. +358 50 5052608

The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia:

• Located in Espoo on the fringes of the Nuuksio National Park beside Nuuksion Pitkäjärvi Lake, about 25 km from the centre of Helsinki

• Haltia’s three floors, with a total area of 3,534 square metres, will contain exhibition space featuring Finland’s most spectacular natural attractions, a restaurant, an auditorium and additional facilities for meetings and environmental education.
• The centre will be run by Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services, with additional funding from the cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi and Vihti.
• Constructed for the non-profit company Nuuksiokeskus Oy, which is owned by Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services, the City of Espoo, and Solvalla Nedre Ab
• Designed by Lahdelma and Mahlamäki Architects, applying unique ecological features
• Construction project managed and supervised by Pöyry CM
• Haltia’s logo and visual design will be revealed in October 2011 when the building’s foundation stone will be ceremonially laid.
• The installation of furnishings and exhibits will commence after construction work is completed in late autumn 2012.
• Haltia will be open to visitors from early 2013, expecting to welcome 150,000 – 200,000 visitors a year.
• Haltia forms part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme.
• See the website www.metsa.fi/haltia  for additional pictures.

   

Details of the construction project:

• Nuuksiokeskus Oy has today (7.9.2011) signed a fixed price contract with YIT Construction Services Finland covering all aspects of the construction of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia.Separate contracts will be assigned at a later date for the installation of fire extinguishing systems, a solar energy system, furnishings and exhibitions.
• Haltia will be constructed using massive cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements manufactured by Stora Enso in Austria and further processed by Stora Enso’s subsidiary Eridomic in Finland. Insulation materials, doors, windows and wooden facing will all be prefabricated into the CLT elements, facilitating on-site construction work. The solid CLT elements, made of spruce timber, can be up to 40 cm thick and 16 metres in length.
• Earthworks and excavation work have already commenced on the site in preparation for construction work, in accordance with the duly obtained permits.

 

 

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Source: http://www.metsa.fi