Senate properties annually select The building project of the year among the completed building projects, where the objectives of public construction and projects have materialized in an excellent way. As a customer, Senate properties want to use the award for encouraging and highlighting outstanding designers and builders.

General quality criteria are considered, as well as the value and strategy objectives of Senate properties, for example responsibility for the community, a solution which conforms to customer strategy, and innovation.

Rebuilding of the main building of Heikkilä barracks in Turku was awarded Senate properties’ Project of the year 2007. The distinguished building from 1917 was rebuilt for the Marine defence command. AIRIX Talotekniikka Oy was responsible for the HEPAC design of the rebuilding project, and Niemi & Co Oy for the electric design. The structural design was done by Narmaplan Oy.

Demanding rebuilding project

The rebuilding was demanding, with a tight schedule. All parties collaborated well to achieve the schedule, cost and quality objectives: the level and functionality of the rebuilt facilities meet the Defense command standard. The project is a good example of the sustainable life cycle principle for utilizing an old building and a layout that supports the customer’s strategy.

The technical building services of the main building were completely replaced, but the layout structure was maintained. Light partition walls that had been added were removed, and the layout was modified to match office requirements, based on a user requirement survey. The corridors, the romantic staircase on second floor, and the arched windows were preserved. Also the exterior was preserved, with the exception of ventilation extensions on the roof, which were adapted to the style of the building. The colours of the building were restored to match the style at the beginning of the century, based on instructions by the National board of antiquities.

Three additional special awards

Senate properties also granted special awards to four other successful projects, three of which are our own Group objects, rebuilding of the Attila property in Tampere, rebuilding of the HUT Chemistry department, and rebuilding of the main stage technology at the Finnish National Opera.

AIRIX Talotekniikka Oy was responsible for the entire technical building service design of the Attila property rebuilding project and the HEPAC and building automation design of the HUT Chemistry department.
Finnmap Consulting Oy was responsible for the structural design related to the rebuilding of the main stage technology at the Finnish National Opera.