Lappeenranta, Finland

Lappeenranta University Of Technology, Phase Vii

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

The campus of Lappeenranta University of Technology is located six kilometres outside the town centre. In 1974, when the Universitys first phase was completed, the site was just woodland, and Finland was going through a phase of university decentralisation. With all other modern Finnish universities there have been architectural competitions, but this was not the case in Lappeenranta. This point of departure may have had something to do with the situation that the designer of the seventh phase is the fifth architect of the campus.

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

The initial idea was that the area would expand according to a herringbone plan, along a dominant central path. The guiding principle has gradually weakened and the latest phase departs from it altogether, being located in conjunction with the southern ribs. It contains the library extension, which was implemented in line with the original construction method and architecture, the health centre, researcher rooms of several departments as well as conference and teaching facilities.

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

The majority of the building consists of small researcher rooms, and it was implemented as a narrow-plan solution with a central corridor where the elongated body is interrupted by a tall entrance hall. The outer walls are loadbearing, so that no intermediate columns are needed.

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

The new building is anchored to the old library by a glass corridor running along the side of the existing part.

Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

Between the old and new, landscape architect Jyrki Sinkkilä designed a Karelian-Japanese garden.

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

The palette of building materials is very limited. The red brick cladding was laid in-situ. The interior concrete surfaces were left rough-hewn. To counterbalance the roughness, thermowood and opaque glass have been used in the interior as well. The concrete surfaces of the facade have been dyed by a method of applying iron oxide developed by artist Pertti Kukkonen.

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

building manager: Engel rakennuttamispalvelut Oy / Katriina Jauhola-Seitsalo and Mauri Karttunen

Photo: Roland Halbe - Images courtesy of Heikkinen-Komonen Architects

units: Student Healthcare, Library and Learning Centre, Department of Business Administration, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Centre for Training and Development, Telecom Business Research Center, Department of Energy and Enviroment Technology, Etelä-Karjala-Institute

Project Architect: Markku Puumala

Interior Designer:Heikkinen-Komonen Architects / Karola Sahi and Markku Puumala

Constructions: JP-Kakko Oy / Jaakko Pöyry Oy

Geotechnical: Geosaimaa Ky

HPA: Lappeenrannan LVI-Consult Oy

audiovisual system design: AV-Sector Oy

security design: Yhtyneet Insinöörit Ltd.

Contractors:

General contractor: SRV Teräsbetoni Oy

Ground constructions: Niska & Nyyssönen Oy

HPA: YIT Kiinteistötekniikka Oy

Automatic: Siemens Building Technologies Oy