Sustainability Report
Custom Certificates
Embodied carbon
Hybrid Timber–Concrete Structural System
A central embodied carbon reduction strategy incorporates the use of a hybrid structural system combining glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) with concrete. Timber is used in long-span and primary structural zones such as the heart space and sports hall, reducing reliance on carbon-intensive structural mass.
Concrete is retained only where required for acoustic performance, fire safety, and durability, enabling a material-specific optimisation approach rather than uniform construction logic.
Material Efficiency and Structural Optimisation
The building is designed as a compact volume with a highly efficient spatial organisation. This reduces overall material demand while improving lifecycle performance. Structural systems are dimensioned based on function-specific requirements rather than overdesigned standardisation.
Carbon Storage in Timber
Engineered timber elements (CLT and glulam) act as biogenic carbon storage during the building’s service life. This partially offsets embodied emissions associated with other construction materials, although no quantified carbon storage value is provided in the project data.
Operational Emissions / Energy
Energy-Optimised Building Systems
Operational performance is addressed through energy simulations and lifecycle modelling during the design phase. Building services systems are optimised for efficiency and adjusted through integrated building automation systems that support continuous performance control.
Compact Spatial Organisation
The compact massing reduces envelope area relative to usable floor area, lowering heating demand in a cold climate context.
Adaptive Environmental Control
Building automation enables real-time adjustment of heating, ventilation, and indoor climate systems, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining stable indoor conditions.
Energy Performance Outcome
The building meets Finnish energy performance class A (2018 regulation), indicating high operational efficiency relative to national benchmarks.
Service and maintenance emissions
Lifecycle-Oriented Design
The building is designed for long service life with reduced maintenance demand. Material selection prioritises durability, stability, and low-emission finishes, particularly in high-use educational environments.
Reduced Maintenance Through Material Exposure
Extensive use of exposed timber interiors reduces the need for additional finishing layers, lowering long-term material replacement and refurbishment cycles.
Building Systems Longevity
Technical systems are designed with lifecycle performance in mind, supported by automation that enables monitoring and adjustment rather than frequent replacement.
Afterlife
Integration of Existing Building Stock
A key circular strategy is the retention and integration of the existing listed wooden school building. This extends the lifecycle of existing built assets rather than replacing them, reinforcing continuity in the site’s educational use.
Flexible Internal Organisation
The spatial layout is organised around a central “heart space” that enables multiple simultaneous uses. The building accommodates separate but interconnected programmes (school, library, sports, youth services), allowing independent operation when needed.
Future Adaptability
High floor-to-floor heights and a high proportion of non-load-bearing interior walls allow future reconfiguration without major structural intervention. This supports long-term functional adaptability beyond the current program.
Prefabrication and Modular Timber Systems
The use of prefabricated CLT panels, glulam components, and coordinated timber systems supports controlled assembly and potential future disassembly.
Material Separation Logic
The hybrid structural system allows partial separation of material streams (timber, concrete, steel), improving the potential for reuse or recycling of components at the end of life.
Repairability and Reuse Potential
Prefabricated elements improve precision and facilitate replacement of individual components without full demolition, supporting a circular approach to maintenance and renewal.
Key products in low carbon design
