Finland’s first wood-structured Lidl to open in Riihimäki

On 25 November, a second Lidl store will open in Riihimäki, which will also be the first wood-structured Lidl store in Finland. The abundant use of wood gives the interior a peaceful and spacious feel, and the carbon footprint was reduced by a quarter. Naturalness and climate resilience are also reflected in the design of the yard area.

Lidl is constantly looking for more climate-friendly solutions in construction and actively investing in renewable energy, minimising electricity consumption and using construction products with the lowest possible carbon footprint. Opening in Riihimäki on 25 November, Finland’s first wood-structured Lidl store will serve as an example of low-carbon construction.

“The timing of the construction of the new store in Riihimäki was good in many respects,” says Antti Isokoski, Head of Property at Lidl. In addition to the excellent location for business, the site is suitable for piloting a wood-structured concept store. “We wanted to be closely involved in the design process and solutions for the store.”

Construction products with a 25% smaller carbon footprint

A lot of research went into the design of the wood-structured Lidl, and Sweco calculated the store’s carbon footprint and lifecycle costs even before the design. “The carbon footprint of a wooden store is a quarter less than that of a steel and concrete store,” says low-carbon expert Kari Nöjd from Sweco. The store only uses green electricity, recycles the condensation heat generated and produces renewable energy with 270 solar panels. “They cover over 10% of the store’s electricity needs and save 9.95 tonnes of carbon emissions.”

The project was designed drawing on experience from Sweden. “We were also involved in the design of Sweden’s first wooden Lidl stores in Visby and Sigtuna,” says Project Manager Susanna Friman from Sweco, which was responsible for the overall design of the project.

In Riihimäki, some completely new solutions were also piloted. Instead of visible glulam beams and roof elements, the store’s roof was made with box elements with a 20-metre span. “Thanks to the large span, no load-bearing structures are visible on the store’s ceiling, making the space contiguous and open.”

The use of wood was exceptionally extensive. Only the substructure, floor and civil defence shelter are concrete. “The extensive use of wood is supported by Lidl’s clear concept that is easy to adapt to different materials,” says Friman. The wooden structure also provides benefits later on. “As an adaptable material, wood allows for easy expansion of the store.”

The familiar Lidl customer experience with a new flavour

One of the starting points for the design of Lidl Riihimäki was to maintain the familiar customer experience. The unique wood-panelled facade is recognisable from afar as a Lidl, and the wood material mostly adds a calming flavour to the store. “Customers are greeted by a cosy atmosphere at the front door, as they step under the wooden entrance canopy,” says Friman.

In line with its sustainability programme, Lidl also takes biodiversity into account in its construction. The plot is planted with pine trees, the maintenance building has a green roof and the yard has down wood structures and insect hotels. A butterfly meadow is also growing between the parking area and the pedestrian and bicycle lane. “Ensuring biodiversity is part of all our new projects,” says Antti Isokoski from Lidl.

He says that Lidl Riihimäki has been an encouraging experience. “The pilot strengthened our aim to make wood construction a real alternative to other methods of construction. Our next step is to gather user experience that can be used to develop the best possible wood construction concept.”

The opening of Lidl Riihimäki will take place at 7 am on 25 November 2021 at Etelän Viertotie 8. See you there!