The building services of the Alvar Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki are a series of creative solutions

“The renovations are being carried out architecture first, which requires compromises from both us supervisors and the building services designers,” states Lemberg. In order to come up with new ways of doing things, the project involves active dialogue between architects, designers and the Finnish Heritage Agency.

“Sweco’s designers have made my job easier by spending a lot of time researching and investigating things. What has been most commendable is the designers’ ability and desire to work on the little details in a way that facilitates the entire project.”

Electricity planning guided by Aalto architecture

The electricity planning of the first phase of the project, the Aalto library, was handled by Avecon Oy and electrical designer Seppo Huhtanen. In January 2019, Avecon Oy was acquired by Sweco, with Huhtanen staying on board for the rest of the project as well. The building’s original design solutions have been respected to such an impressive degree that the renovation is up for a European Heritage Award.

“This has been a wholly unique project in my 30-year career. We renewed the electrical systems in accordance with instructions provided by the Finnish Heritage Agency and the Alvar Aalto Foundation, following the principle of not being allowed to change anything, but having to update everything!” Huhtanen laughs.

All of the light fittings designed by Aalto were cleaned, re-painted, equipped with new LED technology and put back into place.

“The theatre’s safety and emergency exit lighting in particular required the designers to come up with some unconventional ideas,” emphasises Supervisor of Electric Works Lemberg. “What’s more, instead of using standard colours in the light fittings, the designers went one step further to select shades and degrees of gloss ideal for the building.”

1960s design meets modern electricity planning

The wall outlets and switches of the most valuable premises had to be outfitted with THPG bakelite plugs due to the fact that original 1960s electrical fittings are no longer available anywhere. However, the greatest challenges had to do with the old electrical pipes used in the buildings.

“In the 1960s, electric installations used metal piping, which could no longer be used since the old wiring could not be removed from the pipes,” Huhtanen explains. Surface installations were also out of the question, expect in special circumstances. “Luckily the architect came up with a convenient solution by designing acoustic ceilings for some of the facilities. The electrical cables could then be installed inside.”

The lack of technical spaces was also an issue in facilities where the aim was to preserve cable channels made of original materials. “The new wall outlets were placed in casings at floor level, as originally designed by Aalto.”

HVAC design requires creativity

Sweco’s HVAC and automation team for the Aalto sites is managed by Dan Jakobsson, with Tapani Palmunen as project manager and Juuso Vuorela as designer. The team has had to tackle myriad challenges both indoors and out. The placement of ventilation equipment and rooms has been painstakingly modelled, as the amount of room available indoors is limited and the changes cannot be visible in the buildings’ facades.

At present, Sweco’s team is focusing on the modification engineering of the government office building and City Hall. The old buildings are full of surprises, and the fact that the buildings are protected only adds to the challenge.

“When it comes to sites undergoing renovation, HVAC planning is all about modernising building services systems according to contemporary norms,” says Vuorela. This requires creativity on the part of the designer and the development of special solutions that utilise old structures and installations in new ways. “A good example would be hiding HVAC equipment in the base of a bookcase or behind a narrower case in a row of bookcases.”

With protected buildings, the impact of every solution on the appearance of the building is reviewed by an architect.

“We do our best to make sure that the ventilation systems recover heat effectively and consume as little power as possible. In protected buildings, good indoor air conditions are paramount,” Palmunen states. Working on old structures also requires constant on-site cooperation with structural designers. “Luckily the structural design of these sites is also being handled by Sweco!”

Renovation of the city theatre to be carried out during the summer months

The last phase of the renovation project will be the renovation of the city theatre designed by Alvar Aalto. The majority of the repairs will be carried out during two summers in between theatre seasons. Preserving the appearance of the theatre’s original installations from the 1980s has necessitated the planning of a number of special solutions.

“Some compromises are unavoidable since completely identical new ventilation equipment is simply not available,” Vuorela says. Most of the old ventilation channels made of original construction materials will be preserved, checked for leaks and provided with a new inside coating. “This will reduce air leaks and make sure that no impurities or moisture is transmitted to the indoor air from the concrete.”