Parmaco’s dynamic circular buildings reduce material emissions
Parmaco, a pioneer in reusable and mobile buildings, and Sweco’s structural engineers work closely together. When the same building can be used for many purposes during its life cycle, the carbon footprint of construction is up to 73 per cent lower.
Carbon footprint of mobile buildings up to 73% lower
Founded in the 1960s, Finnish Parmaco is a pioneer in implementing reusable public buildings. In spring 2024, the company was selected as one of Europe’s 30 circular economy pioneers because modular and adaptable buildings produce significantly less environmental impact than usual.
“According to the carbon footprint calculation carried out by Sweco, the carbon footprint of a modular wooden school is up to 73 per cent smaller than that of a similarly sized wooden or concrete building built on site,” says Antti Soininen, Design Manager at Parmaco.
Parmaco’s goal is to change the way we build. During their life cycle, modular buildings can first function, for example, as a daycare centre, then as a school and finally as a nursing home.
Parmaco relies on familiar structural engineers
Parmaco has been collaborating with Sweco’ s wood structure designers since 2018, and together 10–30 projects are implemented annually. The largest are schools of thousands of square meters.
“Sweco has expert people who do precise work,” Soininen says. There is always a solution to challenges, and Soininen appreciates the reliability of designers within tight schedules. Sometimes there is only a week left for planning. “When something is agreed, you can leave it to them, knowing that everything will proceed without any questioning or watching.”
The cooperation is strengthened year after year by project managers and designers, which increases understanding of, for example, production technology. Sweco also does structural design for Parmaco’s competitors, but different operators are served by different teams and project managers. “Designers are not cross-used in customer relationships,” says Susanna Friman, Project Manager at Sweco.
Flexible construction based on modularity requires foresight
Dynamic wooden buildings are designed for the same long service life as traditional buildings built on site. In order for the same modules to serve different users, it must be possible to change the room division and add floors flexibly when the building is moved to a new location.
“In situations requiring adaptability, a column-beam frame is often used, because it makes it possible to change wall lines and open or close spaces,” says Ina Kaugin, structural designer at Sweco. Adaptability also requires foresight. “In our current structural systems, we are already preparing for changes in legislation related to, for example, firestops.”
Optimisation of structures is important for life cycle emissions. In typical buildings, all material waste is avoided and, for example, floor hammers and insulation wool are ordered directly in the right dimensions. “We also optimise the load-bearing structures to the extreme. Nothing is oversized,” Kaugin adds.
In the hectic implementation schedule of projects, temporary support plans or an alternative structural solution for the factory are sometimes needed for the construction site in just hours. “We are in contact many times every day, and usually problems are resolved quickly.”
Photo: Keimolanmäki School / Parmaco
New structural system for the Swedish market
Gradually, the cooperation has expanded from the design of standard modular systems to the development of new structural systems. For Kaugin, Parmaco’s work is characterised by a constant desire for development. The same thing is not done for years. “We are constantly thinking together about how we could implement better and more efficient structural systems.”
Sweco has been involved in developing the structural system for Parmaco’s two-storey school buildings and a system suitable for the Swedish market, where the roof structure of the modules had to be solved in a new way. In Finland, roofs are already installed at the factory on top of the top-floor module, but in Sweden, the roof is lifted up only at the construction site, because the transport heights of the roads do not allow the transport of the entire floor modules.
One of Parmaco’s most sustainable sites, Götafors School, has also been designed in Sweden, which received the highest level BREEAM-In-Use environmental certification. Next, Sweco’s steel structure designers will help develop type solutions for Parmaco’s steel space elements.
“A couple of years ago, we acquired a company called Fixcel, whose steel element products will be developed with the same level of standardised and optimised solutions as our wood modules,” Soininen says.
Top photo: Götafors School / Parmaco