{"id":74150,"date":"2025-12-11T10:27:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T08:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=74150"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:09:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T12:09:33","slug":"borealis-data-centers-kajaani-campus","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/borealis-data-centers-kajaani-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Borealis Data Center\u2019s Kajaani campus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Borealis Data Center\u2019s Kajaani campus is delivered in record time with project management services<\/h1>\n

The Borealis Data Center in Kajaani was completed at Renforsin Ranta in just seven months. Despite its tailored concept and ambitious sustainability targets, the project achieved delivery on schedule. Borealis\u2019 Kajaani facility is the first\u00a0co-location data center\u00a0to implement direct liquid cooled solution across an entire site at full megawatt scale in Finland. Sweco provided design and project management services.<\/p>\n

Borealis Data Center in Kajaani continues the company\u2019s legacy of sustainability<\/h2>\n

Borealis Data Center<\/a> aims to be among the world\u2019s most environmentally responsible data center operators. While all its data centers in Iceland run entirely on renewable energy, the same commitment to sustainability guided the design of the new cross-laminated timber (CLT) data center completed in 2025 at Renforsin Ranta<\/a> in Kajaani.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to have our first HPC\/AI datacenter in Finland \u2013 a major milestone and an exciting step forward in Borealis’s growth across the Nordic region,\u201d says Antti-Jussi Tampio<\/strong>, Borealis’ Site Manager for Kajaani, Finland.<\/p>\n

He calls Kajaani an ideal location: \u201cThe City of Kajaani’s investment in developing the datacenter ecosystem in the area is clearly visible. We’ve been able to successfully build a strong network of partners, identify ecosystem benefits, and connect with top experts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDelivering our Kajaani data center required agility and trust among all partners,\u201d says Marcel Mendes da Costa<\/strong>, Chief Development Officer at Borealis Data Center. \u201cSweco\u2019s broad capabilities supported us in turning this concept into reality on an accelerated schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marcel points to Borealis Data Center\u2019s success is in part due to the strength of its partnerships with suppliers, the community, and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Project summary: Borealis Data Center<\/h2>\n

Client: Borealis Data Center<\/p>\n

Services provided: Project management; comprehensive design including electrical, HVAC, cooling, structural, architectural and fire safety engineering<\/p>\n

Completion year: 2025<\/p>\n

Sustainability highlights: Use of renewable energy, domestic timber elements and heat recovery for district heating<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Data center delivered in just seven months using a project management model<\/h2>\n

One of the project\u2019s key constraints was the extremely tight schedule. \u201cTo keep everything on track, it was crucial that all partners could respond quickly and adapt as needed throughout the build,\u201d Tampio explains.<\/p>\n

Sweco\u2019s project management service<\/a> was chosen as the delivery model, enabling a short turnaround time, cost savings and active risk management. While design was still in its early stages, Sweco\u2019s project managers were already preparing procurement and site operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur architects quickly produced drawings for the building permit but otherwise design progressed hand-in-hand with construction,\u201d says Juha M\u00e4kel\u00e4<\/strong>, Sweco\u2019s Construction Director and Project Manager. The project management team kept the client closely informed and involved in decision-making throughout the project.<\/p>\n

The data center reached handover in just seven months – an unofficial record, M\u00e4kel\u00e4 estimates. \u201cSuccess required high levels of collaboration and rapid responsiveness from all parties.\u201d<\/p>\n

Customized liquid-cooling system for the Borealis Data Center<\/h2>\n

According to Sweco\u2019s Export Director Jouni Palmu<\/strong>, the design process prioritized electrical engineering. \u201cWe first planned the most critical power distribution changes and placed long\u2011lead orders proactively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmu oversaw the design and acted as the client\u2019s main contact. \u201cAll communication flowed through me, ensuring the client\u2019s voice was heard in every aspect of the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cooling design began early. \u201cCooling solutions were selected based on the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric,\u201d says Sweco\u2019s lead specialist Salla Sorokin<\/strong>. \u201cWe designed a liquid-cooling system with fresh thinking, prioritizing reliability.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cooling system enables the reuse of excess heat the local district heating network, covering about ten percent of Kajaani\u2019s heating needs. Sweco also partnered with energy company Loiste<\/a> as an EPCM consultant.<\/p>\n

Borealis Data Center continues Kajaani\u2019s industrial legacy<\/h2>\n

The data center was built into a former UPM paper mill warehouse but constructed to current building standards. Structural design involved handling large masses, requiring special calculations and reinforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur structural engineers developed solutions based on site conditions, using either precast concrete or cast\u2011in\u2011place methods as needed,\u201d M\u00e4kel\u00e4 says. \u201cThe priority was keeping the site moving quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Certified cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels sourced locally from Kuhmo were used in the frame. Palmu notes the historical atmosphere was almost tangible: \u201cThe old paper mill hall was transformed into a modern data center where information now flows in bits instead of paper.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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More interesting topics<\/h3> <\/div>\n \n
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Telia Data Centre BREEAM certification<\/h4> \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Data Center Design<\/h4> \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Overall design of The Air data center<\/h4> \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Utaj\u00e4rvi Data Center<\/h4> \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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Contact Us<\/h3> <\/div>\n
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