Lappeenranta University Of Technology, Phase Vii
The campus of Lappeenranta University of Technology is located six kilometres outside the town centre. In 1974, when the Universitys first phase was completed, the site was just woodland, and Finland was going through a phase of university decentralisation. With all other modern Finnish universities there have been architectural competitions, but this was not the case in Lappeenranta. This point of departure may have had something to do with the situation that the designer of the seventh phase is the fifth architect of the campus.
The initial idea was that the area would expand according to a herringbone plan, along a dominant central path. The guiding principle has gradually weakened and the latest phase departs from it altogether, being located in conjunction with the southern ribs. It contains the library extension, which was implemented in line with the original construction method and architecture, the health centre, researcher rooms of several departments as well as conference and teaching facilities.
The majority of the building consists of small researcher rooms, and it was implemented as a narrow-plan solution with a central corridor where the elongated body is interrupted by a tall entrance hall. The outer walls are loadbearing, so that no intermediate columns are needed.
The new building is anchored to the old library by a glass corridor running along the side of the existing part.
Between the old and new, landscape architect Jyrki Sinkkilä designed a Karelian-Japanese garden.
The palette of building materials is very limited. The red brick cladding was laid in-situ. The interior concrete surfaces were left rough-hewn. To counterbalance the roughness, thermowood and opaque glass have been used in the interior as well. The concrete surfaces of the facade have been dyed by a method of applying iron oxide developed by artist Pertti Kukkonen.
building manager: Engel rakennuttamispalvelut Oy / Katriina Jauhola-Seitsalo and Mauri Karttunen
units: Student Healthcare, Library and Learning Centre, Department of Business Administration, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Centre for Training and Development, Telecom Business Research Center, Department of Energy and Enviroment Technology, Etelä-Karjala-Institute
Project Architect: Markku Puumala
Interior Designer:Heikkinen-Komonen Architects / Karola Sahi and Markku Puumala
Constructions: JP-Kakko Oy / Jaakko Pöyry Oy
Geotechnical: Geosaimaa Ky
HPA: Lappeenrannan LVI-Consult Oy
audiovisual system design: AV-Sector Oy
security design: Yhtyneet Insinöörit Ltd.
Contractors:
General contractor: SRV Teräsbetoni Oy
Ground constructions: Niska & Nyyssönen Oy
HPA: YIT Kiinteistötekniikka Oy
Automatic: Siemens Building Technologies Oy
Electrical: Tekmanni Oy
Cooling: AH-COOL Oy
Audiovisual: Hedcom Oy