Olla » News » Collage 2/26: Victories, awards, and projects progressing well

Collage 2/26: Victories, awards, and projects progressing well

Collage brings together Olla’s latest news. Read about the award-winning hospital plan we developed together with Granlund, the prestigious circular economy award granted to the Haiku office building, and updates from our current projects. We are also looking to strengthen our team – could you be our next colleague?

“A skillfully crafted solution” — Olla and Granlund’s proposal selected as the design solution for Niuvanniemi Hospital

Olla and Granlund’s (formerly Raami Architects) proposal NIITYLLÄ has been selected as the design solution for Niuvanniemi Hospital.

Based on the design competition organized by Senate Properties and The Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA), two proposals were selected for further development. Of the two schemes, the NIITYLLÄ proposal was assessed as providing better conditions for achieving the project’s objectives. In an exceptionally demanding competition, the NIITYLLÄ proposal stood out in particular for its human-centred architecture, successful integration of new and old elements, and its functional, safe, and technically feasible overall concept.

The 140-year-old Niuvanniemi Hospital area in Kuopio is a nationally and internationally significant provider of highly specialised care, forensic psychiatric examinations, and expert forensic psychiatric services. The new building under design will accommodate the hospital’s highest-security patient wards. Success in this demanding design task required seamless collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

What does Olla and Granlund’s winning proposal for the forensic psychiatric hospital of the future look like? Read more here!

Circular economy at its best – SAFA Circular Economy Award for the renovated Haiku office building

The Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA) has awarded its Sustainable Development Recognition Award (Tunnustuspaanu) to the ambitious renovation project of an office building located in Sörnäinen, Helsinki. The project was guided by minimizing demolition and making use of existing structures.

“The project represents circular economy at its best. It serves as a welcome example of the architecturally high-quality adaptive reuse of a 1970s office building at a time when many buildings of the same era are being slated for demolition,” the jury stated in its reasoning.

The award is a strong argument in favour of circular economy principles and the viability of renovation over demolition. Read more about Haiku ’s remarkable recognition here!

The new building for The English School reaches its topping-out stage

The English School is a bilingual private school in Helsinki where teaching is provided in both Finnish and English from preschool to high school. The school, which currently operates across two separate locations, saw its new building — bringing all grade levels under one roof— reach its topping-out stage this spring.

At the topping-out ceremony held at the construction site, speeches were given by, among others, Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov and the school’s principal Petri Vuorinen, and the event also featured a performance by the school choir. The occasion also offered staff their first opportunity to explore their future working environment.

The new school is scheduled to begin operations in August 2027. Follow the progress of the construction site via a live camera!

Qualification certificates for foreign-educated architects raise debate: “It’s good for both the profession and Finland that as many people as possible are interested in coming here,” says Olla’s Mikko Lahikainen

Since the beginning of this year, professionals working in the construction sector in Finland have been required to hold a qualification certificate. However, such a certificate cannot currently be obtained if the degree was completed outside the EU or EEA. The challenging situation stems from incomplete legislation that does not yet recognize qualifications earned in so-called third countries.

An article published by Arkkitehti magazine highlights the consequences of the current situation: qualified designers, some of whom may have worked in Finland for decades, suddenly find themselves unable to continue in their roles due to the new requirements.

Mikko Lahikainen, CEO and Partner at Olla Architecture, commented on the issue for Arkkitehti. Olla employs several architects with international backgrounds, and diversity has always been regarded as a strength within the practice.

“We have employees who are highly qualified designers, speak Finnish, and are fully integrated into Finnish society. Then they suddenly find themselves in a situation where obtaining a qualification certificate becomes a challenge. It is difficult to understand.”

Lahikainen emphasizes that qualification certificates are important in themselves, but the current situation serves no one. The legislation needs to be fixed without delay.

“Having people from different backgrounds helps us build bridges. It makes the overall outcome better,” Lahikainen says.

Read the full article here (in Finnish)!

Hietalahti Daycare Center is a modern children’s world in a historic setting

When the 150-year-old brick house in Kaartin Lasaretti was transformed into a daycare centre, Olla designed a loose furniture concept supporting learning, play, and the historic character of the building. The selection of furniture, materials, and colours drew inspiration from the building’s original architecture. The result is a warm and safe learning environment that supports children’s diverse everyday life and continues the story of the 19th-century building in a new era.

Read more about the story of this building spanning three different centuries here!

Are you the next member of Olla?

We are looking for an architect to join Olla in versatile design roles. We welcome applications from a wide range of professionals, both early in their careers and those with more experience: the most important thing is being a strong architect—someone you genuinely enjoy solving problems with together.

Learn more about the role and about us here. The application period is open until 30 June 2026, but we will be conducting interviews during the application period, so don’t wait too long.

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