Collage: January
Collage is a monthly compilation of Olla’s news. January 2024 was a special milestone for Olla: Parviainen Architects became Olla Architecture exactly one year ago. Besides the anniversary, January also marked the celebration of a competition victory and the completion of a significant logistics center project.
One year as Olla
In January 2023, Parviainen Architects became Olla Architecture. The name and identity change stemmed from a long process during which the office’s practices were systematically developed one step at a time. The new identity made the internal transformation externally perceptible.
The identity renewal was an effort that involved the entire office: all elements from the name to the logo were created by the Olla team.
Curious about other names considered for the office? Learn more about the transformation process here.
The DHL logistics center designed by Olla is a carbon-neutral giant
Completed at the beginning of the year in Sipoo, the logistics center consists of around 44,000 square meters of high-storage and office space. The center offers diverse storage solutions, from narrow-aisle shelves to pallet shelves, including a dedicated section for storing a wide range of hazardous materials.
In line with DHL’s sustainability goals, the building is entirely carbon-neutral. The BREEAM Excellent-certified center utilizes geothermal energy and solar panels for energy production. Environmentally friendly features also include smart building technology, LED lighting, water-saving furniture, and rainwater harvesting.
Discover more about the logistics center, equivalent in size to six football fields, here (in Finnish).
Olla and YIT win design contest for Luovi Vocational College in Tampere
The proposal for the new Luovi vocational school building by Olla and YIT was selected as the winner at the turn of the year. Luovi is Finland’s largest special vocational school, providing education for students with special needs. The Tampere unit offers training in logistics, cleaning and property services, restaurant and catering, business, as well as media studies for approximately 250 students.
The design of the school, situated on the shores of Lake Iidesjärvi, pays special attention to accessibility.
The construction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025. Find out more about Luovi in an article by Aamulehti (in Finnish).
Olla contributes to Aalto and Tampere University’s sustainable architecture project
Olla is involved in the research project “Visualizing Our Future Public Realm Together” with Aalto University and Tampere University. The project helps architectural firms develop expertise in sustainable business practices. The two-year initiative aims to create not only scientific publications but also a digital tool to assist architectural firms in transitioning to green practices.
The tool is designed to support architects in negotiations and decision-making processes related to sustainability goals. It also helps visualize a sustainable future, utilize sustainable architectural models, develop sustainable communities in collaboration with local communities, and provide access to professional and local knowledge.
Olla is part of the project’s steering group, which includes several other Finnish architectural firms, as well as institutions such as the Royal College of Art, SmartViz, and Business Finland. Steering group members actively participate in workshops and interviews to contribute to the development of the tool.
