The teaching activities of the vocational college were integrated into the spaces of the upper secondary school. Due to these changes, new staff workspaces and break rooms were needed. The new part was designed to replace the demolished wing along Vuorikatu street – the place where the centre of Kajaani transforms into a low-rise housing area. In addition to the surroundings, the exterior form of the extension was determined by the many phases of the existing building complex, which was previously a business school, and the shape and height of the preserved auditorium.

The courtyard was also regarded important, so the extension was given two distinct faces. Towards the courtyard it seemed natural to have regular fenestration and a massing that complements the outdoor space, while on the Vuorikatu street side, the aim was to make a wooden building with a distinctly public character, albeit adapted to the scale of the surrounding residential buildings. The building consciously leaves some free space in the direction of street so as to maintain the importance of the auditorium in the composition.

The objective was to create an aesthetically and acoustically comfortable work environment, which would also look timeless. The consistent use of natural light and natural materials gave the spaces a sufficient calmness and character to withstand the fixtures inevitably associated with the work environment. Functionally, the task was approached by dividing the room programme into three zones – student services, workspaces and break rooms – the location of which was determined by their use and degree of publicness.

The design of the workspaces came together specifically from the users’ viewpoint, as the project brought together upper secondary school and vocational school staff, and the change was considerable. It was important for them that the building would house a suitably-sized team with a shared culture, which led to the idea of ​​grouping the fixed workstations in units the size of the teaching subject groups operating in the building. In addition, there was a need for an area suitable for joint work or short-term use and a sufficient number of quiet spaces for confidential discussions with, for instance, students and families.

In addition to the nearby-felled and renewable carbon pool, the physical and architectural properties of the solid building frame are the most significant, which will hopefully give the building a long lifecycle. The moderate amount of construction was also a conscious decision; the total area and volume of the building was significantly reduced with the new, smaller wing, and the renovation made the use of the entire building more efficient. Various technical solutions have also been used, such as a geothermal system for heating and cooling.

Source: Architect Ville-Pekka Ikola’s interview in Finnish Architectural Review 2/2021