Puolivälikangas district centre town plan, church and parish centre in Oulu are based on a winning entry of an open architecture competition, arranged in 1970–1971. St. Thomas Church is one of the early independent works of architect Juha Leiviskä. The building was completed in 1975.

The red-brick church and parish centre is an early example of Juha Leiviskä’s many works of sacral architecture. The two functions, assembly hall of the church and the multipurpose spaces and offices of the parish centre, are located under the same roof. The church is differentiated with massing: church is located in the higher part of the building and parish centre in the lower part.

Natural light is one of the key elements in the building, typical for Juha Leiviskä’s architecture. The art work in the church is by Oulu born artist Hannu Väisänen.

Source: Finnish Architectural Review 5/1976