Oodi Helsinki Central Library / ALA Architects

Curated by María Francisca González

Architects: ALA Architects
Area: 17250 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs:Tuomas Uusheimo
Manufacturers: Otis, UniFor, Eero Aarnio, Jaatimet Oy, NORMEK Oy, Rockfon, Tormax, Vitrea Oy, Windoor AS

Category: Library
Client: City of Helsinki
Competition Phase Collaborators: Arup (energy technical specialist, mechanical engineering, structural engineering and facade engineering), VIZarch (renderings), Klaus Stolt (scale models).
Implementation Phase Collaborators: YIT (main contractor), E.M. Pekkinen (contractor for excavation work and basement construction), Ramboll CM (project management) Ramboll Finland (structural engineering, HVAC, energy technology), Granlund (theater technology), Rejlers (electrical engineering and AV consulting), Finnmap Infra & Sipti Infra (geo planning), Helimaki Acoustics (acoustical engineering), Gravicon (BIM coordinator), Palotekninen insinööritoimisto Markku Kauriala (fire safety), Pöyry Finland (traffic planning), Saircon (kitchen design), VIZarch (renderings) and StoltModels (scale models).
Team At Ala (Competition Phase): Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta, Samuli Woolston, Aleksi Niemeläinen, Jussi Vuori and Erica Österlund, as well as Willem Barendregt, Martin Genet, Vladimir Ilic, Tiina Liisa Juuti, Julius Kekoni, Auvo Lindroos, Pekka Sivula, Pekka Tainio, Jyri Tartia
Team At Ala (Implementation Phase): Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki, Janne Teräsvirta, Samuli Woolston, Niklas Mahlberg, Jussi Vuori, Tuulikki Tanska, Tom Stevens, Nea Tuominen, Pauliina Rossi, Anna Juhola and Miguel Silva, as well as Michal Bala, Marina Diaz Garcia, Jyri Eskola, Zuzana Hejtmankova, Harri Humppi, Mette Kahlos, Anniina Kortemaa, Felix Laitinen, Malgorzata Mutkowska, T. K. Justin Ng, Marlène Oberli- Räihä, Olli Parviainen, Alicia Peña Gomez, Anton Pramstrahler, Jack Prendergast, Akanksha Rathi, Niina Rinkinen, Mikael Rupponen, Pekka Sivula
Program: Library facilities, meeting rooms, group working space, maker space, living lab, recording studios, photography studio, editing rooms, office space, café, restaurant, movie theater, auditorium, multi-purpose hall, exhibition facilities, information booths, 17,250 m 2 total
City: Helsingfors
Country: Finland

Text description provided by the architects. Oodi occupies a hugely significant site in central Helsinki: facing the steps of the Finnish parliament building, the Eduskuntatalo across the Kansalaistori square, a public space flanked by major civic institutions.