8 Sep 2011

Helsinki university library: breaking the mould

The University of Helsinki is aiming to develop more cohesive library structures and integrated services 

Long corridors of dusty books, unimaginative decor and outdated facilities have long bolstered the general unattractiveness of libraries. Incorporating leading energy and environmental design and state-of-the-art, user-friendly facilities, the University of Helsinki is set to break the mould as the new central campus library opens for use in 2012. NIB is financing the construction project with a loan totalling EUR 27 million via the University of Helsinki Funds.

The improvement process started at the beginning of 2010, when all faculty and department libraries of the university were formally joined together to form a single entity, Helsinki University Library, consisting of four campus libraries and centralised administration and support services.

For many of the humanities, social sciences, law and psychology libraries, the change is even more dramatic. With faculty libraries having been spread out over 11 locations in the city centre, the university is currently reorganising and combining these to form one central campus library, which, when ready for use by autumn 2012, will be the biggest academic library in Finland.

Measured in floor space, the library will take up over two thirds of the 26,500 m2 building being constructed, with the remaining areas offered for modern rental space for commercial properties and services. Measured in numbers, the library will serve over 20,000 students, teachers and researchers, processing an estimated 1.5 million loans per year from its open collections spanning almost 30 shelf-kilometres.

Challenging construction work

Located in the centre of Helsinki, the construction bears significance not only for its use, but also for its appearance. Commanding views all the way to the central railway station from its boldly designed, large arched windows, the new library is also shaping the architectural look of the city. Indeed, while the new 11-storey library stands on the location of an office and parking building erected in the 1970s, only the underground floors and the main entrance level, notably situated on Fabianinkatu next to NIB’s headquarters, remain of the old building.

Tearing down the old to make way for something new has not, however, been an easy task. “The centrality of the location makes any construction work on the library challenging, particularly for logistics,” says University of Helsinki’s Director of Properties Teppo Salmikivi.

For example, demolishing parts of the old building, crushing and sorting the resulting concrete on location and then transporting it away from the construction site has been a demanding and time-consuming activity. What is more, new frames for the library were set up during an unusually long, cold and snow-heavy winter, adding an extra strain on the construction workers.

Green and innovative design

Appearance is not the only remarkable thing about the building. The project comprises important infrastructure investments aimed at enhancing the environment. The energy savings created by the new library building are expected to reduce annual CO2 emission by some 2,000 tonnes per year. Green design elements include water saving fittings, district cooling, use of recycled construction materials and, given the excellent public transport links in the city centre, there will be no provision of parking space.

“While the project fits well with NIB’s lending strategy, we have particularly high requirements when it comes to environmental assessments, and the Helsinki University Library has responded well,” says Sebastian Påwals, Senior Manager in the Member Country Lending unit at NIB. In fact, NIB has constantly pushed for higher environmental standards for the project, and the library is now looking to have its efforts in this field acknowledged with an official recognition.

Helsinki University Library is seeking to attain the internationally-recognised LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for New Construction gold certification, the second highest level possible, for its new library. This would be the first gold certificate awarded to a public building in Finland.

Receiving a LEED certificate means hard work and planning. “It forces one to think about every material choice, its lifecycle and origin, one step at a time,” says Salmikivi.

The new library building’s energy consumption will be 46% less compared to the building it has replaced, realised, for example, through the building of a roof, linked to the air conditioning pipes, which binds carbon dioxide and so makes the air conditioning system environmentally-friendly. This fits well with the main focus of the environmental certificate on energy and water usage, indoor environment and chemical substances.

Functionality and flexibility for the future

While profiled as a scientific library, hosting the archive for nationally important historical books ensures that the collections are open for everyone. However, with the constant increase of information available online and through computer-based learning, libraries still have to defend their existence. Will Helsinki University Library stand the test of time?

To meet the current and future demands of its users, a crucial consideration for the new central campus library has been to create a distinctive, flexible and functional library world. Various end-user brainstorming groups have been formed to feed in to the planning process, with further ideas being drawn in from libraries worldwide by the core design team.

By realising that libraries are no longer simply places to store books but also places to meet people, the central campus library has opened up the top floor for functional group study spaces with comfortable sofas, offering splendid views of the Helsinki skyline and harbour, thus enhancing the study experience. To ensure flexibility, countless conduits in the floor, through which electricity is transmitted, further take into account technical advances that will necessitate more fittings for information technology.

With smart and green solutions, the Helsinki University Library is breaking the mould with regard to dusty books on shelves and the concept of what a library should be, thus ensuring it remains a relevant source of information also for future generations.

Related resources

20 Jun 2011

The University of Helsinki Funds

EUR 27 million

Press Release

21.6.2011

NIB to finance Finland’s largest academic library