The City of Vantaa, a pioneer in public timber construction, will build solid wood day-care centres in Matari and Leppäkorpi from 2025 to 2027. The 126- and 168-seat day-care centres will be made of solid wood and contracted by Hoivarakentajat after a rigorous tender process.
Design illustrations: Hoivarakentajat
Construction of the Matari day-care centre will start in early summer 2025 and will be completed by June 2026, while construction of the Leppäkorpi day-care centre begins in spring 2026 and will be completed by June 2027.
Negotiated tendering is fair and equitable
The tendering procedure for the Matari and Leppäkorpi day-care centres was negotiated, and one of the minimum requirements was wood construction. The five best proposals from the registration phase went on to the participation phase, where the proposals were scored on criteria such as price, carbon emissions, townscape and site layout, functionality and safety. Of these, the three best proposals went on to further negotiations, where the city made suggestions for improvements to each before submitting final bids.
– The negotiation process is fair to the participants and ensures that the best proposals meet our needs. All the finalists were good and the differences were small," says Juha Vuorenmaa, the City of Vantaa's Developer Manager. – Hoivarakentajat's proposal won by a few points, as their bid had the best combination of price and solution.
Day-care centres made from climate-positive solid wood
In the City of Vantaa's 10-year investment programme, about a third of new construction projects are day-care centres to be built in new residential areas or to replace obsolete property stock. Solid wood will be chosen as the building material wherever possible, as it contributes effectively to the city's carbon neutrality objective.
In addition, buildings made of solid wood will enliven the urban landscape. For building users, natural wood creates a meaningful environment. The City of Vantaa was awarded the 2024 Pioneer of Public Wood Construction Award.
Multi-purpose spaces and natural yard play area
Low-carbon wood is used in several ways in the Matari and Leppäkorpi day-care centres. In addition to the non-settling log frame, solid wood is used for the CLT elements of the intermediate and upper floors and the load-bearing structures in the interior. In addition, part of the load-bearing partition walls will be clad with log panels
The partition walls allow the dining room, the gym, and the kitchen to be combined into one larger space, thus increasing the space's use possibilities. In the centre of the buildings, a light well has been designed in the stairwell to provide natural light to the central area of the upper floor and the heart of the lower floor.
Wood will also be used to build courtyard buildings with green roofs. In addition to play equipment, the courtyard areas will include play areas for ball games. The varied landscaping of the green areas will create the possibility of a winter hillside. Canopies, shade canvas, vegetation and a large natural wooded area in each of the two nurseries will provide the necessary shade.
Clear and effective planning cooperation
– We are delighted to be building these day-care centres after a multi-stage competition. The good result is driven by our strong experience building day-care centres and close cooperation with our skilled architectural and landscaping partners," says Jussi-Pekka Salmi, Project Development Manager at Hoivarakentajat.
Architect SAFA Sakari Miettunen from Arkkitehtuuri Oy Lehtinen Miettunen designed the Matari and Leppäkorpi day-care centres. Susanna Rantanen is responsible for the courtyard design.
The good cooperation is bearing fruit. The Koivukylä day care centre, completed in 2022, and the Ruusupuun day care centre, completed in Kivisto at the end of 2023 for the City of Vantaa, are also solid wood day-care centres built by Hoivarakentajat. Read the previous press release.
– Our experience in working with Hoivarakentajat is good. The communication works and the construction progresses smoothly," says Juha Vuorenmaa, Developer Manager of the City of Vantaa.
More information:
Jussi-Pekka Salmi, Project Development Manager, Hoivarakentajat
jussi-pekka.salmi@hoivarakentajat.fi
Juha Vuorenmaa, Developer Manager, City of Vantaa
juha.vuorenmaa@vantaa.fi
