Normek Oy won the European Steel Design Award
ECCS honours the creative use of steel in architecture
European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) is the European Association of Steelwork Contractors, the unique platform gathering steel producers, contractors, researchers and academics. ECCS is a federation of 18 national associations of steelwork contractors.
To promote the creative and outstanding use of steel in architecture, the European Convention for Steel Construction (ECCS) presents the European Steel Design Awards every two years. The awards are dedicated to clients, architects, engineers, general contractors and steel construction companies. This 14th October 2019, twelve European Steel Design Awards of Merit and two European Steel Design Awards of Excellence were given to the finalists previously selected by the ESDA Professional and International Jury.
Together with Owner, Engineer, Architect and General Contractor, Normek Oy was honoured to receive the European Steel Desing Award of Excellence for the Oodi Central Library of Helsinki. The Central Library Oodi is located in the centre of Helsinki. It was one of the biggest brand projects of the Finland’s 100th independence anniversary. The library is an important destination for Helsinki residents and will certainly be noticed among tourists as well. As a specialty, the library offers a cinema, extensive leisure, working and exhibition facilities, a sauna department and a selection of up to 140,000 books.
As in earlier projects by the Architects, the design offers a bold, symphonic gesture which becomes a governing force in the functioning of the building. In this case, the move is a hoisting and angling of the wooden front, opening it up and inviting the public to look in and enter. The building itself works as a 108 meter span bridge, carried by two 1000 tonnes arches and a supporting load bearing steel structure, to create an open, column free inside view. Cladding in timber and glass, the structural system is hidden, but it is a necessary precondition and recognizable to initiates of building technique. Oodi Central Library will remain a jewel of the Finish capital, and an outstanding example of steel construction.
The project was launched by the main contractor YIT in the autumn of 2015. Normek Oy manufactured, delivered and erected the steel structures for the building. The steel frame was particularly challenging in this project as it has to support a large number of very heavy structures. The carrying capacity must be excellent and the welding seams very durable.
The steel structures of the Helsinki Central Library Oodi are one sign of Normek’s expertise. Large, heavyweight, special-purpose steel elements made the project technically demanding. The design, carrying capacity and the integrity of welded joints needed special workmanship. With the success of logistics and installation work, the schedule stayed well in its time.
Besides the European Steel Design Award, Normek was awarded the Steel Structure Prize in 2018 also for Oodi Central Library of Helsinki by Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association. This price was awarded annually since 1980 to steel structures that promotes and illustrates the structural steel industry developments in Finland!
Oodi Central Library, Helsinki
Fabrication: Normek Oy / Structural engineering firm: Ramboll Finland / Architect: ALA architects / General contractor: YIT Rakennus oy /
Project owner: City of Helsinki
ECCS Press-Release:
https://www.steelconstruct.com/esda_oct_2019_press_release/
Proud to get the Award of Excellence for the Oodi Central Library, Helsinki
Contact Donges Group
Donges Group/Donges SteelTec GmbH
Kathrin Lutz
Head of Marketing
Mainzer Straße 55
64293 Darmstadt GERMANY
kathrin.lutz@donges-group.com
www.donges-group.com
Contact Normek Oy
Normek OY
Ari Pösö
Export Manager
Pakkalankuja 7
01510 Vantaa FINLAND
ari.poso@normek.fi
www.normek.fi
About Normek Oy
Normek Oy is a company of the Donges Group. It is one of the leading companies for steel structural engineering, steel bridges and facade solutions in Northern Europe. Normek specializes in the design, engineering and construction of steel frame structures and steel bridges and the manufacturing of customized façade and roofing solutions. Normek offers the manufacturing, installation and designing of the products as fully complete entities. The company employs approximately 200 people and has three production sites in Finland and a project management and sales office in Sweden. Normek production and sales operations in Finland are located in Vantaa (HQ), Koria, Oulu, Naarajärvi, Alavus and Vaasa. In Sweden offices are located in Stockholm and Piteå.
Donges Group is a leading supplier of steel bridges and steel construction as well as roof and façade systems in Europe. The company combines the strong brands Donges SteelTec GmbH, Kalzip GmbH, Normek OY, FDT FlachdachTechnologie GmbH & Co. KG and Norsilk SAS. The Donges Group employs around 1200 people and has a turnover of around 400 million euros.