OODI | Helsinki, Finland
Over three million visitors in a year! Oodi Central Library has truly earned its place in the hearts of Helsinki residents.
Oodi, Helsinki Central Library
Silence in the library!
The internationally awarded Helsinki Central Library Oodi is a meeting place in the heart of the Finnish capital.
The Helsinki Central Library Oodi is an architecturally and functionally unique public space. In addition to aesthetics, its design emphasizes acoustics and customer comfort.
Therefore, the library’s ventilation system has been designed to avoid disturbing users. For instance, the cloud-like ceiling of the expansive hall on the third floor had to remain free of any visible ventilation equipment.
Low Speed, High Impact
The supply air distribution devices were integrated into bookshelves, stairs, walls, and other structures. This made the ventilation system visually unobtrusive. The air rises to the ceiling and flows into the exhaust ducts hidden along its sides.
A crucial aspect in designing Oodi’s ventilation system was ensuring that it operates at very low speeds in all situations. This minimizes noise and drafts.
In Oodi’s music studios and cinema, the ventilation needed to be even quieter than in the library hall. The supply air terminal devices were tested at Halton’s Innovation Hub, ensuring they met the stringent sound requirements.
Special Solutions for a Special Project
Displacement ventilation is Halton’s specialty. These features are commonly needed in cultural buildings. Halton has provided ventilation solutions to music halls, such as the Helsinki Music Centre and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In Oodi, Halton adjusted its standard products to match the architect’s plans. The low-velocity devices were customized to specific dimensions to ensure precise integration into the furniture.
Halton also designed the devices to be easy to maintain throughout their life cycle. Although the air distribution devices are integrated into the structures, they remain easy to clean.
Millions of People Breathing
The most Popular Library in Finland
Located in the heart of Helsinki, Oodi is Finland’s most popular library. Its collection boasts 100,000 loanable titles, including books, magazines, films, and games.
Oodi hosts art exhibitions, concerts, and workshops. It features a photography studio, a city workshop, various workspaces, a café, and a restaurant.
Most Oodi users are unaware of Halton’s solutions, and that’s precisely the point. Silent, unobtrusive, and efficient ventilation is one of the many factors contributing to Oodi’s popularity as a cultural center.
Toni Lindholm, Project Manager, Are
“I appreciate the thoroughness and flexibility with which Halton specialists operate. There has never been a challenge that we couldn’t overcome together.”
