Central Library Oodi, Helsinki

Helsinki Central Library Oodi offers a wide selection of services and facilities for Helsinki residents at the heart of the city. Oodi is an architecturally unique building with glass and steel structures and a wooden facade. Its construction process required solid expertise and efficient cooperation between all the operators. Approximately 2,000 people, 150 contractors and 200 designers worked on the site. 

A living room for the people of Helsinki

• Three floors, nearly all facilities open to the public
• A wide selection of services on three floors: in addition to library services, the visitors can use group facilities, a multi-purpose hall, recording studios and other activity spaces, movie theatre Kino Regina, a café and restaurant as well as children’s playground. Total space 17,200 m2.
• Energy efficient and accessible
• Designed by ALA Architects
• Construction began in autumn 2015, the opening ceremony was held on 5 December 2018

Award-winning Oodi

Accessibility Award from the City of Helsinki’s Council on Disability

The City of Helsinki’s Council on Disability selected Oodi as the recipient of the 2019 Accessibility Award. The award was presented on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Public Library of the Year 2019

This international award is given each year to a recently constructed or opened public library. The “best library in the world” award is granted by IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). https://www.ifla.org/

Best Customer Experience Management in Finland 2019

This award is granted to an influencer in a Finnish company or organisation promoting unforgettable customer experiences in various customer encounters. The award is granted by the Customer Experience Professionals Association Finland Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA), an international non-profit network of professionals. https://cxpa.fi/

European Steel Design Award (ESDA) 2019

In order to promote the creative use of steel in architecture, the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) grants this award every other year to encourage property owners, architects, designers, main contractors and steel contractors.  https://www.esda.org/

Project of the Year 2019

The award is granted annually by Project Management Association Finland in cooperation with its international umbrella organisation IPMA (International Project Management Association).

Steel Structure of the Year 2018

This annual award is granted by the Finnish Constructional Steelwork Association to an architecturally high-quality construction project utilising steel and other metals in an innovative manner. The steel structure in Oodi was manufactured, delivered and installed by Normek Oy.

Oodi was also shortlisted for the 2019 Mies Van Der Rohe architectural award of the European Union and the Finlandia Prize for Architecture of the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA).