The old factory at Sammonkatu 8 is transformed into a modern and accessible community centre – see what it looks like now

The former furniture factory in the centre of Lahti has been used for many purposes. Soon it will be renovated so that only the old frame will remain.

In Lahti, the interior of the property at Sammonkatu 8 is being completely renovated for a community centre. Spatium, the owner of the former factory, and its partner company Staffia are renovating the building from floor to ceiling.

The renovation will include replacing the building’s lighting, heating and ventilation. The building will have four lifts and the entrance will be lowered to street level.

Long, empty corridor with open doors. — Sammonkatu 8 has been empty for several years.

Some people in the city remember the building’s indoor air problems and labyrinthine corridors. These will be consigned to history, as practically everything inside will be demolished.

Originally built as a furniture factory, the almost 100-year-old building has undergone many changes within decades. It has provided social, education and cultural services.

A black roof of the building with snow. — Spatium will demolish the lower building in the courtyard, remembered for its youth activities and the Kasisal concert hall.

Sammonkatu 8 is especially known for the youth venue in Kasisali. During the renovation, the former Kasisali building in the courtyard will be demolished and a parking area will be replaced.

The social center comes mainly to Kauppakatu. Nowadays, we enter through the old loading pier, but the new main entrance is lowered to the street. The top floor, which was previously used, mainly comes with technical facilities.

Plans also include serviced housing and a staff restaurant

Staff, which builds the social center with Spatium, also intends to renovate the Sammonkatu side of communal service housing and facilities for the staff restaurant.

According to Jouni Kanervo, CEO, Spatium could not afford to compete for the social center alone. Therefore, a public office company collaborated with a private company.

Staffia is a young joint project company founded by four entrepreneurs. Staffia is in the process of making two commercial buildings in Tuusula.

Graffiti on the wall of the red brick building. — The courtyard side walls are covered in graffiti. The authorised graffiti on the inside of the building during the period of the casemate has been photographed by Spatium.

One of the owners of Staffia is Pertti Mäki. He states that while Staffia has not had a social center-type project, the owners have a widespread knowledge of, for example, office space and real estate.

– I have experience in developing an Espoo Hospital, and we have several areas of service housing going on.

Mäki was interested in the Sammonkatu 8 property before, and the offering rental premises to the Social Center opened the event for mutual benefits: Spatium got a partner for competitive tendering and the opportunity to buy part of the building for service housing.

In addition, Staff and Spatium are aiming for first to buy the social center facilities from spatium. In the future, they could still be sold.

\”The intention is that at a later stage, a disposal, such as a big institutional owner,\” says Mäki says.

Errors or omissions sanctioned

Ismo Rautiainen, Director of Support Services in the Päijät-Häme Welfare Area, considers the space acquisition of the Social Center quite successful. The well -being area is only committed to the tenant and does not pay anything for the renovation.

Air conditioning channel opening. — No old building services will remain at Sammonkatu 8.

Sammonkatu 8 provides customized facilities for different needs, for example for a family center and social work. The design takes into account, among other things, occupational safety.

According to Rautiainen, there are precise requirements for ventilation, for example.

– Mechanisms have been built into the lease to address potential drawbacks. Certain issues are sanctioned in case they have neglect or errors.

Historic building finally in use

Ismo Rautiainen thinks it is a good thing to keep a piece of Lahti history and cityscape. Spatium’s Jouni Kanervo is on the same line.

A red brick building with lots of windows. — Sammonkatu 8 is a piece of Lahti’s industrial history.

– In the center of Lahti, you can get a part of a big block under work and clean the places. Above all, the property is available.

At this stage, Kanervo does not assess what the renovation for spatium will cost or the financial benefit of the city company may receive from the project.