Technopolis Hermia 11 & 12
Location Tampere
Client Technopolis Oyj
Developer A-Insinöörit Rakennuttaminen Oy
Hermia 11
Area: 5 500 m2, gfa
Year: 2002
Hermia 15
Area: 8 600 m2, gfa
Year: 2008
HERMIA 11
In the years 2000-2001, a development project called Hermia ProBuild 2000 was carried out in Hermia, led by Tampereen Teknologiakeskus Oy, titled “Changing Environment for Growing Technology Companies.” The goal of the research was to develop a tailored space concept for both office and production facilities within the Hermia environment.
The office building, specifically designed for research and development companies, offers double-glazed facades and high, open spaces, providing client companies with impressive and practical business premises.
Flexibility and zoning were key considerations in the design. The office spaces within the building are divided into so-called “flex zones”: a narrow fixed zone and a wide flexible zone. The fixed portion consists of a vertical circulation and installation zone located in the centre of the building. Surrounding this zone are meeting and workspace areas, which can be adapted to open-plan or private office layouts according to the needs of each company.
HERMIA 12
Hermia 12 is an office building completed in 2008, serving as an extension to Hermia 11 through a connecting corridor. The information desk, meeting rooms, and restaurant are located in Hermia 11. Hermia 12 primarily consists of flexible office spaces spanning five floors and an underground parking facility for 115 cars. The basement houses technical rooms, the rooftop has HVAC equipment, and the other floors have office facilities spread throughout the building. Each floor’s central core includes a fixed auxiliary zone housing break rooms, kitchens, restrooms, and IT facilities.
Efforts were made to maximise the flexibility of the spaces, which is why there are no pillars in the office areas. The load-bearing external walls and pillars along the central corridor form the structural support. Certain details were designed to enhance adaptability, such as electrical shelves coming in through the ceiling, and no fixed power sockets on the walls. The building’s system partition walls are lightweight elements that can be disassembled and relocated if needed, with any extra wall sections stored in the basement for future use.
The building was intended to be stylish and blend with its surroundings. The material used is fine-washed white concrete, with the base section made of grey-coloured concrete. On the northern side, there is a full-height glass wall in the office area. The staircase’s apple-green background wall is visible from the outside through the glass wall, and the red lower ceiling surfaces of the connecting corridor are illuminated in the evenings.
