For us, environmental responsibility means concrete actions in our own operations. We are committed to saving natural resources and increasing the positive impact on the environment. As a proof of this, we have been awarded the EcoCompass Certificate which is the environmental management system of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation complying with the international ISO 14001 standard.  

The building of the system at Verstas has been led by Juho Manka with a team consisting of other employees. With support from EcoCompass, an initial survey was made, environmental impacts were assessed as well as goals and measures were defined. Verstas Architects’ own environmental program in 2023-2024 will focus especially on influence, communication, natural diversity and procurement. 

Our environmental promise is as follows: 

We operate environmentally wise in close cooperation with our clients. We want to be the primary partner of environmentally conscious clients. 

We are constantly developing our environmental expertise to enhance responsible design work and tasks. 

We highlight environmental topics in our communications. 

We incorporate tools for examining the environmental effects in our design projects. 

Verstas Architects´ competition entry ”Noste” received the second prize in the Oulu Museum and Science Centre open architectural competition.

The new building is designed as an experimental place which offers possibilities to get to know the local history of Oulu and learn new things about science by looking, doing and experimenting. It fulfills the modern requirements for museum exhibitions, public events and services. 

The exhibition circulation that guides the flow of the audience is both fascinating and clear. As the visitor follows the route, the exhibitions unfold as coherent wholes.

The Science Museum´s main exhibition space is located on the top floor in a room with a slanted, high ceiling. The outdoor exhibition space above the lobby ends the circulation. The views from the route and outdoor exhibition space open towards the Oulu Art Museum.

The key design themes in Verstas’ entry are the use of light and a beautiful combination of materials, such as light wooden surfaces, board formed concrete and red roof tiles. 

The new construction draws from the old in a new and fresh way.

Verstas Architects is delighted to receive The Architecture MasterPrize™ (AMP) that honors designs in the disciplines of architecture. In the competition each submitted design was evaluated by the esteemed AMP Jury. Helsinki Biennial Pavilion by Verstas Architects has been awarded in the Architectural Design – Cultural Architecture category.

The pavilion served as the entry to the Helsinki Biennial that took place on the island Vallisaari last year. Verstas Architects´ design goal was to create a free, open space for everyone. As a collective space, the pavilion has united people for social interaction and temporary small events as well as provided a shelter and serene respite from the bustling city.

Verstas Architects is delighted to present a winning design for Tuira Multipurpose House in Oulu. The new building consists of primary and secondary school as well as communal facilities for citizens. According to the jury statement, Verstas Architects entry called ´Polkka´ has pleasant scale and atmosphere. Although the proposal is distinctive, its architecture has succeeded in incorporating references to the surrounding buildings.

The connection to the old, historic school building on the site has been designed in a delicate way by retracting the new building. The proposal has the ability to capture the history of the place as well as tell a story. Construction of the new Tuira Multipurpose House will start in Spring 2023.

Verstas Architects received an honorary mention in the Malminkartano invitational competition organized by Sponda and the City of Helsinki. The aim was to design residential, commercial and office buildings with a total area of 100 000 square meters. According to the jury statement, the Verstas Architects´ entry called ´Kylämäki´ has a strong vision in design of the western part and preserves the forest areas extensively.