Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School, Arhitekt Must

Since 2012, a large number of state upper secondary schools have been established in Estonia to ensure the availability of quality upper secondary education in every county. The changes are being driven by a decline in the number of pupils and a consequent desire to use resources wisely and to stop the flow of children from the counties to the larger cities. Opened in 2023, the Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School is the 26th schoolhouse to be completed.

Architect

MUST ARHITEKTID

Year

2023

Product

THERMORY BENCHMARK THERMO-PINE WITH WOODSAFE FIRE RETARDANT TREATMENT

Location

ESTONIA

The public architectural competition was won by Architect Must, whose vision was to create one of the largest wooden structures in Estonia. “Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School is environmentally oriented and it was important for us to create an organic link between the spatial environment and the school’s learning direction through the choice of materials,” says one of the architects of the building, Ott Alver. “85% of the building’s load-bearing structure is made of timber, plus 3,600 m2 of façade cladding and 33 km of timber frame elements.”

Wood has been used in a wide and varied range of ways in the school building project and is beautifully displayed. Wood is used for acoustic panels and triangular sound reflecting profiles; the cross-laminated timber wall, partition and roof panels; the cassette ceilings, façade cladding and the frame of the double façade. The finishing materials are light wood with a greyish undertone, giving the building a natural overall appearance.

The thermo-treated pine frame on the façade is the building’s calling card. A wooden braiding, nearly a metre deep, helps to break down the strict boundaries between the inside and outside of the schoolhouse. The frame is designed not to restrict views from the interior, but to block as much sunlight as possible from above and from the sides. School rooms need plenty of daylight, but on sunny days its intensity needs to be controlled. In addition, external safety curtains, which are activated by sunlight, were used on the large glass façades.


The frame covering the façade of the schoolhouse is made of a single cross-section profile, and the complexity of this braiding comes from the repetition of a single element – the wooden profile is installed in a fixed rhythm horizontally and vertically. In addition to covering the entire façade of the building, the laminated timber frame continues as a 300-metre-long bench around the school building.

As timber has to last for at least 25-30 years, a complex and three-dimensional façade poses a challenge for products and materials. In the case of the double façade, the emphasis is on ensuring maximum weather resistance. The required lifetime is given to the timber by the fire retardant applied in vacuum chambers using the high-pressure method. Threaded spacers have been used for the connections of wooden profiles in order to achieve a minimum contact surface. All façade fixings are made of stainless steel and the upper ends of the wooden profiles are covered with composite board caps.

The architects say that the Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School has been designed using what they have learnt from experimenting with previous public building projects and bringing together proven solutions.

Blog posts related to this project

Thermory Benchmark Ash Cladding Noa restaurant

Let your creativity loose with the playfulness of Thermory’s mix and match profiles

Combining different wood species, finishes and profiles brings variety to any interior or exterior design, delivering a tantalizing injection of texture and...

Thermory Benchmark thermo-pine mix and match cladding

Choosing the right timber cladding

Finding the best solution to clad buildings is important for several reasons – as well as defining the look and feel of your design, it also has a major...

Thermory Pine cladding

An alternative to Siberian larch – thermally modified pine

The demand for high-quality wood material is still in an upward trend. In addition to the long-term price increase, the depletion of stocks of Siberian...

Thermory ash decking

The six elements of biophilic design

The purpose of biophilic design is to create spaces that deliver benefits for both human health and the environment by nurturing people’s innate affinity...

Thermory Benchmark thermo-pine mix and match cladding

Inspiring Exterior Wood Cladding Ideas

Natural wood can be used in many different ways. The beauty and versatility make wood unequalled building material. As both an interior and exterior design...

Thermory Benchmark thermo-pine mix and match cladding

Durability classes of wood

We have often mentioned in our articles that Thermory Ash belongs to durability class 1 and Thermory Pine is in durability class 2. But what exactly does...

Thermory_Benchmark_thermo-pine_decking_D45J 26x118_PaCS_private house_Tallinn Estonia_photo credit Allan Leppikson - Reval foto

Chemical-free wood surfaces in the home

Home is where the heart is – a place where the whole family can feel safe and warm. The building materials you choose should enhance this feeling and...

Thermory_decking_thermo_ash

Sustainable use of wood: thermally modified vs tropical wood

Wood is one of the most common building materials in the world and, with responsible forest management, it is the only renewable building material we have....

Thermal modification

Thermally modified wood – what is it?

How did the wooden Viking ships endure the corrosive effects of salt water? Nordic seafarers used to treat their wood with fire. Our contemporary...

Thermory Benchmark thermo-pine cladding

Thermory in Exterior Design: Cladding

Natural wood feels warm and inviting in both interior and exterior design. Especially in outdoor use, it is important to choose wood that is not only...

Thermory Pine cladding

How sustainable is wood?

With rising concerns about climate change, the world community’s responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint rests with each and every individual and...

Thermory_Pine_Decking; aged & unoiled_Norway_photo credit Moelven Wood Prosjekt

Color evolution of Thermory products

As a natural material, the color of wood alters over time – and there is no exception with Thermory’s thermally modified wood products, which gradually...

Thermory Loo production

Discover five of our favorite thermally modified woods

If you’re considering which wood types to use for a renovation or construction project, there are several considerations that may influence your decision...

Viviv_by_Thermory_Translucent_Brown

How to keep your Thermory cladding looking great

To ensure that your Thermory cladding retains its natural warm and authentic character, it’s important to apply the correct maintenance techniques. The...

Thermory Radiata Pine Cladding New Zealand

How does thermally modified wood perform in different climates?

No matter where you live when you’re choosing a decking or cladding material, you’ll have to be mindful of how that material will change over time...

Thermory Benchmark thermo-ash decking and cladding, Maidla Nature Resort in Estonia

Wood in Architecture: Trends for 2022

In 2022, the global megatrend of sustainable architecture and building practices will continue. Architecture trends influence the choice of materials both...

Order samples