Wooden School of Tomorrow: Avotilakoulu Heinävaaran Puurakenteinen Ala-Aste

A story of how a tiny municipality solved the school space problem and became a pioneer in wooden architecture and a promoter of a modern learning environment. Every architect can name a few special projects that remind us why we chose this work in the first place. I always include Heinävaara School as does Judy Hoskens our project manager who in a separate article shares her personal memories of this happy architectural adventure. We have recently made it a company goal to work with clients who seek us out. Kiihtelysvaara is an outstanding example of such a client.After 20 years I still recall my reaction when Judy and Bruce Jilk our education planner told me that Cuningham Group was being considered to design a wood-frame school in Finland. I couldnt believe it. What could a community in the land of Alvar Aalto with its vast forests and varied forest industries possibly need from architects in Minnesota?Today the answer is obvious... (John Cuningham FAIA Founder Cuningham Group Architecture Inc.) I can say that I have experienced the adventure of a lifetime when I took part in the steering group of the construction project of Heinävaara wooden school. This event lasted 18 months and it had a great importance for me still being a class teacher in a elementry school. I had already planned to acquire a new profession. The awareness of the possibilities that the open space learning environment brought to the new kind of organization of the educational activity and to the reform of school culture and pedagogic thinking swept me off my feet already in the planning phase of the school. UNPARALLELED ADVENTURE (Saila Paulioclass teacher in Heinävaara open space school)