Pro Nemus Visitor Centre

Metsä Group’s Pro Nemus visitor center opened in 2018 at the Äänekoski mill site. For this building, constructed entirely of wood, the designers collaborated with industry to find ready-made solutions that are suitable for industrial construction but do not restrict the architect’s creativity.

Pro Nemus represents the cutting edge of modern wood construction. The goal was to make Pro Nemus a showcase building where wood is visible and tangible in every detail of the structure. Modernity is evident in the building’s sculpted form, its design principles, and its innovative material choices.

The frame of the visitor center is made of elements constructed from Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL products, which allow for long spans. The facade features 42 mm thick and nearly 300 mm wide Topcoat exterior cladding panels. 

The surface treatment was carried out using a new, durable translucent paint system developed by Siparila, which leaves the wood’s surface texture visible, unlike traditional opaque painting. This treatment significantly extends the interval between maintenance coats compared to translucent finishes. 

The advantage of these ready-to-install exterior cladding panels, made of glued-laminated timber, is their concealed fastening system, which improves the facade’s weather resistance by hiding the nail heads that can trap water. For the facade material, it was important to combine aesthetics and durability while preserving the feel of real wood. The visitor center was designed by architect Ulla Passoja of UKI Arkkitehdit Oy.