Architects NRT

Architects NRT
Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 2020, renovated by NRT Architects
Practice information
PartnersKari Raimoranta, Jyrki Tasa, Teemu Tuomi
Founded1979/2006
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Significant works and honors
ProjectsRenovation of Helsinki Olympic Stadium and Finlandia Hall
AwardsFinlandia Prize (2017, 2020)
Website
www.arkkitehditnrt.fi/en

Architects NRT (Finnish: Arkkitehdit NRT, formerly Arkkitehtitoimisto Nurmela, Raimoranta, Tasa Oy) is a Finnish architectural firm specialising in renovations, educational buildings and housing. It is known, historically, for its pioneering role in Finnish postmodern architecture. Recently, it was recognized for the conversion of the Aalto University Main Library into the Harald Herlin Learning Centre (2017), in collaboration with JKMM Architects, and the conversion and extension of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium (2020) with K2S Architects [fi], both of which won the Finlandia Prize for Architecture [fi].

History

NRT's predecessor, Katras, was founded in 1971. Its founding members included architects Pekka Helin [fi] and Tuomo Siitonen [fi], as well as Matti Nurmela (1946–2012), Kari Raimoranta (born 1945) and Jyrki Tasa (born 1944). The latter three split from Katras and founded their own practice in 1979. The firm operated as a general partnership (avoin yhtiö) until becoming a joint stock company (osakeyhtiö) in 1993. The office was called Arkkitehtitoimisto Nurmela, Raimoranta, Tasa Oy until 2006, when it was abbreviated to NRT based on the founders’ initials.

In the 1980s, NRT founders were recognised as representatives of postmodern architecture in Finland. Notable works from this era include the Malmi postal building (Malmin postitalo, 1986), Kuhmo City Library (1988), and BePOP Shopping Centre (1989). The latter is considered distinctive of Finnish postmodern architecture. In 1994, the Museum of Finnish Architecture organised a retrospective exhibition on the work of the office in the 1980s. Malcolm Quantrill saw Nurmela, Raimoranta, and Tasa's work in the early 1980s, along with the work of Helin and Siitonen, as a ″return to the Finnish sense of delicate forms and refinement of detail″ as opposed to ″[...] the general international production of bland, large-scale masses that are boringly repetitive″, and lifted up the Kuhmo City Library as an example of this development.

Representative works

Architects NRT has overseen many renovation and expansion projects of historically significant buildings, for instance the main building of the Bank of Finland (2006) and the Porthania building of the University of Helsinki (2006). The firm has renovated several buildings originally designed by Alvar Aalto, such as Finlandia Hall (2024), the Kulttuuritalo cultural centre (2013), and many buildings on the Aalto University Otaniemi campus. NRT also designed the conversion and renovation of the Tennispalatsi building into film and exhibition space (1999).

Notable new public building projects in the 1980s, apart from the aforementioned Malmi postal building, Kuhmo City Library, and BePOP Shopping Centre, included the Kanta-Häme Regional Savings Bank in Hämeenlinna (1987) as well as the Paavo Nurmi Stadium in Turku (1989). Later, the firm has designed educational buildings, such as the Paja Building (Kouvola, 2010) and the Kotka campus (2024) for the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK, the latter in collaboration with AOR Architects.

Significant housing work include Stanssi & Svingi Housing in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki (2007), the waterfront Merenkulkijanranta Housing in the Lauttasaari district (2008–2015), and the Pasilan Konepaja housing area (2007–2015).

Awards and recognitions

Architects NRT has won two Finlandia prizes for Architecture: for the Harald Herlin Learning Centre in 2017, in collaboration with JKMM Architects, and for the renovation of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 2021, in collaboration with K2S. In 2025 the firm was shortlisted for the prize for the renovation of the Finlandia Hall, and in 2015 for the Merenkulkijanranta housing block.

Two of the firm's renovation projects have won the Europa Nostra award, the renovation of the Porthania building of the University of Helsinki in 2007 and the renovation of Tapiola swimming pool in 2008.

Architects NRT was awarded the "Rose for Building" prize (Rakentamisen Ruusu) by the Helsinki City Building Control Commission in 2006. According to the jury's justification, the firm represented "new and bold ideas both regarding architecture of the exterior and spatial solutions. [... It] has also in an extraordinary way responded to challenges involved with the planning of repairs of high-profile buildings. The unquestioned starting point for the repairs has clearly been respect for the original architecture, and an adequate inventory of the building has been carried out first.“

References

  1. ↑ "Contact". Arkkitehdit NRT. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 Rusi, Anna (6 September 2023). "Finnish Architects in the Spotlight: Architects NRT". Archinfo. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 Rautajoki, Venla (2020). "What is Memphis in Finnish? Exploring post-modernism in Finnish interior architecture through the phenomenon of the Memphis Group". Aalto University: 114.
  4. ↑ Vainio, Annina (2 October 2017). "Arkkitehtuurin Finlandia -palkinto meni Otaniemeen – "Alvar Aaltoa uskallettiin haastaa sopivasti"". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 Gustafsson, Miia (2 October 2017). "Arkkitehtuurin Finlandia-palkinto Alvar Aallon rakennuksen peruskorjaukselle". YLE. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  6. 1 2 Gustafsson, Miia (5 October 2020). "Olympiastadionin peruskorjaus voitti Arkkitehtuurin Finlandia -palkinnon". YLE. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  7. ↑ Lynch, Patrick (6 October 2017). "NRT's Renovation of Aalto University Center Wins 2017 Finlandia Prize". ArchDaily. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Helsinki Olympic Stadium Refurbishment". Finlandia Prize for Architecture. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Kauste, Juulia (2012). Finnish Architecture 2010/2011. Helsinki: Alvar Aalto Academy, Finnish Association of Architects SAFA, Museum of Finnish Architecture. p. 162. ISBN 978-952-5195-39-2.
  10. ↑ "Arkkitehdit NRT toimistoreferenssi" (PDF). Arkkitehdit NRT. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Koitto, Olli (30 April 2024). "Suomalainen (post)modernismi?". Finnish Architectural Review. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Maunula, Leena (9 May 1994). "Arkkitehtikolmikko Nurmela, Raimoranta, Tasa esittää Menestyneen keskipolven sykettä harmaaseen suomalaiseen arkeen". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Quantrill, Malcolm (2012). Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition. Taylor & Francis. p. 213. ISBN 9781135822798.
  14. ↑ Helander, Vilhelm. "Suomen Pankin päärakennus" (PDF). Suomen Pankki. p. 30. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Porthania". Docomomo Suomi Finland. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Souza, Eduardo (29 December 2025). "Rewriting Modernism Through Materials". ArchDaily. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Helsingin Kulttuuritalo". Senaatti. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "Tennis Palace". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kanta-Häme Regional Savings Bank". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Paavo Nurmi Stadium". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  21. ↑ "Paja, Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences Extension". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  22. ↑ Mänttäri, Roy. "Cold and Warm". Finnish Architectural Review. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  23. ↑ "Stanssi & Svingi Housing". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Merenkulkijanranta". Suomen arkkitehtiliitto SAFA ry. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "Merenkulkijanranta Housing". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Pasilan Konepaja Housing". Finnisharchitecture.fi. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  27. ↑ "Finlandia Hall refurbishment". Suomen arkkitehtiliitto SAFA ry. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  28. ↑ "Espoon Tapiolan uimahallin peruskorjaus sai kansainvälisen Europa Nostra -palkinnon". Rakennuslehti. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  29. ↑ Jääskeläinen, Lauri (2012). The Rose for Building 1995–2006 (PDF). Helsinki: Helsinki City Building Control Commission. p. 134-135. ISBN 978-952-223-051-5.