Tredun’s Aurora House at the Housing Fair – Learning, Collaboration, and Building the Future

Tredun’s Aurora House at the Lempäälä Housing Fair is an exceptional project in which students from various fields at Tredun, the Tampere Region Vocational College, work together in a real-world work environment to learn their trade.

Tredu serves as the lead exhibitor for the venue, while Ollikainen acts as an exhibition design partner and is responsible for the log structure of the building. The project showcases Finnish expertise in log construction as part of a modern and ambitious exhibition venue. 

A visible object places new demands on learning

Mika Hämäläinen, team leader of the construction sector at Tredun, explains that the Housing Fair setting makes the project exceptional for the students: 

“Building on the exhibition grounds brings visibility and, at the same time, high quality standards. Students get to work in a real-world environment that emphasizes energy efficiency, sustainability, and modern solutions.” 

The building serves as both a learning environment and a practical testing ground for a variety of fields. 

“For many, this is their first project where they’re building something that will actually be used as housing. It leaves a lasting impression and fosters a sense of professional pride,” Mika explains. 

At the same time, the project also brings with it new pressures and responsibilities, as the work is carried out in a public and closely monitored environment. 

Mika Hämäläinen, Team Leader at Tredun, and Joonas Koskinen of Ollikaisen Hirsirakenne.

Ollikainen's Log Delivery as Part of the Learning Environment 

For Ollikainen, the log delivery for Tredun’s Aurora building combines familiar expertise with an exceptionally intriguing project. 

“Even though the delivery itself is something we’re used to doing, the fact that it’s for students and at a trade show makes this project special. It’s great to be part of a project where our expertise is also on display for future professionals,” says Joonas Koskinen. 

Cooperation is also seen as important from the perspective of trust. 

“It’s really great that Ollikainen has this kind of confidence in the school and its students. For us, this is a living calling card—and surely for Ollikainen as well,” Mika continues. 

This collaboration is evident at every stage of the project 

Over the past two years, the construction site has brought together more than 200 students from 13 different fields. Coordinating the various stages of the project has been a central part of our daily routine. 

“Collaboration across different fields has been an ongoing dialogue. It’s important to understand how solutions in one phase of the work affect the next,” Mika Hämäläinen explains. 

In particular, the students have had the opportunity to delve deeply into log construction and material handling. 

“The most important lesson is to respect the material—that is, how to handle, store, and protect the wood so that its quality is preserved,” he continues. 

Corporate partnerships support the transition to the workforce 

Cooperation between businesses and educational institutions is a key component of vocational education and training. 

“Corporate partnerships bring students closer to the working world and help us adapt our teaching to meet today’s needs,” says Mika. 

From Ollikainen's perspective, the most important value of collaboration is training the experts of the future. 

“It’s great to be involved in developing the next generation of talent. That’s the most important aspect of this collaboration,” Koskinen sums up. 

Conceptual rendering of Tredun’s Aurora at the Lempäälä Housing Fair 2026.

An experience that stays with the students 

For many students, Tredun’s Aurora House is the first housing fair they attend. 

“It leaves a lasting impression and builds professional pride. At the same time, students learn that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. We practice it so many times that we eventually achieve a perfect performance,” Mika explains. 

He highlights the schedule as a particular success: 

“The log frame was completed three weeks ahead of schedule. That says a lot about the quality of the materials and the precision of the measurements.” 

Our collaboration with Ollikainen has gone exceptionally well throughout the project. 

“I particularly appreciate the flexibility, as schedules are constantly changing in an educational setting. In addition, their responsiveness and service-mindedness have been outstanding,” says Mika Hämäläinen.

For more information about the project:tredu.fi/aurora-talo