A Greener and cozy campus yard in Lahti – Take part in the competition!
The application period for the PilotGreen & MUOKS pilot programme is open 21.10.–21.11.2024. From the competition, 1–3 experiments will be selected for implementation on the M19 campus. The total price of the experiments to be carried out is no more than EUR 10,000 (VAT 0%). The contracting entity also has the right not to carry out the procurement or distribute the money reserved for the experiments if the tendered experiments do not meet the requested criteria.
The competition is organised by LAB's PilotGreen and MUOKS projects. The aim of the PilotGreen project is to promote the business of companies operating in the field of green infrastructure and to support the construction of a climate-resilient urban environment that produces various natural benefits. The key aspects of the project are sustainable development, carbon neutrality and circular economy, as well as the scalability of experiments. The criteria for the experiments are also communality, inclusivity, usefulness and usability, as well as consideration of year-round functionality. The pilot must understand the local community and context. The aim of the MUOKS project is to mitigate the effects of climate change in urban areas through greenery solutions, reduce waste and thus create regenerative growth. The main target groups of the project are companies and organisations in the Päijät-Häme and Kanta-Häme regions.
The PilotGreen project and the MUOKS project help in the development, launch and communication of experiments. Those carrying out the experiments will be supported in reaching users and in co-developing the solution with experts and other stakeholders, for example. We value cooperation between different actors.
Aiming for a comfortable and climate-resilient campus
In the competition, we are looking for solutions that bring more vegetation to the campus courtyard and support the care, maintenance and monitoring of new types of green structures. Creative solutions for green infrastructure – a strategically planned network of green spaces – are necessary from the perspective of climate change adaptation, increasing biodiversity, comfort and well-being in dense urban environments.
Even in dense built environments, diverse and inventive vegetation solutions can offer various nature benefits, i.e. ecosystem services, such as helping to reduce flood risk, act as carbon sinks, cool and purify urban air, dampen noise and produce experientially rich environments.
What kind of solutions are we looking for?
The aim of the experiment is to develop and experiment with new, creative and bold solutions that answer the following questions:
- What kind of solutions can be used to bring more diverse greenery to the campus yard that produces various nature benefits?
- How can we make people feel comfortable and spend more time outdoors?
- How is the care and maintenance of the solution taken into account?
- What kind of technologies can be used to monitor the functionality and benefits of green solutions?
The tendering process focuses particularly on new types of green structures, such as modular and prefabricated green structures, and the related utilisation of technologies, digitalisation and services. The features of the solutions may include, for example, portability, temporariness, interactivity, easy and cost-effective installation and maintenance, year-round functionality, as well as versatility and adaptability.
We are looking for environmentally responsible solutions that are produced using natural resources sustainably and utilising the principles of circular economy and renewable energy sources. The aim of the PilotGreen project is to promote the business of companies operating in the field of green infrastructure, so the scalability of the implementations to be tested is a key aspect of the search. The MUOKS project develops new innovations and solutions for landscaping using design methods and organic fibres that replace plastic.
The pilot programme also aims to learn from green infrastructure experimentation in different urban areas and locations.
Test area
The pilot program provides an opportunity to test solutions in a real environment. In Lahti, solutions are being tested in the Mukkula district. In the previous call for trials, solutions were sought for the Mukkula shopping centre area, and now it is the turn of the yard of the M19 campus of LAB University of Applied Sciences.
The aim is to increase the attractiveness of the yard of the Mukkulankatu campus through green solutions. It is hoped that the campus yard will become a communal, pleasant and green meeting place, a "green oasis" intended for the use of the entire campus.
The campus yard should provide seating and activities that stimulate different senses, and contain plenty of sustainable, year-round greenery, including edible plants. Solutions must take into account users, such as students, employees and occasional visitors, and offer them new opportunities to meet and spend time in the campus yard.
The solutions will be located especially in the area under the canopy of the courtyard and the paved yard area (approximately 1200–1300 m2). Existing poles can be utilised. The hope is for permanent solutions that are weather- and wear-resistant and safe to use.
Aiming for a comfortable and climate-resilient campus
In the competition, we are looking for solutions that bring more vegetation to the campus courtyard and support the care, maintenance and monitoring of new types of green structures. Creative solutions for green infrastructure – a strategically planned network of green spaces – are necessary from the perspective of climate change adaptation, increasing biodiversity, comfort and well-being in dense urban environments.
Even in dense built environments, diverse and inventive vegetation solutions can offer various nature benefits, i.e. ecosystem services, such as helping to reduce flood risk, act as carbon sinks, cool and purify urban air, dampen noise and produce experientially rich environments.
What kind of solutions are we looking for?
The aim of the experiment is to develop and experiment with new, creative and bold solutions that answer the following questions:
- What kind of solutions can be used to bring more diverse greenery to the campus yard that produces various nature benefits?
- How can we make people feel comfortable and spend more time outdoors?
- How is the care and maintenance of the solution taken into account?
- What kind of technologies can be used to monitor the functionality and benefits of green solutions?
The tendering process focuses particularly on new types of green structures, such as modular and prefabricated green structures, and the related utilisation of technologies, digitalisation and services. The features of the solutions may include, for example, portability, temporariness, interactivity, easy and cost-effective installation and maintenance, year-round functionality, as well as versatility and adaptability.
We are looking for environmentally responsible solutions that are produced using natural resources sustainably and utilising the principles of circular economy and renewable energy sources. The aim of the PilotGreen project is to promote the business of companies operating in the field of green infrastructure, so the scalability of the implementations to be tested is a key aspect of the search. The MUOKS project develops new innovations and solutions for landscaping using design methods and organic fibres that replace plastic.
The pilot programme also aims to learn from green infrastructure experimentation in different urban areas and locations.
Test area
The pilot program provides an opportunity to test solutions in a real environment. In Lahti, solutions are being tested in the Mukkula district. In the previous call for trials, solutions were sought for the Mukkula shopping centre area, and now it is the turn of the yard of the M19 campus of LAB University of Applied Sciences.
The aim is to increase the attractiveness of the yard of the Mukkulankatu campus through green solutions. It is hoped that the campus yard will become a communal, pleasant and green meeting place, a "green oasis" intended for the use of the entire campus.
The campus yard should provide seating and activities that stimulate different senses, and contain plenty of sustainable, year-round greenery, including edible plants. Solutions must take into account users, such as students, employees and occasional visitors, and offer them new opportunities to meet and spend time in the campus yard.
The solutions will be located especially in the area under the canopy of the courtyard and the paved yard area (approximately 1200–1300 m2). Existing poles can be utilised. The hope is for permanent solutions that are weather- and wear-resistant and safe to use.
Co-creation and support for experiments as a starting point
The launch of the pilot programme will be organised as a networking event, the aim of which is to create opportunities for co-creation between the companies participating in the pilot programme and RDI actors (LAB and Metropolia Universities of Applied Sciences). The companies selected for the pilot programme can be given sparring sessions on key themes, such as sustainable landscaping and new kinds of structural and material solutions, as well as monitoring and measuring the functionality of the solutions. Co-creation of solutions can also be assisted by Metropolia's business experts and students.
The PilotGreen project evaluates the success of the experiments selected for the programme. The project helps to develop, refine or reorient solutions already during the trial period.
Student work available
Companies can assign problems related to experimentation or product development to student groups guided by experts from LAB University of Applied Sciences or, if necessary, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
Design students at LAB University of Applied Sciences design and implement outdoor furniture, planter boxes and an insect hotel from recycled wooden pallets for the campus yard as part of their studies. Companies have a good opportunity to try out a new green solution or technology in the yard of the campus and collaborate with student groups. Design students can be involved in developing the concept and user-orientation. Students of environmental technology and urban planning can participate in the monitoring and evaluation of experiments from a technical and environmental perspective.
Schedule of experiments
The deadline for submitting is 21.11.2024 at 4 p.m. The selections will be made by 19.12.2024.
The experiments selected for the pilot programme will be specified in early spring 2025, facilitated by the PilotGreen team. The experiments will be taken to the area in spring 2025. The trial period depends on the nature of the solution and the features being tested, but the trials must end no later than October 2025.
During the trial, companies collect information on the functionality of their solutions and, if necessary, solutions can be developed further already during the trial period. LAB University of Applied Sciences students help measure the functionality of solutions and collect user feedback. At the end of the trial period, the experiments will be evaluated from different perspectives.
Evaluation and selection of tenders
The invitation to tender (attached below) contains a description of the object of the call, the application procedure and the evaluation criteria. Tenders are submitted using the form, which is open until 21.11.2024 at 4 pm. Application instructions (attached below) will guide you through how to make an offer.
The expert jury of the PilotGreen project and the MUOKS project evaluates the tenders submitted by the deadline and selects the best bids based on the scoring and the total amount of money available. The final selection is made on the basis of evaluation criteria. All tenderers will be informed of the results.
Information session and questions
An information and networking event on the pilot programme and the invitation to tender will be held on 1.11.2024 at 14–15.30. The event will be held at LAB University of Applied Sciences' M19 campus in room A155. Address: Mukkulankatu 19, Lahti.
It is possible to ask questions during the offer period. Questions concerning the invitation to tender can be sent in writing to essi [dot] malinen-lallukka
lab [dot] fi (essi[dot]malinen-lallukka[at]lab[dot]fi) during the application period (the subject line of the message will be "PilotGreen pilot programme, open trial call"). The questions asked and their answers will be published in a separate document on this page.
