WE APPRECIATE OUR ENVIRONMENT

The Askotalo building is BREEAM In-Use GOOD-certified with regard to both the building and technical maintenance.  The entire Asko area utilises renewable energy sources extensively: a groundwater system is used for cooling approximately 15,000 square metres of offices, restaurants and lobbies. The savings in electricity consumption are approximately 30–50 per cent compared to premises equipped with traditional cooling. This corresponds to the average consumption of electricity of approximately 13 single-family houses.

ASKO AREA IN NUMBERS

• customers 300
• occupancy rate 91%
• jobs 2,500
• leasable area 162,000 m²
• lot surface area 31 ha
• unused building rights 290,000 m²

LOCAL HISTORY

Aukusti Asko Avonius began the serial production of furniture in Lahti in 1918. The production expanded into domestic appliances over the years. These business operations gave birth to Asko Corporation, which later became Uponor Corporation. The industrial operations of Asko and Upo largely ended in the 1990s. The Asko area comprises more than 30 hectares of land and several plant complexes. When Renor became the owner of the Asko area, clearing and cleaning of the industrial area was commenced and the property development of the area began.

1918
Aukusti Avonius begins furniture production in Lahti. 

1920–1928
Several industrial plants are completed in what is now known as the Asko area. 

1931
The company’s name becomes Asko-Avonius Huonekalutehtaat and the product name Asko. 

1938
Upo Metalli Oy commences operations as a subcontractor manufacturing metal parts for the furniture industry. 

1941 
The first electrically powered domestic appliance is manufactured. 

1952–1959
The first white goods are manufactured at the Lahti plant: refrigerator, pulsator washing machine, electric stove, electric mangle and spin dryer.
After the 1956 expansion, the area is home to the biggest furniture and domestic appliance plant in the Nordic countries. 

1999
Asko Corporation founds Asko Kiinteistöt Oy. Asko Corporation’s name changes to Uponor Corporation. 

2000
Uponor Corporation spins off its real estate operations to Asko Kiinteistöt Oy. 

2001
Asko Kiinteistöt Oy changes its name to Renor Oy. 

2004
Nine Finnish investors buy Renor Oy from Uponor. 

2004–2013
Renor Oy cleans more than 8,000 square metres of soil in the area and renovates approximately 37,000 square metres of new leasable space from the raw space.

A district cold network is built in the area, and the technical systems of the buildings are renovated extensively. 

Asko 2 receives a new roof and the covered marketplace area is completed. All shares in Asko 3 are transferred to Renor Oy. 

2012
The Asko area development project for the architectural competition concerning the railside in the centre of Lahti begins. 

2014
The development of the Asko area continues as part of the urban planning of the Lahti centre railside area.