Small Data Garden’s head office is located in one of the oldest buildings in Riihimäki, in a wooden house built in 1879 opposite the railway station. The 145-year-old house is owned by H. G. Paloheimo Oy, whose own history goes back more than a hundred years. The company has taken good care of the premises, known as the Konttori, which translates to “Office”. The office combines the whiff of history and modern building services technology in an interesting way.
H. G. Paloheimo Oy
H. G. Paloheimo Oy is a traditional Finnish family business. During its 135-year history, the company has owned, among other things, an electrical plant, a sawmill and house, brick, furniture, parquet, window and door factories. Today, the company invests in domestic and foreign securities, as well as sells and develops various plots and land.
Get to know Paloheimo on the company’s website.
From hotel to headquarters
One of the properties owned by H. G. Paloheimo Oy is Konttori, completed in 1879, opposite the Riihimäki station. Originally a hotel and shop, the building is one of the oldest in the city. The building is part of the Rautatienpuisto area, which is protected due to its cultural-historical value. From the very beginning, the company has invested in building technology; In 1905, to the delight of hotel guests, an electric light was introduced. The hotel operations ended in 1943 when the building became the headquarters of H. G. Paloheimo Oy. Today, in addition to Paloheimo, Konttori has a few tenants, including Small Data Garden.
Maintaining the value and good condition of the office is important for Paloheimo
Over the years, the office has undergone numerous renovations, including a major renovation, renewal of exterior painting and installation of cooling and ventilation. “We want to preserve Konttori as a valuable landmark in Riihimäki and thus maintain the tradition,” says Marjo Sinivaara, Executive Assistant at H. G. Paloheimo Oy. “We are always mapping out what changes are needed. The house lives according to our needs and those of the tenants.” According to Sinivaara, the tenants have enjoyed the building for a long time. Small Data Garden moved upstairs in 2021. “It is important to us that our tenants are reliable and that communication with them is smooth. It has been nice to get some life here and sometimes even help. Last summer, the gentlemen upstairs from Small Data Garden helped with the ventilation unit. It’s nice to have expert people as tenants,” Sinivaara praises.
Small Data Garden’s office space needs met at Konttori
Small Data Garden’s office has been located in the Office for four years. “We used to work in smaller spaces and were looking for something special. The new premises also had to be located along good transport connections and suitable for our international growth company. The office combined all our needs,” recalls Timo Liukko, Partner at Small Data Garden. “This place leaves a memory imprint for the visitors. For us, it is important that the owner of the building has a face. We value courage and entrepreneurship.”
Modern building services in an old house
“The age of 145 is not reflected negatively in this well-kept building. In many respects, it exceeds the requirements of modern construction,” says Petri Hänninen, CTO at Small Data Garden. “Building technology is modern and it helps ensure that structures remain in good condition for the next hundred years, as well as user comfort and good indoor air.” As an example of modern building technology, Hänninen mentions efficient waste heat recovery. The company itself also works for sustainability. “The occupancy rate of our premises varies significantly within working weeks. We adjust the heating and ventilation of the premises according to need. For example, we adjust the ventilation of conference rooms with a control solution we have developed ourselves, which reduces the waste energy of ventilation between meetings and outside office hours. We also control heating radiators using our cloud service.” Hänninen says that the technology will increase both energy efficiency and employee satisfaction.
