Building health seminar
6.-8.10.2026
A warm welcome to the Building Health Seminar in Oulu! The event will feature presentations on topics such as research on indoor environmental quality, the design of buildings and renovation projects, and the development of professional expertise.
Pre-seminar Events & Reception
Date: Tue 6 October 2026
The Northern Finland Construction Cluster will host the traditional Rakentajapäivä from 12:00 to 16:00 at Technopolis (Sepänkatu 20, 90100 Oulu). More information will be available at: https://www.rakennusklusteri.fi/uutiset/categories/tapahtumat
The University of Oulu will organize a workshop titled “Low Carbon Healthy Buildings Design, Operation and Assessment”. The workshop will include presentations on related research and share experiences from development and innovation activities. Ongoing projects, pilot initiatives, and collaboration opportunities between different stakeholders will also be discussed. The workshop can be attended either in person at Oulu City Hall (Kirkkokatu 2a, 90100 Oulu) or remotely (a link will be sent to registered participants), and it will be held in English. The detailed workshop program can be found here. Please note: if you are attending the workshop only, please register here.
From 17:00 onwards, participants are welcome to a cocktail reception hosted by the City of Oulu at the City Hall’s main hall.
Seminar
Date: Wed 7 October 2026
The seminar’s preliminary programme is available via this link. Information about the keynote speakers is provided below.
Keynote lecture: Healthy Buildings and Sustainability
Sani Dimitroulopoulou is a Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist on indoor environments, leading on indoor air quality (IAQ) and health at the UK Health Security Agency. She is also an Honorary Professor at the Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett School, UCL. Her research focuses on exposure assessment to air pollution, IAQ modelling and monitoring, ventilation, burden of disease assessments, development of indoor air quality guidelines.
Dimitroulopoulou works closely with UK government departments and international organisations such as WHO to provide expert advice on indoor air quality and health. She is Chair of UK Indoor Environments Group (UKIEG) and Fellow of ISIAQ Academy (International Academy of Indoor Air Quality and Climate).
At the Building Health Seminar, Dimitroulopoulou will deliver a keynote lecture on the healthy buildings and sustainability.
Keynote lecture: Health Effects of Moisture Damage
Professor Emeritus Juha Pekkanen retired in 2025 from his positions as Professor of Public Health at the University of Helsinki and Research Professor at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Since the 1990s, his research has focused on the health effects of microbes in agricultural environments and moisture-damaged buildings, as well as respiratory symptoms. He played a key role in developing the Finnish Current Care Guidelines for patients exposed to moisture damage (2017) and in establishing and implementing the Indoor Air and Health Programme 2018–2028.
Pekkanen has participated in 22 EU-funded multicentre studies. He has co-authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 22 doctoral dissertations.
At the Building Health Seminar, Pekkanen will deliver a keynote lecture on the health effects of moisture damage.
Join us!
Join us to explore and discuss the latest topics and diverse perspectives on indoor air and building health!
Abstracts and competition proposals
The call for presentation proposals has now closed. We received a number of proposals covering topical themes such as energy renovations and the impacts of a changing climate, practical solutions to indoor air and moisture issues, and ways to combine healthy indoor environments, energy efficiency and sustainability throughout the building lifecycle.
We also received interesting submissions for the Healthy and Sustainable Building Competition, featuring solutions related to the circular economy, moisture management, indoor air monitoring, digital twins and building renovation.
Competition categories
- Project – a successful new construction or renovation project
- Practice – a good practice or implementation approach
- Innovation – a new method, device, product, or solution
Competition submissions will be evaluated from both health and sustainability perspectives. In each category with at least five submissions, the best proposal will receive a recognition award. All awardees will receive visibility through the seminar’s communication channels and partner networks. From among the recipients of the recognition awards, the jury will select the overall winner of the competition, who will receive a 5,000€ cash prize. Second- and third-place entries will receive cash prizes of 1,000€ and 500€, respectively.
The competition is made possible by the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, Rakennusmestarien Foundation, and the Oulu Foundation for Construction Technology.
After the seminar, the participants will have the opportunity to attend a self-funded networking dinner. (Fee payable upon registration).
Participation fees:
- City reception and seminar day: €270 (early bird until 30 June 2026), €300 (after 30 June 2026)
- Dinner: +€100
- Excursion: +€30
- VAT 25.5% will be added to the prices
Partners receive a 20% discount on these prices.
Excursion day
The excursion will focus on culturally and historically significant protected buildings. The site visits will explore their challenges and opportunities, particularly from the perspective of indoor air quality and building health. (Fee payable upon registration). Preliminary excursion schedule and sites:
9:00 Aleksinkulma: A historic, protected building complex in central Oulu, with its oldest parts dating from the 19th century. A major renovation is currently underway, preserving the building’s historic values and original structures.
10:00 Pyhän Tuomaan kirkko: A landmark of modern Finnish church architecture, designed by Juha Leiviskä and completed in 1975. The church is protected under the Church Act, and a major renovation is scheduled to begin in 2027.
11:00 AaltoSiilo: A protected former cellulose factory silo in Meri-Toppila, designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in 1931. The building is being restored for new uses while preserving its industrial and architectural heritage.
12:00 Return to the hotel / lunch at your own expense at Oulu Market Hall: The protected Oulu Market Hall, completed in 1901, was renovated in 2019–2020 with respect for its historic character.
Become a partner
Two different partner packages are available, including a participant pass, a stand in the networking area, and/or visibility in marketing before, during, and after the seminar. The seminar’s networking area is the place where the best discussions and most valuable connections happen. Breaks and refreshments provide a relaxed setting for interaction, and the atmosphere encourages participants to stop by the stands and network with both new and familiar faces.
Ask us more about partnerhsip!
Jenny Reinikainen
050 434 4500
jenny.reinikainen@kiinko.fi
Accomodations
Participants can book accommodation at the Radisson Blu hotel at a special price (participation in the seminar must be mentioned at the time of booking).
For more information about the seminar, you can also contact:
