Rae State High School is timber building of the year for 2024

The Rae State High School built by Merko has won the main prize at the best timber building competition organized by the Estonian Forest & Wood Industries Association and will bear the title of timber building of the year for 2024.

Chair of the judging panel, architect Mari Rass, said the pervading focus of the Rae State High School lay on the diverse use of wood and sustainability. Wood is used throughout the structure of the school building as well as in the finishing and interior design.

“A school is a complicated public building, with higher requirements for fire safety and sound. It was also expected to meet requirements of a contemporary and inclusive learning environment, compactness and cross-use of its facilities. We found that Rae State High School was an excellent example of high-calibre, innovative wood architecture,” said Rass.

One of the architects who worked on the winning design, Martin Tago, said the new timber school building gives students and teachers an inspiring and beckoning environment characterized by a cosy, warm atmosphere.

“Wood emphasizes the commitment to sustainability, which is also an important keyword for educational development. The main structures make integrated use of cross-laminated timber panels and glulam posts and beams, while the exterior finishing uses board siding. In the interior, structural wood is skilfully and intelligently integrated with other materials, creating a pleasantly wood-infused learning environment that is also calm and inspiring. This room promotes and encourages learning and mutual interaction,” said Tago.

The architects are all from Koko Architects. Raivo Kotov, Lembit-Kaur Stöör and Martin Tago were the architects, the interior architects were Raili Paling, Kadri Kaldam and Liis Lindvere and the landscape architect was Eleriin Tekko. The building was commissioned by State Real Estate Ltd and Merko Ehitus Eesti carried out the construction.