Myllysaari Island, a popular recreational destination in Lahti, Finland, now boasts a new event space, thanks to a collaboration between Lahti Sailing Club, UPM, and Salpaus Further Education. The floor, constructed with WISA®-Wire plywood donated by UPM, was built by construction students.
Myllysaari is a picturesque island in Lake Vesijärvi, located just off Tapanila in Lahti. Serving as the home harbor for the Lahti Sailing Club and a central hub for junior sailing activities, the island is also a beloved outdoor destination for local residents, offering opportunities to explore its diverse trees, fish, winter swim, and enjoy birdwatching.
“We’re expanding the use of the boathouse from winter boat storage into a summer event venue that can accommodate up to 300 guests. We wanted UPM and the students from Salpaus to bring this project to life together,” says Petri Korteniemi, the club’s first vice commodore.
As part of broader development efforts in the area, the City of Lahti is renovating the bridges leading to the island, and the sailing club is restoring the historic boathouse, which dates back to the early 1900s and has a protected facade.
Share and Care – supporting communities and learning
UPM contributed to the project by donating 100 sheets of 30-millimeter-thick WISA®-Wire plywood for the construction of the new floor.
“The donation was made as part of UPM’s Share and Care program, which addresses the diverse needs of local communities. This project is a great example of how support for the Lahti community and student learning can be combined with the restoration of a historic building, instead of building something new,” says UPM Plywood’s Sustainability Manager Jaakko Paloheimo.
Sturdiness for the heavy boats, safe flooring for the venue
Juhani Boman, an architect and club member, supervised the planning and permitting for the boathouse restoration. The building’s historical significance guided the decisions, ensuring that all modifications were made with respect for its original character.
“Moving boats that weigh a few tonnes places high demands on the floor structure. The span of the old primary load-bearing beams is 1200 millimeters, with joists spaced 500 millimeters apart. Together with a structural engineer and a specialist from UPM, we chose 30-millimeter-thick, coated WISA-Wire birch plywood,” Boman says of the 10-meter-wide main hall.
The brown-coated plywood blends well with the boathouse’s dark wooden structure and traditional red ocher exterior. According to Korteniemi, honouring tradition and respecting nature are core values of the sailing club.
“We’re especially pleased that the material is renewable wood with a known origin.”
WISA-Wire’s slip-resistant coating makes the surface safe
WISA-Wire is a robust, coated birch plywood ideal for applications like vehicle and industrial flooring. Its textured, slip-resistant surface makes it an excellent and safe option for event spaces.
“UPM’s extensive range of coated plywood products offers solutions for a variety of applications. We were able to donate 30-millimeter-thick WISA-Wire plywood in a suitable panel size, which is strong enough to support the weight of the boats. A thinner panel would have done the job too, but nothing wrong with a sturdier hull,” says UPM Plywood’s Product Manager Harri Nieminen.
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