Maintaining and developing infrastructure critical to security of supply requires an IT environment that is cyber-protected both physically and digitally. Netox responded to the needs of Turun Vesihuolto (Turku water services) by designing and implementing IT, cybersecurity, and office technology for its new timber-structured premises.
The Head of Information Security and Technology at Turun Vesihuolto, Niko Lindström, leads the way toward the dining area, where the soaring ceiling creates an airy atmosphere. On the kitchen island, a water-blue accent color breaks the uniform tone of the wooden surfaces. The scent of pine fills the air.
We are at AkvaCity, located in Turku’s Itäharju district – a place Lindström and Netox’s Customer Manager Nina Ekman know inside out.
Since November 2024, Netox has been the driving force behind renewing IT and cybersecurity services at Turun Vesihuolto. The fresh partnership was put to the test right away when Netox was tasked with delivering IT and office technology solutions for the new premises.
And the final stretch of the construction project wasn’t without surprises – something Ekman and Lindström now recall with a smile.
Wood as a Building Material Surprised the Network Designer
In March 2025, AkvaCity was still a construction site when experts from Turun Vesihuolto and Netox visited the future premises.
Netox’s Network Architect Jyrki Halonen follows the group with a measuring device in hand.
He takes measurements and compares the results to simulation data. Something doesn’t add up.
“Normally, simulations are about 90% accurate, but at AkvaCity, it was more challenging. The building is entirely made of wood, with thick laminated timber beams that don’t allow signals to pass freely – and simulation software doesn’t have precise baseline values for such structures. Massive wooden constructions are rare, which is why I wanted to visit the site during the building phase,” Halonen explains.
- AkvaCity is the first entirely wooden property complex developed by Turku Technology Properties.
- AkvaCity is a two-story building with a total area of 2,400 square meters, constructed primarily from CLT.
- CLT consists of cross-laminated timber layers, which enable an exceptionally strong and rigid structure.
- The property complies with the LEED v4 certification at Platinum level.
- Designed to meet the most demanding standards for a modern work environment, the building pays special attention to acoustic design and creating a low-noise workspace.
- AkvaCity was designed by SARC + Sigge Architects, and its construction was carried out by Jatke Länsi-Suomi Oy.
Wood allows better signal penetration than concrete or brick. However, when laminated timber layers reach tens of centimeters in thickness, penetration weakens.
Since wood is still a relatively rare material for load-bearing structures in office construction, measurement data must be requested from the manufacturer on a case-by-case basis.
“We received measurement data from the timber element manufacturer. After taking measurements during the site visit, we found better locations for a few network access points,” Halonen explains.
Physical and Digital Cybersecurity
Employees of Turun Vesihuolto moved into their new premises on May 7.
The new AkvaCity building in Turku’s Itäharju district brings together operations from three different locations.
“Here you can really feel the impact natural materials have on comfort and well-being. It’s always a pleasure to come to work in an environment that feels both modern and natural,” says Lindström.
“The spaces are bright and well-finished, and the overall look is even better than I expected. Wood as a material makes the space warm and vibrant, the indoor air is fresh and consistent, and the acoustics pleasantly soft,” Ekman adds.
Lindström emphasizes that office premises are also an essential part of modern, regulation-compliant cybersecurity, which companies maintaining critical infrastructure are required to uphold.
“Physical protection of IT equipment is a direct requirement of the new Cybersecurity Act. Here, we can manage access control, endpoints, and edge devices much more centrally than before,” Lindström explains.
In his day-to-day role, Lindström is responsible for information security and IT development at Turun Vesihuolto.
“Ensuring cybersecurity is a key focus in our collaboration with Netox. We receive both IT and cybersecurity services from the same partner. Thanks to the SOC service, we always know the current state of our cybersecurity environment.”
“Together with Netox, we can now anticipate IT and cybersecurity needs because working with them has clarified the overall planning process. Continuous improvement must be at the core of everything, as the digital environment evolves at an incredible pace,” Lindström says.
Netox serves as the IT and cybersecurity service modernizer for seven companies within the Turku city group.
For example, alongside Turun Vesihuolto IT systems, Netox handles SOC operations, ensuring round-the-clock monitoring of all network traffic from servers to employee devices.
Construction Project Strengthens Collaboration
AkvaCity became Lindström’s first office construction project. He was part of a three-person team that, in the role of end-user, ensured the project progressed on schedule.
The team was responsible not only for IT and cybersecurity but also for AkvaCity’s office technology in cooperation with Netox.
“In an IT project of this scale, you need the ability to adapt to changing situations. During construction, there are moments when the entire project could collapse,” Lindström says.
“Netox’s expertise in project management, network design, and workstation setup was a key enabler of success. Their insights were clear, well-founded, and they responded flexibly to changes whenever needed.”
Construction is always a complex puzzle of changing conditions, schedules, and unexpected twists. When you add the challenge of transferring IT infrastructure from three locations into one new property without interruptions – and ensuring cybersecurity – the puzzle pieces can easily fall apart if communication isn’t open.
“In this project, collaboration with the client really stood out. We became part of a team whose way of driving the project forward proved exceptionally effective. Communication was transparent, and the team was able to make necessary decisions quickly. That made success possible,” says Kati Järventausta, Netox’s project manager for the AkvaCity relocation.
Another challenge was the sustainable IT upgrade at AkvaCity, which aimed to reuse equipment that still had remaining lifecycle.
“Installing new devices is relatively straightforward. But transferring existing technology from three properties into one was another multi-piece IT puzzle – solved through careful planning and phased relocation. That also requires open communication so everyone knows when the move happens and when the last device shuts down in the old premises.”
Ekman and Lindström recall the surprises that arose toward the end of the construction project with a smile.
“For example, when you order 200 monitors, you need to be sure that on delivery day there’s at least one space ready in the building to store them,” Ekman begins.
“Plus, furniture installation has its own requirements, which affect when office furniture assembly starts—and that, in turn, impacts when we can begin workstation setups,” Ekman continues.
And Lindström didn’t anticipate the negotiations related to the building’s suspended ceiling.
“There are many parties deciding when the ceiling can be closed or what kinds of attachments can be made to certain points. It could happen that the builder closes the ceiling, and an hour later the network installer arrives to do work that should have been completed before the ceiling was sealed,” Lindström illustrates.
“When there’s a genuine desire to succeed and communication works, even unexpected situations don’t become problems,” the partners conclude.
