Façade Element Project in Tartu
In 2024, Welement AS carried out a large-scale façade element renovation project in Tartu, resulting in a prefabricated renovation of an apartment building scheduled for completion in 2025. The project involves a five-storey residential building with one basement level and a total enclosed net area of 4,701.5 m². As part of the renovation, approximately 1,815 m² of factory-produced façade elements were installed.
The building undergoing renovation belongs to a typical multi-apartment housing type, and the starting point of the project was to create an architectural solution that respects the existing built environment while clearly updating it. The façade design is modern yet restrained, with a colour scheme that fits well into the surrounding context and gives the building a fresh and orderly appearance. At least two thirds of the gross area of the reconstructed external façade was covered with factory-prefabricated elements.
The prefabricated façade elements featured a high level of factory readiness: insulation, openings (windows and doors), canopies, ventilation solutions, and structural components meeting fire compartmentation requirements were all integrated into the elements. The design and installation of the façade elements complied with requirements for energy efficiency, fire resistance, and sound insulation, ensuring conformity with applicable standards while significantly improving the building’s indoor climate and acoustic comfort.
As a result of the renovation, the building’s energy performance improved considerably: the previous energy class D was upgraded to energy class B after reconstruction. This led to a reduction in energy consumption and heating costs, as well as an overall improvement in residents’ quality of life.
The use of prefabricated façade elements enabled fast and precise execution of the works. Installation of the façade elements took a total of just nine working days. Although achieving 100% factory readiness was not the goal—due to certain joints and details requiring on-site assembly and adjustment—the estimated level of factory readiness reached approximately 85–90%. This significantly reduced the amount of on-site work, shortened the construction period, and minimised the risk of errors.
The project is a strong example of how prefabricated façade elements provide a technologically advanced, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for improving the energy performance of mass housing. It successfully combines a high-quality architectural outcome, improved indoor climate, and a sustainable construction process. The extensive use of factory production also ensured minimal disruption to residents’ daily lives, as most of the work was carried out off-site. The production and installation of the façade elements for this project were also featured in the TV programme Osoon.
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