The concept behind the new Unity Living is to integrate work and life, offering busy professionals everything in beautifully designed, fully furnished accommodation that includes a variety of workspaces covering private offices and conference rooms to creative co-working areas; a fully equipped gym; event spaces; lounge and bar, and in some cases a rooftop terrace.

Currently operating in seven locations across Sweden, Finland and Denmark, the most recently opened – Helsinki and Tampere in Finland – are equipped with Genelec sound systems in the public and function areas, including a Smart IP system in the Helsinki location – all specified and installed by specialist Espoo-based A/V integrator, AVconcept Oy.

‘The brief was to create a welcoming atmosphere with a distinct signature for the Unity brand and bring it to life with high quality audio,’ says Unity Finland General Manager, Tina Kaikkonen. ‘We collaborated with Tunebutler – a DJ group from Denmark – to curate playlists for the entire Unity group, ensuring a consistent audio experience across all our locations.’

In Helsinki, an additional requirement was to establish different audio environments for the lobby; a multi-purpose area referred to as the ‘barception’. Serving as both a reception and a café-bar with a lounge, plus an open-plan co-working space on a half-mezzanine, this area needed easy audio management to cater to various moods and times of the day.

‘The café-bar plays louder music, especially during evenings when it transforms into a bar and event space,’ Kaikkonen says. ‘However, we didn’t want the audio spilling over into the co-working areas, disturbing guests trying to work so we focused on providing high-quality background music that sets the right mood without being intrusive. As for the reception, we aimed to envelop our guests in a sound barrier to ensure private conversations with our team members.’

Additionally, the eighth-floor rooftop bar and terrace with stunning Helsinki views can accommodate DJs for events.

AVconcept opted for Genelec Smart IP networked loudspeaker systems throughout the barception – two 4420s and two 4430s. There are also a pair of 4430s in the gym and four 4430s plus a 7050 sub in a rooftop events space that is also capable of hosting a DJ. The meeting rooms are equipped with Genelec’s 4000 Series loudspeakers for ease and convenience, with a pair of 4020s in each space.

‘We wanted to offer the best audio solution that serves the customer’s purpose most efficiently,’ explains AVconcept CEO, Harri Kiukas. ‘Genelec – as a high-quality Finnish brand that combines premium audio with aesthetic appeal – is the ideal solution. Their active designs eliminate the need for bulky external amplifiers, and the Smart IP systems deliver power, audio and control over a single Cat cable, simplifying cable planning and reducing overall cabling. We used Genelec’s Smart IP Manager software to set up and calibrate the systems, which worked like a dream.’

In Tampere, the lobby and function space are entirely separate, resulting in different audio requirements. Like its Helsinki counterpart, the lobby requires background music that gently envelops private conversations around the reception desk. However, the brief was more complex for the events space that can be divided into multiple meeting rooms or used as a single large events space with microphone support. The large café/restaurant in Tampere also boasts a Genelec loudspeaker system.

For Tampere, AVconcept chose a 4000 Series solution. The reception area uses four 4020s for ambient music, while the café/restaurant boasts eight compact 4010s. The events/function space is equipped with eight 4040 loudspeakers. A/V control at both locations is via Extron over a Dante network, with local control through Extron’s A/V control panels for source selection and level control.

‘Genelec’s world-class Nordic brand aligns perfectly with Unity’s values,’ says Kaikkonen. ‘We believe that we showcase the best of the Nordics, from furniture and design to functionality. Genelec’s sustainability credentials, company integrity, and commitment to delivering exceptional service were key factors in our partnership decision.

‘Our A/V systems seamlessly blend audio and video, allowing for easy switching between DJ set-ups, corporate A/V configurations, and background mood music,’ she adds. ‘When we’re showing people around, we’re always proud to show off our audio equipment. We’ve had lots of positive feedback on delivering excellent sound quality, but also for having chosen such a well-respected Finnish brand.’